UPDATED GUIDELINES FOR RADIATION PROTECTION OF WOMEN IN THE CHILD-BEARING AGE

The number of diagnostic radiology procedures requested by physicians is increasing. Knowledge of radiation protection guideline changes is essential. The old rule for protection of women from ionizing radiatio n limits their x-ray examination to the first 10 days of their menstru al cycle. This rule was easy to apply and prevents irradiation of an u nknown pregnancy. It was, however, proved that organogenesis does not start until after the 3rd week of gestation and the most critical time is between the 8th and 15th week. This led to replacement of the 10 d ay rule by the 28 day rule stating that no restriction is necessary un less a period is missed. On the other hand, childhood cancer is twice as common in the irradiated population. Subsequently, a limited return to the 10 day rule was adopted for procedures like pelvi-abdominal co mputed tomography and barium enema which deliver high radiation dose t o the gonads. We propose that the child bearing age in Saudi females i s 14-47 years. Urine test is sufficient for exclusion of pregnancy bef ore x-ray procedures. Normally no single radiology examination will ju stify termination of an accidentally exposed pregnancy. Human exposure to ionizing radiation is governed by international, national and hosp ital regulations.