Exposure to ionizing radiation during pregnancy: Perception of teratogenic risk and outcome

We quantified the perception of teratogenic risk in women attending the Motherisk program for counseling about diagnostic radiation in pregnancy (n = 50) and compared it with a control group of women exposed to nonteratogenic drugs and chemicals (n = 48). Before receiving known information about the specific exposure, women exposed to radiation assigned themselves a significantly higher teratogenic risk compared with the control group (25.5 ± 4.3% versus 15.7 ± 3.0% for major malformations, P < 0.01). The post‐consultation perception of teratogenic risk did not differ between the two groups. Special consideration and attention should be given when counseling pregnant women exposed to low‐dose ionizing radiation, as their misperception of teratogenic risk may lead them to unnecessary termination of their pregnancy.