What is Plain X-Ray?

What is Involved?

An X-Ray examination involves positioning the area of your body that is going to be examined between a tube that produces X-Rays and a photographic film. The examination is performed by a radiographer (a healthcare professional trained in how to use X-Rays). X-Rays pass through your body, and are absorbed by the tissues they pass through. Different parts of the body absorb different amounts of X-Rays depending on how thick (dense) they are. In the final image, dense structures such as bone appear white and less dense structures such as the lungs appear black.

Are There any Side Effects?

A standard X-Ray is painless. You cannot see or feel X-Rays. X-Rays are a form of radiation. Everybody receives a small amount of radiation on from the environment every day. The radiation received from any single X-Ray is very small, and would be similar to the amount you would be exposed to on a transatlantic flight.

However, if you receive many doses of radiation, the effect can build up and be harmful. Simply put, the less you receive, the better. As a matter of safety, your doctor will only ask you to have an X-Ray examination when there is no other way to find out the information. You will have as few X-Rays as possible.

Unborn children are at greater risk from being exposed to X-Rays because they are still developing. For this reason, routine X-Ray examinations may not be performed on women who could be pregnant or get pregnant within 28 days of a normal menstrual period. For some examinations that need higher doses of X-Ray, this may be reduced to 10 days. If you are, or suspect that you may be pregnant, please tell the radiographer before the X-Ray is carried out.

All the information you give will be treated with the strictest confidence.