Re: Pregnancy and Body Scan

[Guest guest]

Jess -

Yes, you are correct that you must not be pregnant for your body scan.

There are three issues here. One is the radioactive iodine; you will

receive a low dose of RAI (usually 2-5 mCi) before your scan.

The second is hypothyroidism; it is critically important to wait until

your TSH is back to normal (or suppressed) before conceiving.

The third issue, of course, is the possibility that your scan may be

positive and you might need an ablative dose.

.... from Dr. Ain ...

" Fetal brain development appears susceptible to maternal

hypothyroidism. This is most critical during the first 8-9

weeks of fetal development, before the fetal thyroid becomes

functional. For that reason, one should not plan to conceive

a pregnancy until the mother's TSH is at least at or below the normal

range.

" .... I typically suggest that female patients who are planning a

pregnancy

wait at least 6 months from their last I-131 therapy dose or 2 months

from their last negative hypothyroid I-131 scan, before discontinuing

birth control.

See #17374 for this and several additional letters from Dr. Ain on the

subject.

-

NYC

TT 2/99 dx pap/foll; RAI 100 mCi 3/99 & 4/00; clean scan 3/02;

current TSH ~.06 on .225 levothyroxine

jessicacombs76 wrote:

> Hey all! I'm usually just a lurker. But I have a question for all

> of you. I can't seem to find any info on this subject. I am

> scheduled to have a body scan done in March of 2003. We have

> decided to try to get pregnant, but I am assuming that I can't be

> pregnant for my body scan. Is that correct? And if so, am I going

> to get another tracer dose before the body scan? Is there any time

> frame that I have to wait after the tracer dose or is it alright to

> start trying right after the dose? We were actually thinking of

> starting to try to conceive around May or June. There are other

> factors that have made us say May or June. Thanks for any info you

> can give me!!

>

> Jess

> dx pap car 11/8/01

> tt 1/8/02

> RAI 3/02

>