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Vaginal Adenosis

Vaginal adenosis is a term used for a specific abnormality of the vagina. The women affected are those whose mothers took certain hormones during their pregnancy. The most common hormone was a female hormone called DES. DES was used in the United States in women with difficult pregnancies until 1971. Because it was found to be ineffective, it was stopped. Years later a rare cancer (clear cell cancer) of the cervix was found in daughters of women who took this drug. If you were born after 1971, you will not have been exposed to DES.

The lining of the vagina of young girls is made of cells that give it a red and rough look. As they age, these areas change into a flat, pale lining. This process is completed when women are in their twenties. This is not true in DES daughters. Instead, the growth of their vaginal lining is slowed. Although these changes are not a precancer or a cancer, the cervical area where this occurs is where cancer may develop.

It is recommended that DES daughters have frequent Pap smears and colposcopy. Colposcopy is a test using a magnifying scope to look at the vagina and cervix. This test identifies any signs of precancer cell growth. Monitoring cell growth over time decreases the risk of clear cell cancer in DES daughters.

If your mother used DES while pregnant with you, let your healthcare provider know. Frequent pelvic exams and tests can detect early signs of cancer as well as allow for early treatment and care.

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