World Radiography Day 2025: Radiation vs. Reality, Ultrasound Myths And Facts Expectant Parents Should Know

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If you've ever had an X-ray, MRI, or ultrasound, you've already experienced the impact of radiography whether you realised it or not. The professionals who operate these machines rarely get the spotlight, but their work shapes nearly every medical decision doctors make.

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World Radiography Day, observed on 8 November, honours that unseen expertise. It's also that time to look beyond the images, to understand how radiology helps us live healthier, safer lives. This year, it's a good moment to clear the air around one of the most common and misunderstood imaging tools in pregnancy: the Ultrasound.

What Ultrasound Actually Does

An ultrasound isn't magic, though it feels like it when you see your baby's heartbeat flicker for the first time. It's pure science, sound waves bouncing off tissues to create moving images.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, pregnancy ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves (not radiation) to check fetal growth, heartbeat, and position, and to look for early signs of complications. It's non-invasive, painless, and considered completely safe when performed by trained professionals.

Myth 1: Too Many Scans Can Harm the Baby

Fact: This is one of the most common fears among parents. But research published by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) and PubMed Central confirms that diagnostic ultrasounds do not use ionising radiation and have no proven harmful effects on the fetus.

The only caution doctors offer is against non-medical or keepsake scans, the kind done purely for videos or pictures. The issue isn't risk; it's simply unnecessary exposure when there's no medical reason.

Myth 2: Ultrasound Can Predict Everything

Fact: Ultrasound technology is powerful but not all-knowing. As outlined in the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ISUOG) guidelines, even a detailed mid-trimester scan (done around 18-22 weeks) can't detect every condition. Some abnormalities develop later or aren't visible on imaging at all.

That's why doctors rely on a mix of tools - blood tests, genetic screenings, and regular check-ups to get the full picture of a baby's health.

Myth 3: It's Only for Complicated Pregnancies

Fact: Ultrasound isn't just for "high-risk" cases. It's part of routine prenatal care across the world. The Cleveland Clinic notes that even healthy pregnancies benefit from periodic scans to track development and prevent complications.

In India, some families still think frequent scans mean something's wrong, but doctors point out that early monitoring often helps catch potential issues before they escalate.

Myth 4: Ultrasound Can Reveal The Baby's Gender Anywhere

Fact: This is where law and medicine intersect. In India, revealing the baby's gender through ultrasound is strictly prohibited under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act. The restriction exists to prevent gender-biased practices, not to limit access to safe imaging.

Myth 5: Ultrasound Is Only Used For Pregnancy

Fact: No, ultrasound is used widely in many medical areas such as abdominal, cardiac (echocardiography), musculoskeletal, and vascular imaging. Its versatility and safety profile make it a key diagnostic tool beyond obstetrics.

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Myth 6: You must always have a full bladder or fast before an obstetric ultrasound

Fact: Not always. Early pregnancy transabdominal scans may ask for a partly full bladder for clearer imaging, but later scans often don't require it.

Food intake is generally not relevant for routine foetal scans unless your healthcare provider specifies otherwise.

Myth 7: A 3D/4D Ultrasound Is "Better" Or "Safer" Than A 2D Ultrasound

Fact: "Better" depends on purpose. 3D/4D scans provide more surface detail and are often used for parental bonding images, but for most diagnostic checks - anatomy, growth, fluid levels, the 2D scan remains the clinical standard.

And "safer"? Both use the same principle of sound waves. Extra dimensionality does not automatically mean greater safety.

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Why Awareness Is Significant In India

Awareness of these facts is essential because in India, cultural anxieties and misinformation often surround pregnancy scanning.

The misuse of ultrasound for sex determination (which is strictly prohibited under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act) has sometimes led to uneven access to legitimate prenatal imaging in certain regions.

Women should feel empowered to ask:

• Why is this scan recommended?
• What will it show?
• Are there any preparations or limitations?

Choosing a qualified centre and trained sonographer makes a real difference, accurate imaging and interpretation depend as much on the operator's skill as on the machine itself.