Yes. Do wait before passing almost-certainly DNA-injured sperm onto the egg. I have done CT’s many years, and am rather radiation conscious
I totally forget how long it takes for a man to replace his ‘load’, but this cite(from Nuclear Regulatory Commision - pdf) tells a bit for you. Here’s one bit you might find applicable:
For credible info, call the place that gave you those CT’s and tell you need to get the dose reports (which any reputable place should have within your CT data, maybe even printed out upon one of your exam’s films). I dealt with lots of trauma and persons could get many CT’s before they left the hospital and it ws not unusual for someone to have a chat with 'em about radiation and possible effects later on in life. It is a very real thing to deal with (now that data of CT use is being eval’d better). Not to scare anyone, OK?? But, knowing actual facts of exposure will allow you to make informed choices of how long you should wait (and it is not long, just days if memory serves. If hospital or whoever refuses to speak with you about it, contact the State’s Radiation Control (Health Dept?) or whatever it may be called for further guidance. A radiologist at hospital should talk with you about this as well - whoever is in charge of the Dept where you had exam done. Usually, there is a Health physicist (or other title) that can quantify and recommend actions, if needed. In no way should you be ignored by any part of in this.
Overall, rads to the nads are not anywhere near the issue that rads to ovaries/girls/women who will bear children is. But, I would not want my sperm to be used too quickly if I had had the need for multiple abd/pelvic CT’s (as pelvis is thickness body part and takes more dose to get images). Typically, waiting x-days is all that needs to be done (iirc).
I once did a barium enema exam on a teen-age girl with belly pain who insisted she could not be pregnant (signed my paper saying she ws a virgin with no ‘exposure’). A few weeks (or more, been 20 years since happened) later, she admitted she was pregnant, and our Health Physicist we retained strongly recommended she get abortion due to high-kV multiple films right through the embryo, which she did and a ~malformed fetus ‘thing’ was found. Made me feel friggin’ horrible, but I did all I could to prevent such a thing. Her hCg levels were really low to begin with, so its why her preg test came back neg from referring Doc (who was careful himself).
A great question and glad you thought to ask it. Seriously
Sorry I can’t remember a good enough answer to give you right here and now :mad:
Fwiw, there are many ways of reducing # of slices or area exposed during scan (spiral -v- non-overlapping cuts, etc) and Tech/radiologist should know of the absolute need to minimize, especially if there is only a small area to be eval’d. I have often done follow-ups that used only several inches of cuts versus the entire belly again or whatever. Make your concern known and urge a radiologist to be in touch regarding worry of exposure (and if there really needs to be such). It does not help you to wait longer to get scan as rads/exposures do not ‘go away’ by waiting. A dose’s effects is there forever within your DNA, so waiting an extra week or longer does not make you have any less of an issue with exposure (unless there is more to this than said here - and not really trying to say what to do, but what you should know factually about your doses you already got and who can give you proper answer with all your info in front of them). Its a very reasonable request to be made of Imaging folks, I promise ya.
Good luck with the kiddo(s) in future!! Rest while ya can…