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Medical exposures during pregnancy require specific consideration due to the radiation sensitivity of the developing embryo/fetus. Before any exposure using ionising radiation, it is important to determine whether a female patient is, or could be, pregnant. Prenatal doses from most correctly performed diagnostic procedures present no measurably increased risk of prenatal death, developmental damage including malformation, or impairment of mental development over the background incidence of these entities. The benefits to the mother of obtaining important diagnostic information for her treatment is very likely to outweigh this risk. However, higher doses, such as those involved in therapeutic procedures, have the potential to result in developmental harm or cancer induction in unborn babies. The pregnant patient has a right to know the magnitude and type of potential radiation effects that may result from in-utero exposure. Detailed discussions with her physician are highly encouraged. Pregnant patients should note that the incidences of fetal anomalies, with or without routine medical imaging, are similar to baseline background event rates. These include a 15% rate of spontaneous abortion, a 4–10% incidence of genetic abnormalities, a 4% risk of intrauterine growth retardation, and a 2–4% incidence of major malformation.<ref name="Pub084">[[ICRP Publication 84]] Pregnancy and Medical Radiation. Ann. ICRP 30(1), 2000.</ref><ref>Exposure of the Pregnant Patient to Diagnostic Radiations—A Guide to Medical Management. 2nd Edition, by Louis K. Wagner, Richard G. Lester, and Luis R. Saldana[https://aapm.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1118/1.598336]</ref>