Male gonadal dose of ionizing radiation delivered during X-ray examinations and monthly probability of pregnancy: a population-based retrospective study

Table 1 Diagnostic X-ray examinations experienced by men during the window of exposure*.

Type and anatomical localization of X-ray examinations	Mean gonadal dose per examination (mGy)	Examinations performed from 18 years to the beginning of the period of unprotected intercourse
		Number of X-ray examinations	%
Simple radiographs
Skull, head and neck	0.02	79	6.3
Upper limbs	0.01	202	16.1
Chest, lungs and thorax	0.02	51	4.1
Upper lumbar spine	0.1	28	2.2
Lower lumbar spine	0.6	127	10.1
Abdomen	0.7	10	0.8
Pelvis and hips	4	71	5.6
Lower limbs	0.01	487	38.7
Unknown localization	0.42^†	77	6.1
Computed Tomography scanners
Skull, head and neck	0.10	16	1.3
Upper limbs	0.05	2	0.2
Chest, lungs and thorax	0.02	2	0.2
Upper lumbar spine	0.45	2	0.2
Lower lumbar spine	3.1	13	1.0
Abdomen	3.7	4	0.3
Pelvis and hips	20	7	0.6
Lower limbs	0.05	7	0.6
Unknown localization	2.78^†	1	0.1
Nuclear medicine examinations
Skull	1.00	2	0.2
Body scintigraphy	3.00	1	0.1
Complex examinations
Thoracic angiography	1.5	7	0.6
Lower limbs angiography	5.1	1	0.1
Phlebography below diaphragm	5.5	3	0.2
Upper limbs arthrography	0.05	0	0.0
Lower limbs arthrography	0.10	1	0.1
Myelography	2.2	2	0.2
Barium meal	3.7	21	1.7
Intravenous urography	50	22	1.8
Cystography	20	2	0.2
*Unknown device*	0	9	0.7
Total	-	1257	100

(n = 1110 pregnancies or periods of involuntary infertility lasting one year or more among 704 couples living in Beaumont-Hague and in the Saint-Brieuc area, France).
* The window of exposure spans from the age of 18 years until the beginning of the period of unprotected intercourse. The dose estimated to be delivered to the gonads (mGy) for each type of examination is also given.
^† Mean value of the gonadal doses assessed for all X-rays examinations for that device, whatever their localization.

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