is it safe to have an x-ray if you're not sure if you're pregnant yet?

Question

i had my period on the 7th of april. my bf and i had unprotected sex since. we're required to have an x-ray exam for the office i work with. i'm scared it would have bad effects on the baby if it turns out i'm pregnant.

i have a miscarriage history (blighted) ovum and i'm scared to have another one again.

Answer 1

I am assuming you need a chest x-ray. I have never x-rayed any other body part by the request of an employer. Did you have a positive TB skin test?

Anyhow, if you can, try to hold off an x-ray until you are sure you are not pregnant. If that is not possible, here is what the experts say. The following is off of a website that has questions answered by qualified medical professionals, who are experts in radiation and its effects.....

"QUESTION: Somewhere between the fifth and ninth day of pregnancy I had three chest x rays without a lead protection apron. I did not know at the time I was pregnant and I am very concerned that the x rays may have harmed the dividing egg.

ANSWER:Medical x rays are highly collimated, that is, the beam is directed to only the part of the body being examined. Thus very little, if any, radiation reached the abdomen during your chest x rays. No effects of radiation exposure are likely.
Kenneth L. Mossman, PhD"

http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q734.html

AND:

"QUESTION: I am pregnant and had a chest x ray. A lead apron was used as protection. Will this harm my baby?
ANSWER: Radiation dose to the embryo from a chest x ray, using modern technology, is extremely small. It is, in fact, too small to measure with most instruments. It is certainly no more than the dose received in a couple of days from unavoidable naturally occurring environmental radiation (commonly called background). Although no one can state unequivocally that there is no possibility of ill effects from this small dose, the probability of such effects is extremely remote. Every person gets the natural environmental radiation dose every day.
S. Julian Gibbs, DDS, PhD "

http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q1494.html

Answer 2

At early stages of pregnancy, even if they protect you will a lead shield, it can still cause either a miscarriage or birth defect. It is a small chance, but a chance that most doctors don't want to take unless it is extremely medically necessary and will only use x-ray if they have too. You should wait to see if you are pregnant before you take an x-ray. X-Rays at the dentist are usually fine with a lead shield because the rays are not as strong as the x-rays that they do on your body. I do not recommend that you get an x-ray on your body unless it is absolutely necessary for health reasons.

Answer 3

I was in my second trimester when sprained my ankle and the ER dr's wanted to take an x-ray to make sure that it wasn't any worse than a sprain. I said it was ok because it was my ankle and they were going to cover me with an apron anyway. I told my OB a week after it happened and she said that the baby would be fine and that it would actually be ok for them to take an x-ray of my belly, that it's not enough radiation to effect the baby. This is what my doctor said and I trust her but listen, this is your body, your baby. Call your OB/GYN and ask them what they think. Usually the second trimester is the best time to any kind of procedure anyway because the baby is already fully formed and is just growing and there is low risk of a miscarraige or premature birth. But please, call your doctor because they know your situation better than we do. Good luck!

Answer 4

What kind of x-ray... on what body part? This seems really odd.

Anyway. Tell the technician that you could possibly be pregnant.

When I was pregnant with twin, I concieved on Dec 2. At the end of Dec I badly sprained my ankle. I went to a doctor who x-rayed my ankle.

I told my OB-GYN two months later that I'd had this x-ray. He told me to not worry about it. That he'd seen mothers who had full belly x-rays with no problems to the fetus.

However since you think you could be pregnant I would ask that your's be schedule after you might start your next period.

Answer 5

No you must not have the x ray under any circumstances ! It will most definately cause harm to the baby if you are pregnant !

Answer 6

Tell them you may be pregnant. Ask them to wait another week or so and you can do the x-ray then if you're not pregnant.
This early in the pregnancy it would kill the embryo.

Answer 7

Don't get an x-ray it's not safe. Do a pregnancy test first or tell someone but don't risk it.

Answer 8

unborn babies are so vulnerable as they are developing that you have to weigh the risks. having a routine xray for a physical is NOT worth it. would you taste arsenic, even a itty bitty small amount, if your work told you to? hell no

Answer 9

let thim know that you are pregnant and if you are you are not far along they will probably just but an extra protector thing on your stomach. they did this for me at the dentist.

Answer 10

Why take a chance, hun, it's easy to just let them know your concerns and save the heartache.