MENSTRUAL CHANGES AND PREGNANCY OUTCOMES AMONG PHYSIOTHERAPISTS EXPOSED TO NON-IONIZING RADIATIONS

Document Type : Study paper

Author

Department of Public Health and Community Medicine,Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Egypt.

Abstract

Introduction: Excessive exposure to radiofrequency (RF), electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from the diathermy devices could result in adverse pregnancy / reproductive outcomes. Aim of Work: to assess the menstrual changes, hormonal profile and pregnancy outcomes among female physiotherapists exposed to non-ionizing radiations. Materials and Methods: a prospective study, included 120 female workers at the physiotherapy departments with 160 healthy controls (non-exposed), who were allocated into two groups: pregnant (50 physiotherapists and 75 controls) and non-pregnant (70 physiotherapists and 85 controls). Outcome measures in the pregnant group included pregnancy outcome while in non-pregnant group were menstrual irregularities, abnormal uterine bleeding and abnormal hormonal profile. Results: There was a highly significant difference between the exposed pregnant and controls regarding low birth weight (p<0.001).There was no significant difference between the non pregnant exposed and controls regarding menstrual irregularities, and hormonal assay (p>0.05). Conclusion: female physiotherapists have no increased risks for menstrual irregularities, abnormal hormonal profile or adverse pregnancy outcome except for low birth weight which needs future research.
 

Keywords

Main Subjects

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics