Are X-rays or Imaging Tests Safe During Pregnancy?
Amid pregnancy, life goes on—which means that sometimes you may experience illnesses or injuries that require medical attention and possibly imaging exams.
Because imaging tests are associated with radiation, you may be wondering if it’s safe to get an X-ray while pregnant, or you might be hesitant to take these tests because you are nervous about exposing your baby to something dangerous. Rest easy knowing that medical imaging exams are typically safe while you are pregnant.
Safe Screenings During Pregnancy
Two types of tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound, have minimal impact on a baby in your womb. Both tests rely on the use of a non-ionizing form of radiation. Ultrasound captures images from inside your body through the use of sound waves. It can diagnose a variety of conditions that may be causing infection, pain or swelling in your body.
Ultrasound is also used to track the growth of your body and examine your overall health. This type of test can help doctors examine your bones, organs and tissues. MRI is also an excellent breast cancer screening tool.
Screenings and Risk
Even though large amounts of radiation can be dangerous to humans, the radiation delivered during medical imaging tests and X-rays, including computed tomography (CT) scan, fluoroscopy, nuclear medicine and radiography, is not enough to have a negative impact on you or your baby.
If you happened to have a pelvic CT scan before you knew you were pregnant, talk to your doctor about performing a radiation dose and risk analysis to determine whether having a CT scan during pregnancy had any negative impact. This is highly unlikely, but the analysis will offer peace of mind, which is essential when you are bringing new life into the world.
Keeping You Safe
The healthier you are, the healthier your baby will be. Always talk to your doctor before completing any imaging exams during pregnancy. If your doctor recommends imaging tests to help identify a medical condition that needs to be addressed, the team at American Health Imaging (AHI) can provide you with tests that are safe for you and your baby.
Questions? Contact AHI directly. We look forward to hearing from you!