Fed: Drs urge pregnant women not to be put off having ultrasound

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2001
Fed: Drs urge pregnant women not to be put off having ultrasound

CANBERRA, Dec 10 AAP - Doctors today urged pregnant women not to be put off having
ultrasounds by a study which suggests they may cause brain damage to unborn babies.

The Swedish study, published in the latest Epidemiology journal, found men born to
mothers who underwent ultrasounds were more likely to show subtle signs of brain damage.

It suggested the minor brain damage could cause people who should genetically be right-handed
to become left-handed and those affected also faced an increased risk of conditions such
as epilepsy and learning difficulties.

But Australian Medical Association vice president Trevor Mudge said the study was flawed
and cast unnecessary doubt on good science.

"Ultrasounds have been carried out safely for 40 years," Dr Mudge said in a statement.

"In that time, no scientific study has shown evidence of tissue damage from ultrasound,
and this study is no different."

At the very least the study, which compared women who had ultrasounds in the 1970s
with women in more recent times, was misleading, Dr Mudge said.

"Ultrasounds were used primarily in the 1970s for high-risk pregnancies," he said.

"Today, ultrasounds are routine for most pregnancies.

"The researchers are not comparing apples with apples."

The senior obstetrician said he looked forward to reading the final report of the Swedish
study to see if it produced evidence of any genuine concerns with ultrasounds.

"Until then, I remain confident in the technology and urge Australian mothers to be
to continue to seek an ultrasound as an important step in a comfortable and positive pregnancy."

AAP eg/daw/pw/sb

KEYWORD: ULTRASOUND AMA

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