Answer to Question #13862 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"
Category: Medical and Dental Patient Issues
The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:
Q
I just had a pelvic x-ray exam, and I might be pregnant. Could there be any harm to the baby? If so, what should I do?
A
I want to reassure you that your baby will not be harmed by the pelvic x-ray. We definitely want to minimize the radiation dose to an unborn baby, but it takes a much higher radiation dose than you would receive from an x ray to cause birth defects. You don't need to do anything as a result of having the x ray.
Deirdre H. Elder, MS, CHP, CMLSO
Answer posted on 17 February 2021. The information posted on this web page is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may affect the applicability of concepts, materials, and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice. To the best of our knowledge, answers are correct at the time they are posted. Be advised that over time, requirements could change, new data could be made available, and Internet links could change, affecting the correctness of the answers. Answers are the professional opinions of the expert responding to each question; they do not necessarily represent the position of the Health Physics Society.