Reproductive effects of in utero exposure to estrogen and progestin drugs

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether in utero exposure to estrogens and progestins other than diethylstilbestrol reduces fertility in offspring.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Helsinki, Finland.

Patient(s): One thousand eight hundred eighty-eight women and men exposed to female hormone drugs in utero from 1954-1963 and 2,044 age-matched controls.

Intervention(s): None.

Main outcome measure(s): The numbers and timing of live births and marriages for men and women and of unsuccessful pregnancies for women.

Result(s): There were no differences between the exposed and control men in most outcome indicators. However, fewer exposed men than control men had their first liveborn child within a short time after getting married, and the mean time from the first to the second live birth was shorter. The former also was found for the women. The overall cumulative proportions of liveborn children and pregnancies were similar in the exposed and control groups, but younger exposed men and women had liveborn children and pregnancies somewhat later.

Conclusion(s): Estrogen- and progestin-containing drugs as used in the study population did not have much impact on the fertility of offspring.