DES lawsuits are brought against manufacturers of DES to seek damages for women and children born of women taking the drug. DES is the shortened name for diethylstilbestrol, a synthetic estrogen prescribed from the 1950s to the early 1970s. It was mainly prescribed to pregnant women to prevent miscarriage and to prevent other complications during pregnancy such as high blood pressure and gestational diabetes. In 1971 complications were discovered that were linked to the use of DES. A rare form of vaginal cancer was discovered in the daughters of some of the mothers who were prescribed the drug during pregnancy. In the 1980s research began showing a link between the use of DES and the rate of infertility in women. Other complications that have been successfully litigated in DES lawsuits include high-risk pregnancies including ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, incompetent cervix and preterm labor and delivery. DES daughters are also more susceptible to auto-immune disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, optic neuritis, and thyroid conditions. DES sons have an increased risk for genital problems, such as under developed testicles, epididymal cysts, undescended testicles, and a lowered sperm count resulting in infertility. Some instances of testicular cancer are thought to be related to DES use.