If any pills were taken during pregnancy, obstetrical records should be checked to determine the name of the drug. Mothers and children have a right to this information. However, finding medical records after a long period of time may be difficult. If the doctor has retired or died, another doctor may have taken over the practice as well as the records. The county medical society or health department may be able to tell you where the records are.
Some pharmacies keep records for a long time.
If you know where the prescription was filled, you may be able to get this information. Military medical records are kept for 25 years. In many cases, however, it may be impossible to determine whether DES was used. It is important for women who believe they may have been exposed to DES before birth to be aware of the possible health effects of DES and inform their doctor of their exposure. It is important that the physician be familiar with possible problems associated with DES exposure, because some problems, such as clear cell adenocarcinoma, are likely to be found only when the doctor is looking for them.