How long after CT scan can I get pregnant

Nowadays, many routine physical examinations include a chest X-ray. So, how long after the CT scan can you get pregnant? Generally speaking, it is best to wait three months or six months before getting pregnant after having done X-ray examinations such as chest X-ray, CT, or molybdenum target (a type of breast examination). Otherwise, it is very easy to cause fetal malformation or miscarriage, especially if the pregnancy occurs within three months after the completion of tumor radiotherapy, the risk of fetal malformation is very high.

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

The amount of radiation emitted by a chest X-ray is the largest among all X-ray examinations. One chest X-ray is equivalent to taking 10 X-rays. But sometimes we need to take a chest X-ray to obtain more accurate data. A chest X-ray is the best way to check whether there are any abnormalities in the heart, liver, and lungs, and it is also one of the most important ways to detect tuberculosis. So, how long does it take to get pregnant after a CT scan?

It is strictly forbidden for pregnant women to take chest X-rays, especially in the first three months of pregnancy. This period is an important stage of cell division and development. If pregnant women are exposed to the radiation source of chest X-rays, it may cause irreparable damage and the fetus may be deformed.

If a large amount of X-rays are used in this stage, it may cause fetal malformations, such as microcephaly, intellectual disability, language delay, sepsis, etc. In severe cases, it may also cause miscarriage or stillbirth. However, some experts and scholars believe that the radiation dose from a single chest X-ray is not enough to cause fetal malformation.

It takes a certain amount of time for a woman's eggs to be produced, mature, and then discharged. Generally speaking, every woman can produce an ovum every month, and the ovum can survive for 48 hours. But the production of eggs takes a lot of time. The doctor's advice is that it is best to wait three months before preparing for pregnancy.

Taking a chest X-ray will expose the eggs in a woman's body to radiation. If you get pregnant right after taking a chest X-ray, or if the interval is not enough, the fetus and the baby will be affected because the eggs are unhealthy. Therefore, after taking a chest X-ray, it is best for women to follow the doctor's advice and wait until after March to prepare for pregnancy.

Common problems with CT examinations

Before inspection:

1. Patients should avoid eating for at least 4 hours before examination of the scanner and abdominal plain scan at various locations;

2. Patients undergoing abdominal examination should not undergo barium meal examination within one week before the examination;

3. Please bring all the test results you have done, such as X-rays, radionuclides, ultrasounds, liver function tests, alpha-fetoprotein tests, etc., as well as all the CT scans and reports you have done;

4. Patients undergoing further examination must undergo an iodine allergy test, and those with a negative result can proceed. Before performing an iodine skin allergy test, you must fully understand the precautions for CT enhanced examination and sign with yourself and your relatives before performing an iodine skin allergy test (CT enhanced examination precautions, attached)

5. For critically ill emergency patients, examinations must be carried out under the supervision of outpatient medical staff.

After inspection:

1. Drink as much water as possible to facilitate the metabolism of 18F-FDG and its elimination from the body. Generally, after 2-3 hours, the residual imaging agent injected into the body can be completely eliminated through urine;

2. After the imaging agent is metabolized after the test, it is recommended not to touch the pregnant woman and the baby. This time range generally refers to within 6 hours after the test.

3. If the patient undergoing the examination has any special circumstances, he or she should actively report the situation to the medical staff of the PET CT management center, so that the medical staff can make appropriate arrangements for the patient and provide targeted guidance on common examination issues.

The above are the things you need to pay attention to after doing a CT scan, so that everyone can better accept the CT scan. Next, let’s talk about what common problems are before the CT scan.