Woman ‘poisoned’ by drug exposure fears she may never have children

KANIKA SINGH RATHORE,

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A Woman Who suffered fertility problems after exposure to a drug linked to a rare cancer while his mother womb The events have been condemned as a “cover-up”, claiming that those affected were “poisoned”.

Michelle Taylor, 63, described women who were prescribed diethylstilbestrol (DES) as being “like lambs for the slaughter”, claiming that their maternal instincts had been “exploited”.

A synthetic form of the female hormone estrogen was reportedly given to approximately 300,000 women between the 1940s and 1970s, with the aim of preventing miscarriage and suppressing breast milk production.

Mrs Taylor’s mother, Sylvia Bennett, received the drug during two pregnancies, before suffering two miscarriages and one stillbirth.

DES was later linked in the 1970s to clear-cell adenocarcinoma, a rare vaginal cancer, for which Mrs. Taylor was monitored for decades.

However, the Worcester-based teacher and artist told the PA news agency that she was never told the drug could harm the reproductive system.

She is also concerned about the impact DES has had on her daughter as well as her two nieces.

Michelle Taylor, along with her daughter Issy, said she suffered devastating fertility problems after being exposed to a drug linked to a rare cancer in her mother's womb.

Michelle Taylor, along with her daughter Issy, said she suffered devastating fertility problems after being exposed to a drug linked to a rare cancer in her mother’s womb. ,pa wire,

It comes as campaigners call for a public inquiry into the incidents.

When Mrs Bennett died of bowel cancer aged 55, Mrs Taylor – who was 15 at the time – and her sister Christine Holt, who was 21 at the time, were called to Birmingham Women’s Hospital.

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Mrs Taylor told PA: “We were told they had found that children could be affected by a rare cancer, clear-cell adenocarcinoma. My sister was checked and was showing early symptoms.”

Mrs Taylor said he was so traumatized by the procedure that he died and was examined under anesthetic a few weeks later.

“I was already traumatized by my mother’s death,” she said. “To be honest, she never left me.”

While her sister was treated for a rare vaginal cancer, Mrs. Taylor was monitored. He attended the clinic from the age of 15 to the age of 43.

At the age of 23, newly married Mrs. Taylor suffered from a near-fatal ectopic pregnancyThen another one four months later.

According to Mrs. Taylor, this was caused by DES exposure, as her fallopian tubes were congenitally narrowed.

Diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic form of the female hormone estrogen, is believed to have been given to approximately 300,000 women between the 1940s and 1970s to prevent miscarriage and suppress breast milk production.

Diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic form of the female hormone estrogen, is believed to have been given to approximately 300,000 women between the 1940s and 1970s to prevent miscarriage and suppress breast milk production. ,reuters,

She said doctors had told her husband that he would never have children.

“I was never told that the drug could harm the reproductive system,” Mrs. Taylor said.

“We were never told that our uteruses were deformed or that the medication caused abnormalities.

“They focused only on clear-cell adenocarcinoma.”

Between the ages of 23 and 37, Mrs. Taylor and her husband went through six rounds of IVF, which was in its infancy at the time. They eventually had a daughter, Issie, who is now 25 years old.

It was not until 1997, when the sisters were part of a group called DES Action UK, that literature on DES emerged from the US.

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Mrs Taylor described it as a “revelation”, adding: “My sister also suffered an ectopic pregnancy and had a terrible birth with her first child because her womb was deformed.”

Mrs Taylor, her daughter and Mrs Holt are now part of DES Justice UK (DJUK), a group of more than 300 people demanding answers from the government, as well as a redress scheme and a screening program for people who have come into contact with the DES.

She told PA that other members’ stories had brought her to tears.

Sylvia Bennett with her two daughters, Christine, who was about 8 years old at the time, and Michelle, who was about 3 years old

Sylvia Bennett with her two daughters, Christine, who was about 8 years old at the time, and Michelle, who was about 3 years old ,pa wire,

“Women who become infertile after being exposed to this drug are being stripped of their human right to have a child,” he said.

“One had a hysterectomy after being diagnosed with a rare cancer at the age of nine.

“They have poisoned us. We have fought this for a long time, there was no way to do this in the 90s.

“Other countries like the United States and the Netherlands have compensated women and run screening programs. We haven’t done anything. Because it’s a cover-up.”

There are now concerns that the abnormalities may be passed on to the next generation.

Mrs Taylor’s daughter – who is a DJUK spokeswoman – has had an abnormal cervical smear, while a niece has had her uterus deformed and has been treated for abnormal cells on her cervix.

Another niece, 46, has been diagnosed with breast cancer – which has been linked to DES exposure – and has also been treated for abnormal cervical cells.

Mrs Taylor’s two nieces are also members of the wider DJUK group.

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Mrs Taylor said the “fight to get justice” had been lonely, but being part of DJUK was “wonderful”.

Michelle Taylor, along with her daughter Issy, are now part of DES Justice UK (DJUK), a group of over 300 people demanding answers from the government, as well as a redress scheme and a screening program for people who have come into contact with DES.

Michelle Taylor, along with her daughter Issy, are now part of DES Justice UK (DJUK), a group of over 300 people demanding answers from the government, as well as a redress scheme and a screening program for people who have come into contact with DES. ,pa wire,

“It’s amazing – how many women out there have faced infertility, rare cancers, things like that? And they may not know that maybe their mother or grandmother took the drug,” she said.

“These women were like lambs to the slaughter. They preyed on their maternal instincts. They were exploited.

“They were vulnerable, they just wanted to give birth to a healthy baby. Many women had abortions and were told ‘just take it and your baby will be fine.’ They were used as guinea pigs for profit.”

Uk