We suggest writing and enclosing a stamped self-addressed envelope rather than make a telephone call to the sources below (with the exception of requests for military records). You are most likely to get a response if you make it easy for the office to reply. Persistence is also important. You may have to try several times to obtain copies of the records, if available.
Be aware that time is not on your side. As doctors die and hospital close, their records are often destroyed. Still, it may be worth making the effort to try finding your records.
Contacting the Doctor
If the doctor is still practicing, ask in writing for a copy of any records showing medicines you (or your mother) took during pregnancy. Be specific with names and dates. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
When a physician retires or dies, there is a chance the practice is transferred to another doctor who takes over the records. You can write or call the local County Medical Society and ask who has the doctor’s records now. You can get the address from the County Health Department or the State Board of Medical Records. Unfortunately, many records are destroyed when a doctor dies.
Contacting the Hospital
Write to the Medical Records Department of the hospital where your pregnancy or birth took place. A consent form from your mother may be required for release of medical records. If that is not possible, state that you are requesting your own birth records.
Give your mother’s name, the name of the doctor present at delivery (usually listed on your birth certificate) and your date of birth. Ask what medicines taken during pregnancy are listed on your mother’s records.
- Contacting the Pharmacy
If you know what pharmacy was used, you can request a copy of prescriptions filled during your mother’s pregnancy. Include her name and the approximate date of her pregnancy. Some pharmacists have records going back many years; others do not.
Interpreting the Prescription
Sometimes it is difficult to tell if a prescription contained DES. Other medications that did not contain DES also were given to women during pregnancy. Click here for a list of names under which DES was prescribed. Usually, in the United States it was listed as either DES or Stilbestrol.
Who Owns the Medical Record?
Medical records belong to the health care providers or hospitals that compiled them. However, the information about your mother’s pregnancy and your birth – which is included in your mother’s medical record - is also your medical record.
How to get Military Records
If your mother received pregnancy care from the military, you can request a copy of the medical records by calling (800) 827-1000 and requesting Standard Form 180.
If You Cannot Find Any Records
If you cannot find records but have reason to believe you were exposed to DES, you may want to follow care recommendations established for DES exposed individuals. Those recommendations include a special Annual Exam for DES Daughters and annual breast screenings for DES Daughters over age 40. DES mothers should also be screened every year for breast cancer. DES Sons should do testicular self-exams regularly (find information on self-exams here and here).
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