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X-rays and Pregnancy
November 13, 2008 |
From fractures to fillings, x-rays can help diagnose a slew of medical injuries and issues. But in the past many pregnant women have steered clear of the x-ray
room in fear of exposing their baby to radiation.
Dr. Aparna Eligeti is an Ob/Gyn with Lee Memorial Health System. She says, “There’s
always a concern about X-rays and pregnancy. The biggest fears in the past for women
have been risks associated with fetal anomalies or pregnancy loss.”
Dr. Eligeti
says those fears may now be unfounded. Most of today’s diagnostic x-rays
do not emit enough radiation to put a pregnant woman at risk. “A single diagnostic
radiologic procedure has very little if any risk to the fetus. Most diagnostic radiologic
procedures use less than five rads which is the critical level that can cause problems.”
If you are pregnant and do need to undergo a diagnostic x-ray, it’s important that
protective aprons are used in the abdominal area. Dr. Eligeti says, “With any kind
of radiologic procedure if there is radiation used we
would double shield the abdomen
to protect the uterus.”
You can also consider undergoing another type of diagnostic procedure like an ultrasound
or MRI.
An average person can safely get up to 300 simple x-rays a year. |
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