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24 May 2012

Answer to Question #7356 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Pregnancy and Radiation

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

I work around lasers all day as a provider in a medical skin clinic. I am looking to get pregnant in the next few months and am concerned about the constant scattered radiation I am exposed to and what my developing fetus could be exposed to. Can you tell me if I should take any precautions? Is this a safe environment to be working in during pregnancy?

You should know that a laser is simply a powerful beam of visible light at one frequency (monochromatic light). A laser beam can harm your eyes (retina) or skin because it can heat the skin or retina to temperatures that are damaging. Therefore, anyone using a laser for therapeutic or other purposes should be trained on how to use it safely.

Probably the tissues in your body that are most protected from a laser are your fetus and your internal organs. Your fetus will not be at risk because you are using a laser. But for your own peace of mind, you should be instructed on how to use the instrument. For the fetus, the laser beam can not reach to the depth of the uterus from an external laser beam. So when you become pregnant your embryo will not be at risk.

If you are healthy, are young, and have no reproductive or developmental problems or family history of reproductive or developmental problems, your risk for birth defects is 3 percent and for miscarriage, 15 percent. These are background risks with which every woman begins her pregnancy. Neither you nor I can change these risks. Good luck with your future pregnancy.

Robert Brent MD, PhD

Answer posted on 12 March 2008. The information and material posted on this website is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of 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 specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Website. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.