Michelle Taylor, a 63-year-old mother from the Midlands, has come forward to expose what she describes as a decades-long cover-up surrounding the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES), which she and multiple generations of her family were prescribed. DES, a synthetic form of estrogen, was widely given to around 300,000 women between the 1940s and late 1970s to prevent miscarriages and suppress breast milk production.
Mrs. Taylor’s mother, Sylvia Bennett, took the drug during two pregnancies after experiencing multiple miscarriages and a stillbirth. In the 1970s, DES was linked to clear-cell adenocarcinoma, a rare vaginal cancer, which prompted decades of monitoring for Mrs. Taylor and health interventions for her sister.
Despite the serious risks associated with DES, Mrs. Taylor says she was never informed about the full extent of its dangers, especially its impact on the reproductive system. She suffers from complications likely caused by DES exposure, including congenitally narrowed fallopian tubes that led to near-fatal ectopic pregnancies and multiple rounds of in vitro fertilization before successfully having a daughter.
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It wasn’t until the late 1990s that Mrs. Taylor and her sister discovered more comprehensive information about DES through advocacy groups such as DES Action UK and later DES Justice UK (DJUK). Today, DJUK represents over 300 people campaigning for governmental acknowledgment, compensation, and screening programs like those established in the United States and the Netherlands.
Mrs. Taylor emphasizes the emotional toll this battle has taken over the years and expresses outrage that affected women were “like lambs to the slaughter,” exploited because of their maternal hopes and vulnerabilities. She highlights the ongoing challenges, including the possibility of harm extending to the next generation, as her daughter and nieces experience health issues linked to DES exposure, such as abnormal cervical cells, misshapen wombs, and breast cancer.
The campaign for justice continues as affected families seek recognition, support, and accountability for the lasting damage caused by DES.