Pregnancy and Radiation

The following FAQs have been developed by our topic editors for this category:

			Pregnancy and Flying
			Pregnancy and Radiation Exposure
			Pregnancy and Security Screening
			Solar Flares and Air Travel

The following HPS Web pages also address this category:

			Doses from Medical Radiation Sources
			Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Energy from Wireless Local Area Networks
			Pregnancy and Radiation Exposure
			Radiation Exposure and Pregnancy

The following health physics questions have been answered by an expert and approved by our editors for inclusion in our "Ask the Experts" feature. Click on the question to see the answer.

Questions in this Category Are in the Following Subcategories:
•  Conception after exposures
•  Exposures not directly to embryo/fetus
•  Exposures to embryo/fetus
•  Flying
•  Guidance and policy
•  Inherited (genetic) effects
•  Power lines, magnets, computers, airport screening, cell phones
•  Proximity to radioactive persons
•  Radiation effects to embryo/fetus
•  Radioactivity in food and water
•  Tanning
•  Miscellaneous
Conception after exposures
Q100	–	What are the effects of x rays on spermatogenesis?
Q913	–	How long to wait to conceive after CT scan
Q1100	–	Abdominal CT effects on having children
Q1375	–	Past radiation exposures
Q1453	–	Treatment with iodine-131
Q1772	–	Conception after treatment
Q2070	–	When to conceive after CT scan
Q2114	–	Effects of x rays on fertility
Q2172	–	Husband's thyroid therapy
Q2201	–	Ova risk due to HSG
Q2206	–	IVP effects on sperm
Q2288	–	Angioplasty
Q2443	–	Cardiology Fellowship
Q2566	–	Dental x rays
Q2569	–	Desert Storm
Q2639	–	Abdominal CT Scan
Q2657	–	131I thyroid treatment and infertility
Q2703	–	Ovaries exposed
Q2715	–	Walking through radioactive materials lab
Q2827	–	Wearing apron in operating room
Q2868	–	Pelvic x rays at age 13
Q2988	–	CT risk to ovaries
Q2989	–	Genetic effects of 20 mrem
Q3037	–	Effects on eggs
Q3539	–	Radiation treatment
Q3540	–	Thyroid scan with iodine-123
Q4761	–	Held child during x rays
Q6123	–	Fertility
Q7790	–	Husband had CT
Exposures not directly to embryo/fetus
Q42	–	What are the risks from a baseline mammogram performed while pregnant?
Q131	–	I am pregnant. Would x rays of my knees affect my baby?
Q174	–	I am concerned because I am pregnant and had a chest x ray.
Q203	–	Are there any side effects to an unborn child from a chest x ray?
Q248	–	Is a lead shield necessary for a pregnant patient for an extremity x-ray exam?
Q292	–	Medical radiation exposure (especially dental) of pregnant women
Q360	–	Dental x rays and pregnancy
Q509	–	Tests during pregnancy
Q564	–	Chest x-ray when pregnant
Q580	–	I'm pregnant and had a brain CT
Q734	–	Chest x rays early in pregnancy
Q830	–	Irradiating pregnant breast-cancer patient
Q899	–	CT scan of cervical spine while pregnant
Q996	–	Chest x ray during pregnancy
Q1223	–	Dental x rays and pregnancy
Q1327	–	Chest x ray and pregnancy
Q1329	–	Dental x rays and pregnancy
Q1337	–	Dental x rays and CT scan of sinuses
Q1439	–	Lung tests
Q1494	–	Chest x ray and pregnancy
Q1503	–	Vulnerability during different periods
Q1679	–	Mother's chest x ray
Q1682	–	Standing next to child during x ray
Q1811	–	Held son during x rays
Q1888	–	Dental x rays
Q2011	–	Thyroid scan
Q2118	–	Dental x rays
Q2164	–	X rays of kidneys
Q2655	–	Female dentist
Q2673	–	Dental x rays
Q2675	–	Held son during x ray
Q2681	–	Radon in home
Q2686	–	Dental x rays: effect on sperm
Q2687	–	Arthrogram of the wrist
Q2694	–	Laser beams
Q2697	–	Hair removal laser treatment
Q2720	–	X ray and CT scan of chest
Q2730	–	Catheter ablation
Q2738	–	X rays of arm
Q2804	–	Chest CT and iodine
Q2905	–	Held son during x ray
Q3624	–	X ray of ankle
Q5016	–	Trisomy 18
Q6119	–	Exposure from son's CT scan
Q7201	–	Held son during his x rays
Q8394	–	Mammogram and pregnancy
Exposures to embryo/fetus
Q37	–	Risks to the baby from a series of abdominal x rays early in pregnancy
Q105	–	Can abdominal x rays cause leukemia to an exposed fetus?
Q197	–	What damage is there to early pregnancy from a barium enema x ray?
Q217	–	What is the dose due to a CT spiraled abdominal x ray?
Q372	–	Radiation exposure during early pregnancy
Q374	–	Abdomen CT scan and pregnancy.
Q385	–	Software to calculate fetal exposures
Q945	–	Pelvic x rays during pregnancy
Q1037	–	GI exposure during pregnancy
Q1103	–	Abdominal x rays and pregnancy
Q1589	–	Pelvic/back x rays
Q1876	–	HSG x ray
Q1909	–	8 rad to embryo
Q2192	–	Early pregnancy
Q2513	–	X rays of back
Q2661	–	Barium enema
Q2670	–	Spinal x ray and CT scan
Q2685	–	Chest, pelvis, and abdominal CT scan
Q2708	–	X rays to pelvic region
Q2733	–	Radiation exposure after accident
Q3060	–	X rays of abdominal area
Q3063	–	Tc-99m scan
Q3214	–	Shielding thorax CT patients
Q3359	–	X rays to kidneys
Q3793	–	X rays after car accident
Q3839	–	Hysterosalpingogram
Q3876	–	Ultrasound
Q3917	–	Radioactive statues
Q3955	–	Cardiac stress test
Q4016	–	Chiropractor visit
Q6775	–	Ultrasound imaging: keepsake videos
Q7250	–	Iodine-123 scan and pregnant
Flying
Q1534	–	Flying and pregnant
Q1577	–	Miscarriages
Q1587	–	Pregnancy problems
Q1663	–	Flying while pregnant
Q1929	–	Flying
Q2012	–	Flying
Q2205	–	Embryos in uterus
Q2329	–	Flight attendant
Q2576	–	Leukemia?
Q2650	–	Military Aircraft
Q2666	–	Flying to India
Q2683	–	Philadelphia to Seattle
Q2712	–	Long-haul flights
Q2729	–	Conceive one week before flight
Q2737	–	Atlanta-San Francisco flight
Q2783	–	Airline Captain
Q2985	–	Flying during First Trimester
Q3231	–	Solar flares predicted
Q3368	–	Flying on commercial airliners
Q3530	–	Flying in a Learjet
Q3783	–	First three months
Q3860	–	Vulnerable 8-to-15-week stage
Q3923	–	12-hour flight
Q3967	–	Solar flares and miscarriage
Q5964	–	Pregnancy and flying
Guidance and policy
Q45	–	Screening women for pregnancy prior to diagnostic radiographic exams
Q348	–	Policy for screening women of childbearing age
Q1944	–	Mandatory pregnancy testing
Q4552	–	Physician consult needed
Q6786	–	EKG technician
Inherited (genetic) effects
Q124	–	Does a chest x ray endanger the ova?
Q517	–	Can x rays cause genetic damage?
Q896	–	Effect of radiation exposures on future children
Q1916	–	Genetic effects
Q2705	–	Upper GI exam
Q3719	–	X rays without shielding gonads
Q4022	–	CT scan for hernia
Q4127	–	Effects on ovaries
Q4390	–	Damage to eggs
Q4391	–	Husband's x-ray exposure
Q4421	–	Nuclear stress test
Power lines, magnets, computers, airport screening, cell phones
Q541	–	Effects of RF on pregnancy
Q548	–	TVs, computer monitors and pregnancy
Q694	–	Do microwaves affect the fetus?
Q765	–	Pregnancy and EMF
Q834	–	Photocopying
Q835	–	Working with nonionizing radiation while pregnant
Q1157	–	Satellite dish and pregnancy
Q1408	–	Using a computer while pregnant
Q1437	–	Microwave relay station
Q1487	–	Metal detectors
Q1499	–	Airport screening
Q1525	–	Airport screening
Q1592	–	Pregnant and working with computers
Q1641	–	UV and pregnancy
Q1647	–	Cell phone tower
Q1653	–	Working at laptop
Q1830	–	Radiofrequency exposure
Q1857	–	Cell phone use
Q1867	–	Microwaves in a cafe
Q1963	–	Microwaves and gender determination
Q2212	–	Cell phone tower
Q2251	–	Metal screening at airports
Q2280	–	Computer exposure
Q2312	–	Wireless connections
Q2332	–	Pest Control Device
Q2447	–	Age of microwave and cell phone
Q2491	–	Wireless network
Q2497	–	Mobile phone masts and satellite dishes
Q2591	–	Metal detectors
Q2647	–	Mobile phone tower
Q2684	–	Use of computers
Q2691	–	Working at satellite company
Q2713	–	Color monitor
Q2718	–	Radiofrequency Environment
Q2763	–	Laptop on lap
Q2826	–	Teach computer classes
Q2832	–	Scanner at football game
Q2873	–	FM radio station
Q3203	–	Laptop computer
Q3354	–	Magnet mattress
Q3379	–	Husband walked near satellite dish
Q3872	–	Satellite microwave radiation
Q4395	–	Laptop
Q4512	–	Rise in autism
Q6568	–	Pregnant and concerned about radiation exposure from computer
Q6609	–	Nonionizing radiation
Proximity to radioactive persons
Q94	–	Risk to fetus from a coworker having radiation treatment to prostate
Q921	–	Contrast dyes
Q1077	–	Thyroid scan and separation from pregnant wife
Q1119	–	Pregnancy and cat treated with radioactivity
Q1627	–	Radioactive iodine and coworker
Q1667	–	Cat and radioactive iodine treatment
Q1746	–	Therasphere therapy
Q1807	–	HIDA scan
Q2512	–	Nuclear perfusion scan
Q2643	–	Hug to pregnant friend
Q2659	–	Radioactive cat
Q2672	–	Dad with cardiac stress tesst
Q2700	–	Father to have prostate cancer treatment
Q2728	–	Mother undergoing radiation therapy
Q2948	–	Mother-in-law to be treated
Q3339	–	Relatives who had thallium test
Q3484	–	Effect on fertility
Q3817	–	Iodine-125 implants in father
Q3820	–	Coworker and iodine-131
Q3835	–	Friend with treatment of the cervix
Q4017	–	Friend getting radiation treatment
Q4365	–	Breast cancer patient
Q5607	–	Mother to receive radiation treatment
Q6014	–	Polonium-210 risk
Q7194	–	Near patient who had bone scan
Radiation effects to embryo/fetus
Q52	–	Is there any effect of x rays for a pregnant woman?
Q61	–	Does radiation cause mutations in a fetus?
Q132	–	Can you help me with a project on radiation and pregnancy?
Q193	–	Are my son's health problems related to my x-ray exposures during pregnancy?
Q270	–	What are the risks to the fetus from x rays?
Q411	–	VQ scan and chest CT during pregnancy
Q483	–	Exposure before birth and childhood cancer
Q502	–	After week 20 of pregnancy
Q852	–	Upper GI study and pregnancy
Q958	–	Iodine-131 treatment and pregnancy
Q1167	–	Vulnerability of embryo
Q1283	–	Chiropractic x rays
Q1803	–	Technetium imaging of thyroid
Q2020	–	Held child during x rays
Q2116	–	Effects on egg exposed
Q2310	–	Shut down x-ray machine
Q2340	–	Pregnancy after thyroid treatment
Q2440	–	HIDA Scan
Q2660	–	Cardiac stress test
Q2662	–	VQ scan
Q2663	–	IVP
Q2668	–	Back x rays
Q2669	–	Back x rays
Q2671	–	Iodine-131 thyroid test
Q2682	–	Back x rays
Q2688	–	Iodine 131 therapy
Q2689	–	Epidural injection with fluoroscopy
Q2690	–	Bathroom tiles
Q2693	–	KUB x rays
Q2696	–	Chest CT
Q2709	–	Iodine therapy
Q2727	–	X ray by chiropractor
Q2731	–	HIDA and CT exposure
Q2773	–	Living under clinic with x-ray machine
Q2785	–	Cardiac catheterization
Q2836	–	X rays taken by chiropractor
Q2845	–	Decisions on medical tests
Q2855	–	In CT room with patient
Q2914	–	Chernobyl exposure
Q3004	–	Cardiac catheterization
Q3963	–	Abdominal pain
Q5293	–	Work next to dental office
Q7189	–	Thyroid scan
Radioactivity in food and water
Q417	–	Pregnant woman drinking well water
Q484	–	High levels of radium in drinking water
Q3238	–	Radium in drinking water
Tanning
Q244	–	Is the use of a tanning bed harmful to a fetus?
Q587	–	Effect of UVA on pregnancy
Q1674	–	Tanning
Q1815	–	Tanning
Q2679	–	Tanning bed
Q2706	–	Tanning at a salon
Q2725	–	Getting pregnant after tanning bed use
Q3011	–	Tanning while breast-feeding
Q3527	–	Temperature increase from suntanning
Q3589	–	Harm to unborn child
Q3785	–	Bronzing liquid
Q3841	–	Early pregnancy and tanning
Q3915	–	Tanning and tanning oil
Miscellaneous
Q30	–	Risks to fetus from removal of birthmark by laser while pregnant
Q220	–	Could laser surgery on my forehead expose my unborn baby?
Q571	–	Pregnancy and laser exposure
Q1054	–	Laser eye treatment
Q1460	–	Laser hair-removal technician
Q2648	–	Laser hair removal
Q2677	–	Confocal laser microscopy
Q2680	–	MRI after Accident
Q2702	–	Magnetic resonance imaging
Q2704	–	Contrast material
Q2707	–	Body fat analyzer
Q2726	–	MRI of brain and cervical
Q2732	–	Diffraction unit
Q2767	–	Infrared
Q2782	–	Laser hair removal
Q2921	–	Laser hair removal
Q2955	–	Removing a Tattoo
Q2962	–	Bar-code scanner gun
Q3317	–	Ultrasound treatment of ankle
Q3330	–	Laser games
Q3347	–	Tattoo Removal
Q3833	–	Therapeutic ultrasound
Q3850	–	MRI of lower back
Q4200	–	Bone densitometry
Q4378	–	Regulatory limits to fetus of patient
Q7356	–	Pregnant and work with lasers in a medical skin clinic
Q7537	–	Dermatologist using laser

The following Web sites may also be useful:

			Exposure During Long-Haul Flights (Radiation Research Vol. 153)
			Pregnancy and Radiation (Canadian Health Network)
			Pregnancy and Radiation (Idaho State University)