Pregnancy and fluorography: on what terms can you do a fluorography

The birth of a healthy baby is the most important thing for a future mother. Therefore, the question of the impact of X-ray diagnostics and, in particular, fluorography on the health of the mother and baby is very relevant. Moreover, there are many rumors around this issue.

Let's consider this issue from the standpoint of radiobiology - a science that studies the effect of radiation on living organisms.

A bit of the theory of

The most vulnerable to the effects of radiation are the cells of the body that are in the process of division. Therefore, for an adult human exposure to small doses of radiation is safe, actively dividing cells in him a little.

But in a growing fetus, all cells are active. Are pregnancy and fluorography compatible in this case?

Here, nature came up with its "tricks."At an early stage of pregnancy, if the zygote is damaged, the embryo will not develop. Therefore, it is recommended to conduct X-ray studies in the pelvic, gastrointestinal and urogenital systems in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle( the first 10 days), in order not to harm even a possible fetus.

All this applies to radiology research in general, but fluorography is a special case.

A little bit about fluorography

It happens that a woman underwent fluorography, still unaware of her situation. This is where the main experiences begin: how will fluorography affect the development of the child?

The harm of fluorography during pregnancy is estimated by its negative effect on the organs and tissues of the fetus.

Important pregnancy period at which the fluorographic study was conducted. After 20 weeks of gestation, when the main organs and systems of the fetus are already formed, fluorography is less dangerous.

The first 2 weeks of gestation, the embryo is also well protected against ionizing effects.

From 2 to 20 weeks of pregnancy, a risk of spontaneous miscarriage increases during an X-ray study. During this period, fetal cells with ionizing radiation can be damaged at the genetic level, which leads to serious pathologies of organs and systems. Structural damage to fetal cells can lead to a delay in growth and development, to cancerous blood diseases in the child.

Consequences of fluorography during pregnancy make this method of research contraindicated for pregnant women and women with suspected pregnancy.

When pregnant women are given fluorography

Pregnant do fluorography only if the benefit of the study for the mother exceeds the possible risk for the child. Suspected pneumonia is an indication for the study. If possible, it is better to resort to research methods without ionizing radiation, such as magnetic resonance imaging.

Summing up

During pregnancy, fluorography and any X-ray studies should be avoided. These studies are conducted only as a last resort. Especially dangerous are X-ray studies in the early stages of pregnancy, when the fetus is actively developing.

Video materials on the subject of the article

Doctor's opinion on this issue:

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