Is Pregnancy Ultrasound Risky?
by Yvonne Lapp Cryns 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 also were deemed safe and were later found to be the cause of cancer, sterility and anomalies. Possibly the greatest ris 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 outcome
