Hello,

I am 14 weeks pregnant. Two days before I conceived, my husband got x-rays to check for kidney stones. His pelvic area was x-rayed. We were not planning to get pregnant, yet he asked the x-ray technician if he needed a lead cover for his private parts. The technician said it was not necessary.

The x-ray was done on friday morning and I conceived on Sunday noon. My doctor said there was nothing to worry because sperms are regenerated every 48 hrs. But Sunday is close to the 48 hr period. We are still concerned.

There is only little info about this on the Internet. Should we think of terminating this pregnancy? Someone please advise.

Thank you. Cha replied. Hi TX,

Here is some info I found when I did a quick search on the internet. The end of the paragraph basically states that the risk is extremely small. Even your doctor said you are in the clear. I see no reason to terminate pregnancy. I know how much new moms worry about things. I would say this...relax and enjoy your pregnancy....I'm sure you will have many worries during the next 9 months (I still worry every day about my pregnancy and this is my third one) = )

Congratulations!

Cha = )

The risk from radiation exposure of sperm prior to conception has been studied in two large populations. The concern by most patients is whether the radiation exposure to the sperm will result in birth defects. In one study, thousands of patients who were exposed to radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and had families were studied for the incidence of genetic disease and other reproductive effects. After 50 years of studying this population, there has been no demonstrable increase in genetic disease. What was learned is that the risk is extremely small and that you need very large populations to demonstrate this risk. In other words, the risk from the radiation is too small to be detected amid the spontaneous incidence of mutations and the hereditary component of mutations that may affect the offspring.