Is it dangerous to do fluorography in early pregnancy

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Pregnant women have many questions related to the admissibility of fluorography. This is justified by the fact that rays, the source of which can be various devices, including tomographs of one kind or another, can lead to the penetration of ionizing radiation into the cells. Understanding whether it is possible to do fluorography for pregnant women at an early stage, it will be possible to protect yourself from potential risk, as well as protect the baby from possible harm.

Potential harm

It is necessary to be interested in the question of whether it is possible to do fluorography for pregnant women at an early stage in advance. The very wording associated with fluorography sounds intimidating to many. This type of radiation does not actually carry anything potentially dangerous. Special equipment is responsible for the formation of radiation here. But if you study this issue in more detail, then the source of such rays is the sun, space and even water.

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We breathe in natural radionuclides every day together with the air. It turns out that minor irradiation occurs with almost every person, including pregnant women in the short term. It is safe.

To determine exactly how dangerous the fluorogram is for the expectant mother, it is necessary to compare the data on the annual exposure received from natural sources. This indicator should be compared with how much radiation the body receives during fluorography and with research data related to the use of X-rays.

1 millisievert is the annual dose that is safe for humans. In the traditional version, film-type fluorography carries from 0.5 to 0.8 millisievert. If we add the background radiation as a whole, which approaches the mark of 0.35, we get an indicator that is higher than the safe level. A healthy person is not threatened with anything.

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At the same time, there is no exact data on what effect fluorography can have on a pregnant woman at a short time. It is impossible to say for sure what kind of consequences may take place in relation to an unformed fetus. And since there is no known data, we can talk about the potential risk.

They made a fluorogram without knowing about the pregnancy

How can this threaten? This situation is common. Expectant mothers are sometimes examined without knowing about their special situation.

If the examination was carried out before a delay in menstruation was noted, harm to the child is excluded. This is due to the fact that the ovum has not yet fixed on the surface of the body of the uterus. Accordingly, no embryo formation was noted either.

In case of concern, you can ask the doctor to prescribe any additional examinations, including a consultation with a geneticist and special tests. In accordance with the data, it will be possible to determine how to proceed further.

An experienced specialist will accurately answer the question of whether it is possible to do fluorography for pregnant women at an early stage. Don't be shy about asking questions. It so happens that expectant mothers keep silent about the fact of pregnancy, although this did not make any sense. A specialist is always ready to meet a woman while expecting a baby. At a minimum, you can count on the issuance of a special protective apron to reduce the dose of hazardous radiation.

Just in case, you can limit your exposure to X-rays for the remainder of your pregnancy. The total annual dose will increase with each further examination, and this must be taken into account.

Precautions for direct indications for a fluorogram

Sometimes it happens that a woman needs to undergo fluorography at an early date anyway. What should be done in this case?

Tell the specialist that you are pregnant and find out in advance if you really need a fluorogram.

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If the specialist answered positively, he is obliged to write an appropriate direction for an x-ray. If we compare the procedures of X-ray of the lungs and fluorography, then in the second case, the radiation dose is 20% less. For some, this may be a small indicator, but it will help reduce the level of anxiety in the pregnant woman, and it will be objectively safer.

Pregnant women have the right to receive all the necessary information about their condition. In addition, they may require a picture obtained after fluorography.

The laboratory assistant in the X-ray laboratory has a special apron that additionally protects against radiation. Its structure uses the equivalent of lead, ideally protecting the baby and his mother.

If there is no X-ray in your city of residence, then it makes sense to go to the nearest city and even pay for the examination, if it doesn't work out otherwise. The service to look for is called a digital chest X-ray. It assumes the receipt of such an amount of ionizing radiation, which is equal to 3% of the total annual dose.

Knowing whether it is possible to do fluorography for pregnant women at an early stage will never be superfluous. All kinds of research involving radiation should be done only when necessary. If there is a chance to refuse them, then it is better to take this opportunity.

Bonus

The conclusions that can be drawn from the article are as follows:

1. It is better to replace fluorography in early pregnancy with a digital x-ray of the lungs. It assumes radiation doses several times lower than standard ones.
2. During the procedure, you can ask the technician for a protective apron containing lead. It will additionally protect against radiation.
3. Any procedures involving ionizing radiation should be carried out when necessary. If you can replace them with alternatives or eliminate them completely, it is better to avoid such a procedure.