- Table of radiation by type of X-ray
- Is it dangerous to have an x-ray without knowing that you are pregnant?
- What can happen if you are exposed to more radiation than recommended
The greatest risk of having X-rays taken during pregnancy is related to the chances of causing genetic defects in the fetus, which can result in disease or malformations. However, this problem is rare because it requires a very high amount of radiation to cause changes in the fetus.
Generally, the maximum recommended radiation during pregnancy is 5 rads or 5000 millirads, which is the unit used to measure the amount of radiation absorbed, because from this value the fetus can undergo changes.
However, most tests using X-rays are far from reaching the maximum value, being considered extremely safe, especially if only 1 to 2 tests are performed during pregnancy.
Table of radiation by type of X-ray
Depending on the location of the body where the X-ray is taken, the amount of radiation varies:
| X-ray examination location | Quantity of radiation from the exam (millirads *) | How many x-rays can the pregnant woman do? |
| Mouth X-ray | 0.1 | 50, 000 |
| X-ray of the skull | 0.05 | 100 thousand |
| Chest X-ray | 200 to 700 | 7 to 25 |
| Abdominal X-ray | 150 to 400 | 12 to 33 |
| X-ray of the cervical spine | 2 | 2500 |
| X-ray of the thoracic spine | 9 | 550 |
| X-ray of the lumbar spine | 200 to 1000 | 5 to 25 |
| X-ray of the hip | 110 to 400 | 12 to 40 |
| Breast X-ray (mammography) | 20 to 70 | 70 to 250 |
* 1000 millirads = 1 rad
Thus, the pregnant woman can do an X-ray whenever recommended, however, it is advisable to inform the doctor about the pregnancy, so that the lead apron used for radiation protection is correctly positioned on the pregnant woman's belly.
Is it dangerous to have an x-ray without knowing that you are pregnant?
In cases where the woman did not know she was pregnant and had an X-ray, the test is also not dangerous, even at the beginning of pregnancy when the embryo is developing.
However, it is recommended that, as soon as she discovers the pregnancy, the woman informs the obstetrician about the amount of tests she has done, so that the amount of radiation already absorbed is calculated, avoiding that during the rest of the pregnancy she receives more than 5 rads.
What can happen if you are exposed to more radiation than recommended
The defects and malformations that may appear in the fetus vary according to the gestational age, as well as the total amount of radiation to which the pregnant woman was exposed. However, when it happens, the main complication of radiation exposure during pregnancy is usually the onset of cancer during childhood.
Thus, babies born after a large exposure to radiation should be frequently evaluated by the pediatrician, to identify early changes and even start some type of treatment, if necessary.
