MRI in pregnancy – is the magnetic field harmful to my baby? | Is an MRI harmful?

MRI in pregnancy – is the magnetic field harmful to my baby?

Damage to mother or baby by the magnetic field could not be proven in previous studies. Nevertheless, before performing MRI imaging on a pregnant woman, the treating physician should weigh up the benefits and risks. Especially in the first third of the pregnancy, MRI imaging should be avoided for safety reasons.

During the rest of the pregnancy, imaging may be performed in exceptional cases. It should be taken into account that the administration of contrast medium during an MRI examination is not possible during pregnancy. The contrast media used may enter the embryo‘s bloodstream via the placenta. However, studies and examinations have not been able to prove any resulting risks for the embryo.

Is an MRI harmful to the desire for a child?

An MRI examination does not damage either eggs or sperm. This distinguishes it from an examination with X-rays (X-ray, CT), in which the development and maturation of the eggs and sperm can be influenced by the radiation. The MRI therefore does not represent a contraindication for fertility. The examination in the MRI is not harmful to the sperm. In contrast to X-rays and CT, where radiation exposure can disturb the development of radiation-sensitive sperm cells, the magnetic field and radio waves do not affect the sperm cells in their development and function.

Side effects of MRT

In comparison to other imaging procedures that use X-rays, there are no known side effects in an MRI examination. In rare cases, headaches have been reported after an examination, but this is usually due to muscle tension caused by the long stay in the tube and not to the effects of the magnetic field or radio waves.Possible risks to patients caused by metals or magnets in or on the body should be addressed before an examination. In some cases, an examination by MRI is not possible.

Occurring side effects are usually caused by the administration of a contrast medium. Usually, stable gadolinium chelates are administered for this purpose, in rare cases iodine-containing compounds are also given. Even though the occurrence of side effects caused by the contrast medium is rare,: are possible.

However, these symptoms often do not last longer than a few hours, as the contrast medium is quickly excreted again via the kidneys. Further interesting information on this topic can be found at What are the side effects of an MRI?

  • Temperature Sensitivity Disorders
  • Tingling on the skin
  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • General indisposition