The impact of chest X-ray on the fetus

Speaking of chest X-ray, I believe you must know that it mainly uses X-rays to operate, and X-rays have very large ionizing radiation, which has a great impact on the fetus. Therefore, pregnant women generally do not do chest X-rays to avoid endangering the development and health of their fetuses. However, many women do not know that they are pregnant and go for chest X-rays when they feel unwell.

In this case, chest X-ray will definitely have an impact on the fetus. Many women do not know what to do at this time. On the one hand, they are afraid that their baby will develop deformities, and on the other hand, they expect the baby to develop healthily.

Does chest X-ray have a big impact on the fetus?

Radiation dose

Research reports have pointed out that when the radiation dose received by the fetus exceeds a certain value, the risks associated with fetal intellectual development disorders, fetal malformations, growth retardation and fetal death should be considered. The dose of radiation used in general examinations is quite small, so pregnant mothers do not need to worry too much. When the radiation dose reaches a certain value, a decision should be made under informed conditions based on personal circumstances. Pregnant mothers can consult a doctor for specific circumstances.

Irradiation area

If a pregnant woman must undergo a chest X-ray, she should try to avoid irradiating the abdomen and only irradiate the local area to avoid affecting the fetus. If there is a suspected problem in the abdomen, the abdominal organs are generally examined by B-ultrasound, which is more convenient and accurate than X-ray examination.

Pregnancy time

The 15th to 60th day after conception (within 2 months) is the critical time for embryonic organ formation. Try to avoid some routine abdominal (pelvic) X-ray examinations. As for the fetus, if it is fully developed, since the organs have already been formed, the chance of deformity is relatively low and the impact of chest X-ray on the fetus is also low. However, if it is not necessary, chest X-ray should be avoided.

Now that you know how to judge whether chest X-ray will have a significant impact on the fetus, it is recommended that female friends who are not taking any contraceptive measures should first know whether they are pregnant before deciding whether to have a chest X-ray. You should know that in order to avoid the impact of X-rays on children's growth, chest X-rays are not performed on infants and children clinically.