Whenever a woman of childbearing age goes to the radiology department for an x-ray, the technician always asks if she is pregnant. Why is this very personal question? It turns out that this is to avoid or reduce the interference of X-ray radiation with fetal development. The cells of the developing fetus are in a stage of rapid division and growth, and specific cell populations form specific tissues and organs that are far more sensitive to X-ray radiation damage than adult cells, and excessive exposure to X-rays will interfere with the normal development of fetal tissues and organs and cause various malformations. There is no unanimous opinion among radiation protection experts as to the precise extent of the risk to the fetus from X-rays. However, the general principle is that X-rays should be avoided if they can be, even if they are small, and that if they cannot be avoided, the effects of radiation should be minimized. How do you measure whether to undergo an X-ray? When the doctor prescribes an X-ray, the pregnant woman should tell the doctor of her own accord that you are pregnant and the stage of pregnancy, and the doctor will consider the situation. If your doctor confirms the need for an X-ray, you should be supportive because the diagnostic information from an X-ray is much more important than the possible damage from the radiation. What are the protective measures for X-ray examinations of pregnant women? X-ray protection for pregnant women is a necessary step in radiology X-ray examinations. The protective measures vary depending on the area to be examined. For X-ray examinations in areas other than the abdomen, such as the head and extremities, the X-rays are not projected directly onto the fetus, and the corresponding damage should be small, and the abdomen and perineum must be covered with lead cloth to avoid scattered radiation. If an abdominal X-ray is required, including X-ray of the gastrointestinal tract, lower back, urinary tract and pelvis, the radiology technician will consult with the radiologist and the physician requesting the examination to ensure that the examination is unavoidable and that adequate preparation is made before the examination is performed so that the examination is successful. What if I find out I’m pregnant after the X-ray? There is no need to be alarmed! Always keep in mind that the degree of fetal side effects caused by X-rays is very small. What are the common types of X-rays? Fluoroscopy, radiographs, imaging and CT are some of the most common types of X-rays, and most hospitals have eliminated routine fluoroscopy. With the rapid advancement of X-ray technology, the amount of radiation in a single X-ray examination has been greatly reduced compared to the previous one, so even if you have one X-ray examination during pregnancy, you do not have to worry about any side effects, although protective measures are essential.