Can skin-tightening treatments on my belly, like radiofrequency (RF), affect the DNA of my ovules? Should I wait a certain period of time after having them, before trying to get pregnant?
Unlike ionizing radiation such as from x rays, RF exposure is nonionizing and does not affect DNA in any tissue. The only proven effect from high intensity RF exposure (above 100 kHz) is heating. When the tissue temperature is back to normal, no effect on a future pregnancy would be expected. Because high temperature can affect a fetus, avoid the treatment during pregnancy. Since usually it is not certain when pregnancy starts, to be sure, it is wise to stop treatment for a while if a pregnancy is planned.
Effects of RF exposure on health have been studied for about 70 years since the end of World War II. Established adverse health effects are stimulation of nerve and muscle contraction at low frequencies below 100 kHz, and heating effects for above 100 kHz. Low-level effects, or so called non-thermal effects, are reported but these have not proven and there are no confirmed mechanisms that might cause these effects. The application of RF diathermy (putting heat in deep tissues) for rehabilitation has been used since the late 1940s on millions of patients worldwide. More recently, skin-tightening treatment also uses heat for the beneficial effects. Ultrasound, RF, and lasers are all commonly used. Depending on the frequency and power used, the heat generated in the belly area can cause temperature to rise in the tissues. RF can heat deeper tissue layers than that of laser treatment.
Because it is a thermal treatment, the potential effects of overheating should be avoided, but no DNA damage or late health effects are expected. To avoid heating of the fetus, treatment should be avoided if pregnancy is expected.
C-K Chou, PhD
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