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10 October 2008

Answer to Question #2288 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Pregnancy and Radiation — Conception after exposures

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

I have been diagnosed with renal artery stenosis and am scheduled to undergo angioplasty. I want to continue trying to conceive following the angioplasty/stenting. My doctor told me that my ovaries would be subject to radiation that will be injected into my renal artery. I also had a Renal MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) with contrast three weeks ago and a CT (computerized tomography) scan without contrast four weeks ago. What are the effects of this radiation? Do I need to wait a certain amount of time after the procedure to conceive?

Thank you for your inquiry about the reproductive risks of radiation to your ovaries before you get pregnant. Preconception radiation risks have been studied in two large populations, women who have been treated for cancer and have become pregnant and the Atomic Bomb survivors. Both these populations have been extensively studied and in neither population is there an increase in reproductive risks, although theoretically one would expect an increased risk. Based on the theory, we advise women who have had their ovaries exposed to radiation to wait for three menstrual cycles before attempting to become pregnant. I wish you well. Remember that every women with a normal personal and genetic family reproductive history has the background reproductive risks which is 3% for birth defects and 15% for miscarriage.

Robert Brent, MD, PhD, DSc

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