Answer to Question #1534 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Pregnancy and Radiation — Flying

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

Are there any weeks of pregnancy that are safer than the others with regard to flying on a commercial airplane?

The exposure to radiation during a commercial flight is very low and is below the dose that could potentially harm the embryo or fetus at all stages of gestation. Therefore, when you fly is irrelevant from a radiation standpoint. You should be aware of the fact that all healthy mothers, without a family history or personal history of reproductive problems, has a 3% risk for birth defects and a 15% risk of miscarriage. That is the background risk for these reproductive problems.

Robert L. Brent, MD, PhD

Answer posted on January 14, 2002. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.