Patient's question:
Due to work reasons, I had a physical examination when I was two months pregnant and didn't know I was pregnant. I had a chest X-ray.Doctor's answer:
Currently, there are no reports on the effects of chest X-rays on fetuses. The main reason is that the radiation dose received during a chest X-ray examination is not fixed, making it impossible to assess. However, the data currently available indicates that both prenatal CT scans and chest X-ray examinations do not cause birth defects in fetuses. The radiation dose received by the mother, when adjusted for the fetus in utero, is even smaller, and it is currently believed that this will not lead to fetal abnormalities. Regarding chest X-rays, the issue is not severe. During the early stages of fertilization, there are fewer cells, and if severe damage occurs, the fertilized egg cannot compensate or repair itself, typically resulting in a natural miscarriage. If the damage is minimal, it is generally considered that the body can repair it on its own. Therefore, we recommend that you keep this child. Currently, it is not uncommon for some parents to easily terminate a pregnancy due to various reasons, which ultimately leads to infertility. Moreover, there is no guarantee that your next pregnancy will be smooth sailing.