Everything You Need To Know About Pregnancy

1. Title:
Is Pregnancy Ultrasound Risky?
Word Count:
321
Summary:
No one knows the long-term effects of ultrasound use. Many practitioners
feel that the technology is perfectly safe since studies of babies and
their mothers have not determined any effects. Other practitioners are
not so convinced of ultrasound safety and feel that judicious use is
advised.
It should be remembered that x-rays were in use for 50 years before the
public became aware of detrimental effects. DES and thalidomide alsso
were deemed safe and were later found to b...
Keywords:
ultrasound,pregnancy,baby,drugs,infant,birth
Article Body:
No one knows the long-term effects of ultrasound use. Many practitioners
feel that the technology is perfectly safe since studies of babies and
their mothers have not determined any effects. Other practitioners are
not so convinced of ultrasound safety and feel that judicious use is
advised.
It should be remembered that x-rays were in use for 50 years before the
public became aware of detrimental effects. DES and thalidomide alsso
were deemed safe and were later found to be the cause of cancer,
sterility and anomalies.Possibly the greatest risk of overuse of
ultrasound technology is that if an ultrasound raises a question of fetal
well-being, invasive and high risk procedures and technologies may be
instituted which do have clear risks to the mother or her baby.
STUDIES
Non-diagnostic ultrasound has demonstrated b8iological effects such as
cell heating or thermal effects and cavitational activities using plants
and animals. These experiments have had various outcomes and are
difficult to equate with human outcomes. Also, diagnostic ultrasound uses
far lower intensities. The current epidemiologic data finds no adverse
outcomes from ultrasound use. Many researchers believe that the benefits
of diagnostic ultrasound outweigh the risks. Human studies have not
documented negative outcomes except for one study which shoed increased
fetal activity for the majority of exposed babies when scanned with the
Doppler.
OVERUSE OF TECHNOLOGY
Some consumer groups have questioned the need for ultrasound equipment in
doctor offices. They claim that in order to pay for the equipment,

2. physicians will order unnecessary ultrasounds. Not only does this
increase the exposure of unnecessary technology, but it also raises the
total cost of care and may lead to additional unnecessary and costly
interventions. They claim that in order to pay for the equipment,
physicians will order unnecessary ultrasounds. Not only does this
increase the exposure of unnecessary technology, but it also raises the
total cost of care and may lead to additional unnecessary and costly
interventions.
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