CT scans before pregnancy may increase miscarriage, birth defect risks: Study finds

New research indicates preconception CT scans may increase the risk of miscarriage and birth defects.

CT scans help diagnose serious conditions like blood clots, hemorrhages, and cancer, but they also expose patients to ionizing radiation, which can increase cancer risk.

In light of the new findings, further research is required to establish the fact of whether the increased pregnancy risks are due to the effects of the scans themselves or to the suspected health issues that prompt people to get them.

The Canadian researchers recommend prioritizing alternative imaging methods for young women who might be or soon become pregnant.

The study, which was published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, has gathered data from over 1.5 million pregnancies and 3.4 million live births in Canada between 1992 and 2023.

The results show that women who had more CT scans before pregnancy were at a higher risk of miscarriage or birth defects.

Women who underwent three or more CT scans before getting pregnant saw higher rates of miscarriage and congenital abnormalities:

Miscarriage rate: 142 per 1,000 pregnancies among women with 3+ CT scans, compared to 101 per 1,000 pregnancies without CT scans.

Congenital Abnormality rate: 105 per 1,000 births among women with 3+ CT scans, compared to 62 per 1,000 births without CT scans.

And for women who didn’t have a CT scan ahead of pregnancy, those rates were 101 and 62, respectively.

The researchers also noted gaps in data on women’s lifetime CT scan exposure and acknowledged that underlying medical issues could influence birth outcomes.

The study authors recommended that doctors consider using alternative imaging methods when suitable.