(July 22, 2010 - Insidermedicine)

According to research published today in the Lancet, previous radiation to the reproductive system for childhood cancers can raise the risk for having a stillborn baby or one that dies shortly after birth.

Here are some important facts to remember if you are considering getting pregnant:

• You should stop smoking because smoking has been linked to pregnancy problems including premature labor and can increase the chances that your baby might not grow properly in the uterus.

• You should refrain from drinking alcohol as this activity raises the risk of fetal alcohol syndrome which can have permanent effects on the heart, brain and predispose to behavioral problems.

• You should seek regular medical attention, so that your doctor can make sure that the fetus is growing properly and that you are not developing problems like diabetes or high blood pressure.

A research team from the International Epidemiology Institute in Rockville, MD and Vanderbilt University were interested in determining if radiation for childhood cancers raised the risk of having a still born baby or a baby that died shortly after delivery. To perform their study, they evaluated data from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, which included information from 25 North American medical institutions. From the over 2500 childhood cancer survivors who participated in this study, nearly 5000 pregnancies occured.

The results showed that radiation to the male reproductive system for testicular cancer didnt increase the risk for a stillborn baby. However, if a girl received pelvic irradiation for a uterine or ovarian lesion, their risk increased by a factor of 9 times.  For girls who recieved irradiation with a dose that was 2.5 GY or higher, prior to puberty, the risk was 12 times higher.  While the cause of the higher stillborn rate is not definitively known, it may be related to growth and blood flow to the uterus.

Today's research offers some relief for men who have previously received irradiation for reproductive lesions or who may have an environmental exposure. However, the results underscore the importance of careful pregnancy planning in women who have received irradiation for pelvic lesions during childhood.