To wonder if childhood ct scans can damage ovaries

[Coldnights]

I’ve read they also increase cancer risk dramatically. My friend has been ttc for six months and she’s starting to wonder if the scan damaged her ovaries. She was only one at the time so I assume they wouldn’t have thought to protect them.

Could be anything, OP. Studies in mice have suggested that paracetamol taken in pregnancy can cause infertility in the offspring- there could be so many things we don't yet know about that put fertility at risk. However, I would have thought that any doctor, even years ago, would know that eggs and ovaries are already formed in a one year old and would have protected them if necessary.

Difficult to know what the scan protocols were when your friend was examined years ago; the radiation dose to the ovaries would depend on how many repeat scans she had had, and whether they were abdominal / pelvic scans or another body part.
Nowadays the radiation dose is always a prime consideration and there are many ways in which a CT can be done while minimising exposure to radiation. Only the absolutely necessary body parts are scanned and paediatric scan requests are vetted carefully to prevent unnecessary radiation to children.

She says it was head ctl

Well if it was a head cut scan then her ovaries wont have been scanned would they? Ds2 had a head cut scan and the bit that went through the machine was his head only.

CT scans are not really ordered for shit and giggles, so if she had one I'm sure it was necessary at the time.

CT not cut

It may have done some damage, it may not. Who knows? Presumably the reason for having a CT scan, or multiple CT scans, at such a young age was due to a very serious condition or accident.

I have never been able to have children. Even 7 attempts at IVF failed. And I don’t have anything like a CT scan when I was a child. I didn’t even have my tonsils out or a filling as a child. They could find no reason for my repeated failures.

If it’s a head CT then @Porcupineinwaiting is right. The rest of the body is not scanned. A small amount of radiation scatters randomly around the room which is why parents are kept out / wear lead coverings to remain in the room during scan. A single head CT alone I would not have believed to have caused much radiation to ovaries. Also, it would have been deemed necessary at that time for her condition and likely not avoidable.

A head CT, presumably 20+ years ago, and she's worried that it's caused ovarian cancer, or infertility? I'm confused by your posts if I'm honest.

If a scan is carried out, it's usually kept to one part of the body. In this case, the head.

It sounds more like your friend is looking for reasons to explain her perceived infertility, without actually seeking medical advise as to whether she has genuine cause for concern.

6 months isn't very long ttc. If she's under 35 it's perfectly normal to take up to 12 months