Hip x-rays and protection??!

Hip x-rays and protection??

I recently had an x-ray of my hips as they've been dodgy for a while. My doctor wasn't very keen on it because of the high radiation dose and risk to fertility, but felt it was necessary. I was told to expect a large belt fitted across my tummy, but when I went for the x-ray this didn't happen. Does this mean I wasn't protected against the radiation??

I'm 17 if this is any use??

In Ohio there are a couple of different licenses available for radiographers -- there's something called a GXMO -- which allows people to do JUST regular x-rays using x-ray film.

I've completed the GXMO training, which includes positioning, radiation physics, radiation biology. . . all of that fun stuff.

I can tell you that for younger women of child-bearing age (and for men, too) it's important to protect the genital regions -- the reason is that there is a risk of something called germ-line mutation.

That basically means that the eggs or sperm (or testicles) can be altered by the radiation, and can cause the children created with those eggs or sperm to be deficient or mal-developed, in different ways.

The hips are very close to the ovaries, vagina, uterus. . . if you were to be fitted with a belt to protect you (which would be made of lead) the radiation that is applied to take the x-ray wouldn't be able to get through the metal, into the bones, and back out, to expose the film (and make the picture).

There's a possibility that you could have used a sort of apron which you could hold directly between your hips -- but, then there's a risk you'll move before the x-ray is taken, and it'll have to be re-done (which means . . . even more radiation exposure).

If I were the one doing your x-ray, I would have done it the same way. The x-ray machine has parts that limit the space that the radiation goes to, and if your x-ray was developed and readable, chances are the dosage of radiation to which you were exposed is minimal -- meaning there wasn't a high dose of radiation.

You'll be fine.