Can You Have an X-ray While Pregnant?

What is the radiation risk to a baby from an x-ray?

The risk from a single diagnostic x-ray is very small. Most common x-rays, such as a chest or limb x-ray, use a dose that is a tiny fraction of the natural background radiation you receive over a pregnancy. Studies consistently show that these low doses have not been linked to measurable increases in birth defects or miscarriage.

Higher-dose tests, such as CT scans of the abdomen or pelvis, give more radiation to the area around the womb. Even then, the doses stay well below the levels linked to harm in published research. The key principle is that risk rises with dose. So clinicians always aim to keep exposure as low as reasonably practicable, an idea often shortened to ALARP.

Put simply, a chest x-ray gives you about the same radiation as a day or two of natural background exposure. An x-ray of an arm or leg gives even less, and the beam is aimed well away from the womb.

What do UK guidelines say about imaging in pregnancy?

In the UK, imaging in pregnancy is governed by the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations, known as IRMER. These rules require every x-ray exposure to be justified by a qualified practitioner, who weighs the clinical benefit against any possible risk. In pregnancy, the bar for justification is higher. The scan must be clearly necessary, not just routine.

The 28-day rule is a practical safeguard used in many UK imaging departments. For non-urgent x-rays of the abdomen or pelvis, the scan is ideally done within the first 28 days of the menstrual cycle, when pregnancy is least likely. This lowers the chance of an unintended exposure.

What imaging is safe during pregnancy?

Ultrasound is the standard scan in pregnancy. It uses sound waves, not ionising radiation, so there is no radiation dose to you or your baby. It is the first choice for checking the baby, and it is also used to assess many other conditions during pregnancy.

When an x-ray or CT scan is truly needed in pregnancy, for example to diagnose a fracture or look into a serious chest condition, it can still go ahead. The referring clinician and the radiographer will work together to make sure the benefit outweighs the small risk, and that the dose is kept as low as possible.

Does ScanAlign scan pregnant patients?

No. ScanAlign does not scan anyone who is pregnant or who may be pregnant. This is a strict policy with no exceptions.

Before every scan, we ask you to confirm whether you are pregnant. If you are of childbearing age, you will be asked whether there is any chance you could be pregnant. If you are unsure, we will not go ahead with the scan. This is part of our IRMER-compliant pregnancy declaration process, and it is there to protect you.

Our EOS system uses about 90% less radiation than a standard x-ray, around ten times less. You can read more about EOS scan safety and radiation. Even with this very low dose, we follow the same strict pregnancy policy as any responsible imaging service. The right time to travel to London for a ScanAlign, low dose standing imaging assessment is after pregnancy, when standing alignment imaging can give you the full picture.

If you are not sure whether you are eligible, you can check who our scan is suitable for before getting in touch.

What if you had an x-ray by accident before you knew you were pregnant?

This is a common worry, but in almost all cases the risk is extremely low. Many people have an x-ray in early pregnancy before they know they are pregnant. The doses in routine diagnostic x-rays are far below the levels linked to any measurable harm in published research.

If this has happened to you, the most important step is to tell your doctor or midwife. They can note the exposure in your records. If needed, they can discuss it with a medical physicist or radiologist, who can estimate the dose and offer reassurance. In the vast majority of cases, nothing more needs to be done.

Dental x-rays are another common concern. A dental x-ray gives a very small dose, and the beam is aimed at the jaw, well away from the abdomen. If you had a dental x-ray before you realised you were pregnant, the risk to your baby is considered negligible.

Once your pregnancy is over, if you have back, hip or knee pain, it is worth getting a detailed diagnosis before you start treatment or change the one you are on. Knowing whether the cause sits in the pelvis, the legs or the spine changes what will actually help.

Frequently asked questions