#desplex

Des was a synthetic estrogen popular in the 1950s, prescribed to millions of pregnant women to prevent miscarriages, premature births and other problems. It was taken off the market in the early 1970s after it was linked to a rare vaginal cancer in women whose mothers used it, and potentially other side affects including miscarriages themselves.  Studies later showed it didn't actually prevent miscarriages either.  (via PharmaGossip)