Would X-Rays and CT Scans Show Pregnancy?

Question

I went to the hospital for something unrelated, and had an Abdominal X-ray and Abdominal CT Scan. Would those show if I was pregnant? I'm very concerned that I may be getting false negatives b/c of low hormones. THANKS!

And if I "were pregnant" it would be about 13 weeks along... so that should be far enough along to show, right? But unfortunately i'm a very small girl, so i dunno if it would be too small inside to see it. Thanks again!!!

Answer 1

At an early stage in pregnancy (from conception to about 14-16 weeks) x-rays directed at the embryo will cause death or serious birth defects.  So If you thought you may have been pregnant, you should have told the tech and not had the procedure done.  Hence, the reason they have all those big signs around the radiology department saying " PLEASE TELL THE TECHNOLOGIST IF YOU MAY BE PREGNANT."  Its possible to see a pregnancy though, but not a very early one.

Answer 2

Well.. if you thought there was a possibility that you were pregnant, I hope you told the technician that performed the x-rays and the scans!!

Those things could potentially HARM your baby if your were pregnant.

At 13 weeks, they would see it yes.

V.

Answer 3

Yes they would be able to see it, but it is not recommended to have x-rays or CT scans during pregnancy.

Answer 4

Short answer - Yes

Long answer - Not only would it show, the tech performing the image study would have immediately ended the acquisition of images and sent to you to an OB.  Techs can read images very well.  They are simply not licensed as Radiologists who can actually report off a study (say what the study found).  Any tech would have seen your pregnancy, unless they were totally incompetent or a complete newbie in which case they shouldn't be working by themselves yet.

More than likely, they would have also talked to you quite firmly and possibly angrily as to why you answered "no" to the question re: the possibility of being pregnant and stressed to you the importance of NO IMAGING while pregnant.  You would have gotten a solid lecture in a professional way and sent on for prenatal care.