How long after breast CT can I get pregnant

Many people ask this question. Nowadays, chest X-rays and even lung CT scans are usually performed during health examinations. Women who are preparing for pregnancy are very worried about whether they should terminate their pregnancy preparation after an X-ray examination. It is also widely believed among young women that they must wait three months before getting pregnant. So, how long does it take to get pregnant after a chest CT scan? Is it true that, as often said, it takes three months to get pregnant?

How long does it take to get pregnant after a chest CT scan?

People are worried that exposure to radiation may cause fetal deformities. Chest X-ray and CT scans are radiation scans. Excessive radiation exposure can cause metastasis of cells and tissue structures, so radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the only options for treating tumors. A nuclear leak would cause death.

However, the usage of lung CT and CT imaging is extremely low. So it's healthy for us to take so many tests in our lives.

1. The relationship between X-ray examination and fetal malformation

X-ray examination is related to fetal malformation. However, there are two criteria to consider when determining whether the radiation may cause abnormalities in the fetus:

1. During the early stages of pregnancy (within 12 weeks), especially during the 8-12 weeks when the fetus is most sensitive to abnormalities.

2. The amount of radiation used should be within a certain range.

Therefore, before pregnancy, all time touch

Radiation is not likely to cause fetal deformity. X-rays are not radioactive elements and do not stay in the body or continuously emit radiation.

2. How much radioactive material used in early pregnancy will cause deformity?

Based on data from the British Radiological Research Society and the Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The direct radiation dose to the fetus exceeds 5000mrad to cause damage to the fetus. However, the direct radiation dose to the fetus during a chest X-ray is 0.02-0.07mrad. The direct radiation dose to babies born with flat abdomen is 100mrad. The direct radiation dose to the fetus during pyelography is more than 1000 mrad. During barium enema examination, the direct radiation dose to the fetus is about 2000-4000mrad due to the need for continuous imaging several times.

CT scans use a slightly higher amount of radioactivity. But it is also related to the inspection location. If it is a pelvic CT scan, the amount of direct radiation the fetus is exposed to can reach 1500mrad. While other positions such as lungs and head are excluded from pelvis. The amount of direct radiation received by the fetus is far less than this level. In recent years, CT technology has been continuously improved, and doctors can use low-dose CT. In a low-dose CT scan of the pelvis, the fetus receives only 250 Mrad of radiation.

In general, the use of X-ray examinations is very low, especially avoiding pelvic examinations will not cause harm to the fetus. If a CT scan is necessary during pregnancy, some appropriate protection should be taken, such as covering the abdomen with a lead coat when undergoing a head CT scan. If you have unknowingly undergone radioactive material tests during pregnancy, do not make the decision to have an abortion rashly.