Answer to Question #37 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

I recommend that you talk to an expert on radiation exposures during pregnancy (doctor's name withheld by request). He is a physician and answers questions like yours several times a week. (First, however check with the physician who prescribed the x rays and see if he/she can tell you what the radiation dose was and if he/she can be a little more specific about what part of your body was exposed.) I think you will be relieved after you talk to him. Please let me know the outcome of your conversation.

Genevieve Roessler, PhD
Editor, HPS website

(response from questioner)
"I spoke to the doctor you recommended regarding the series of x rays I had taken unknowingly during the first few days of pregnancy. I was very upset about the amount of radiation exposure to the embryo. The doctor assured me that I had a few positive things going for me. The level of radiation was around one-half rad (as far as the hospital here can tell) and that is well under the guideline amount of 5 rad. The x rays were abdominal and at least somewhat removed from the pelvic area. He also mentioned that in very early pregnancy, it is generally an "all or nothing situation." If the embryo was damaged by the radiation, it would not survive. If it did survive, chances were very good everything would be OK. The only negative possibility was a slight increase in the possibility of cancer, specifically leukemia. But even with that, there is always a one in 3,000 chance of that occurring during a normal pregnancy. So, all in all, I was very relieved after my conversation with the doctor. And I am feeling very nauseous at my 7th week of pregnancy, so I think everything is going to be OK. (The doctor spoke with me from his home on his day off...he is a very special person!)"