DIENESTROL

Fetal Risk Summary

Dienestrol is used topically. Estrogens are readily absorbed, and intravaginal use can lead to significant concentrations of estrogen in the blood (1,2). The Collaborative Perinatal Project monitored 614 mother-child pairs with 1st trimester exposure to estrogenic agents, including 36 with exposure to dienestrol (3, pp. 389, 391). An increase in the expected frequency of cardiovascular defects, eye and ear anomalies, and Down's syndrome was found for estrogens as a group but not for dienestrol (3, pp. 389, 391, 395). Use of estrogenic hormones during pregnancy is contraindicated.

Breast Feeding Summary

No reports of adverse effects of dienestrol on the nursing infant have been located. It is possible that decreased milk volume and decreased nitrogen and protein content could occur (see Mestranol and Ethinyl Estradiol).

References

1. Gilman AG, Goodman LS, Gilman A. The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics. New York, NY:MacMillan, 1980:1428.
2. Rigg LA, Hermann H, Yen SSC. Absorption of estrogens from vaginal creams. N Engl J Med 1978;298:195–7.
3. Heinonen OP, Slone D, Shapiro S. Birth Defects and Drugs in Pregnancy. Littleton, MA:Publishing Sciences Group, 1977.