What happens if I was x-rayed and unknowingly pregnant?
The consequences of X-rays during pregnancy can be very different. They are dependent on: A single X-ray exposure exposes the body to radiation that is only about a quarter of the radiation to which every human being is exposed annually through space. As a rule, therefore, a single or few X-rays is not sufficient to cause long-term damage to the embryo.
If you have been x-rayed without knowing that you are already pregnant, you should definitely discuss this with your gynaecologist. However, you do not have to assume that there is any damage to the child. Only after a radiation dose of about fifty times the dose of a single X-ray of the lungs is it assumed that the child has been damaged, leading to severe malformations. Nevertheless, X-rays should be avoided during pregnancy, if possible, as damage to the child cannot be completely ruled out.
- The time of pregnancy
- The x-rayed body part
- The number of images
Is it possible to have X-rays despite pregnancy?
In principle, it is possible to take X-rays despite pregnancy. A single X-ray is usually not dangerous for the child. Especially radiographs of parts of the body that are far away from the abdomen are not dangerous, since a lead shield is usually worn anyway, which protects against X-rays.
However, care should be taken, especially with X-rays that affect the mother’s abdomen and back.Since damage to the child cannot be ruled out, it should always be carefully considered whether an X-ray is necessary. In many cases other methods of diagnosis can help. However, if there is a dangerous or emergency situation for the mother in which no alternative imaging is possible, an x-ray is useful.
What alternatives are there?
There are several alternatives to X-rays during pregnancy. First of all, it should always be considered whether imaging is necessary at all at the current time. Often the diagnosis can even be made by means of a physical examination alone.
Or it is a matter of clarifying a question that can also wait until after pregnancy. If acute imaging is nevertheless necessary, the most popular and best method in pregnancy is ultrasound. This does not release any radiation that could harm the child.
Ultrasound, as the name suggests, works by emitting and measuring sound waves that pass through the body. Experienced doctors can make many diagnoses by means of an ultrasound image. However, some tissues, such as bones, reflect the sound waves so strongly that no clear image can be obtained.
Parts of the body that contain a lot of air, such as the intestines, can also be imaged less well. If the ultrasound leaves further questions unanswered, magnetic resonance imaging is also possible. In this MRI examination, images are generated via magnetic fields. The examination takes place even without radiation exposure for the child. According to the current state of research, the child is not harmed at any stage of the pregnancy.
