Airport scanners and ivf

[Lucyboo]

I Work at a local airport so pass through the body scanners at least 5 times a day, I was told we should avoid them once ET is done as there is a small amount of radiation given off on them. Has anyone else heard of this, it's not made common knowledge and will need to get a letter off my specialists so I can bypass the machine and just have a pat down... Anything to give me every chance. There is a lot of info if you google airport scanners and ivf.

 

[Sugarpop]

If the amount is small I wouldn't be too worried. Perhaps once you know your pregnant you can be excused via a doctors letter?

 

[Alwaystrying]

I went to Athens and had ET there, had to pass through scanners to get back into the Uk and I now have a happy healthy little boy, plus I expect there are loads of ladies that pass through them every day with out realising they are pregnant. I should not worry

 

[Lucyboo]

I found this post...


"X-Ray scanners at British airports could be exposing passengers to potentially dangerous levels of radiation, according to one senior radiologist.

The machines are designed to "strip search" passengers by using low-level X-Rays, which produce an image of their bodies, revealing whether they are secretly carrying weapons, explosives or illegal drugs.

But the scanners may not be safe for certain people, particularly children and women in the early stages of pregnancy, according to Dr Sarah Burnett, who works as an independent radiologist in London.

"I am particularly concerned about the potential effects on women in their first trimester of pregnancy.

"That is when the risks of the baby developing genetic abnormalities are highest because radiation exposure can damage the body's reproductive DNA."


The X-Rays penetrate one-tenth of an inch into the body, enough to detect any devices or drugs hidden just under the skin.

The company who makes the scanners says that frequent flyers would need to have at least 5,000 scans a year before there would be any health threat.

What's more, it adds that longhaul passengers will soak up more so-called radiation during the flight, from the plane's equipment, than from the scan.

However, last year the Transport and General Workers Union investigated claims that five female security guards suffered miscarriages as a result of exposure to radiation from the machines at Heathrow.

"The machines are referred to as 'low-dose', but there is a school of thought that there is no 'safe' radiation dose," said Dr Burnett, who has had 15 years' experience.

"We can, however, avoid deliberately exposing people to radiation."

The British Airports Authority said passengers are free to refuse the X-Ray. But if they do, they will then have to be hand-searched.

Dr Gill Markham from the Royal College of Radiologists urged passengers not to worry, as the dose is so low it is unlikely to cause harm.

But women who think they may be in the early stages of pregnancy should tell airport staff and ask to be hand-searched.

 

[Katiepie]

Hey Lucyboo

I've been working with radiation for a few years now, and i wear a monitoring badge, to see how much i'm getting, and limit it in the long term. as i travel a lot, i always wear it on my person as i go through these airport scanners, maybe 2 or 4 times per week. its never even shown up on the badges, and my total dosage is still very low, despite working often with strong sources.

It's a scary subject, as its so completely undetectable, but unless you fall asleep on the bag belt and go through the industrial scanner, you should be fine (I've left my badge in my luggage before, that DOES show up!)

 

[Mrs CW]

I would follow your consultants advice. As a radiographer I have always said that I would avoid the airport scanners if possible as have my colleagues, I would especially avoid them in the first tri. Any radiation exposure could potentially cause problems (for anyone) and going through them at least 5 times a day is quite a lot! I work in an area with the most powerful X-rays in the hospital and we're very cautious about exposure etc so it has been said that we're too cautious when it comes to lower levels but it's not a risk I would take x