Answer to Question #372 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Q

I had a pelvic x ray and lumbar series, as well as a nuclear bone scan on 6/30/00. I am nearly certain I was not pregnant at the time (I was approximately three days past my menstrual cylce—approximately day eight). I did have intercourse once on day three of my menstrual cycle which was unlikely (but not impossible) to have resulted in a pregnancy. I subsequently did become pregnant (I expect within one to six days after these exams were done). I realize you cannot make a medical recommendation. I do need to know as much as possible about the level of risk to the ovum (OR the zygote/embryo) from the associated radiation from these tests. Any info you can provide is appreciated. I will of course obtain numerous opinions and gather as much info as possible. Thank you.

A

Editor's Note: We recommended that this person contact our physician expert on radiation exposures during pregnancy. We suggested that she first get an estimate of the radiation dose that she (the conceptus) received during the procedures. We also asked that she provide us with a summary of the conversation with our expert so we could post it since it might be of help to others visiting our Web site. Her response follows: "I spoke with (your expert) this morning. He stated that #1, I was probably not even pregnant on the day of the x rays and the bone scan and, even if I was, the first 10 days is considered the "all or none" period. If there was enough radiation to do damage, the pregnancy would spontaneously abort. If there was not that much exposure, then the pregnancy should progress normally as the embryo is very resilient at that stage. He did not feel that there was any reason to terminate the pregnancy from a radiation standpoint. I gave him the radiation dosage I received. It was below 5 rads, which is not of real concern at any stage of gestation. "I also asked him about the prednisone dose pack I was on for my backache (which I was only on for 5 to 10 days of the pregnancy . . . at the most). He said that people who have had organ transplants and are on high doses of steroids throughout pregnancy don't show problems with malformations, so I should be ok there too. "(Your expert) is a very caring and impressive person and I really appreciate being able to access his advice. "You are providing a very valuable service. Certainly feel free to use my case on the website."