A serious and growing concern is facing expectant mothers across the nation this week, following assertions that a common and long-trusted medication could pose a danger to their unborn children.
A global wave of medical experts and leading health organizations is forcefully rejecting President Donald Trump’s false claims that taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) during pregnancy causes autism, warning that the resulting fear could endanger the health of both mothers and babies .
The false claims, which suggest a link between acetaminophen and autism, have been met with a swift and firm rebuttal from the world’s leading medical authorities.
While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a review of product labels to reflect a debated scientific association, authorities worldwide stress that no reputable study has proven a causal link and that acetaminophen remains a vital, safe option for treating pain and fever during pregnancy .
However, even the FDA explicitly notes that a causal relationship has not been established and that acetaminophen is still “the safest over-the-counter alternative in pregnancy.”
The scientific consensus is clear: while some studies have noted a statistical association, none have proven that acetaminophen causes autism.
The controversy arose from statements urging pregnant women to avoid taking acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, and to instead “tough it out” through fevers and pain.
On September 22, 2025, Trump said, “Don’t take Tylenol. Fight like hell not to take it,” Trump said, suggesting a link to autism without presenting new evidence and advising women to “tough it out” through fevers.
But health officials from Geneva to London to Washington are sounding the alarm, not about the drug, but about the peril of leaving serious conditions untreated.
Many experts point out that the health issues which lead a pregnant person to take acetaminophen (like fevers or infections) are themselves risk factors for developmental problems.
This “confounding factor” makes it difficult to blame the medication.
“Available evidence has found no link between the use of paracetamol during pregnancy and autism,” stated the European Medicines Agency, Europe’s top drug regulator, emphasizing that the medication “remains an important option to treat pain or fever in pregnant women.”
This view is echoed by experts who point to the very real risks of high fever during pregnancy.
Doctors emphasize that fever during pregnancy is a known risk to the developing baby, associated with potential birth defects and complications.
“Fever and infections during pregnancy can cause neurodevelopmental disorders including potentially autism,” said Dr. Céline Gounder. “I worry that this will scare women and that pregnant women may avoid Tylenol even when it’s entirely appropriate.”
The scientific evidence against a causal link is substantial.
A recent, large-scale study of 2.5 million children in Sweden found the difference in autism rates between those exposed to the drug and those who were not to be negligible.
The lead author of that study, Viktor Ahlqvist of the Karolinska Institute, called the difference “very small,” and his research, which compared siblings, found no association at all. He concluded that acetaminophen continues to be “the recommended option.”
This position was reinforced by the World Health Organization.
“We know that vaccines do not cause autism,” a WHO spokesperson stated, directly addressing another claim. “Vaccines save countless lives. This is something that science has proven.”
Doctors on the front lines of maternal care are deeply concerned about the practical consequences. They warn that if women forego acetaminophen, they may turn to alternatives that are proven to be unsafe, such as ibuprofen or aspirin.
Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, was unequivocal: “The idea that we’re going to let someone with a fever ‘tough it out’ may have much worse implications for a pregnant woman than taking a dose of acetaminophen.”
The message from the medical community is clear and consistent. As Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, an obstetrician-gynecologist, said, “All of the data shows that it’s safe and there is no data that shows Tylenol causes autism.”
Acetaminophen is the only recommended over-the-counter pain and fever reliever for pregnant women. Alternatives like ibuprofen or aspirin are not considered safe, especially in later stages of pregnancy.
The advice for pregnant women remains what it has been: to consult their doctors, to use medication prudently, and to know that when a fever rises or pain becomes significant, a safe and effective option remains available to them. In a time of conflicting information, the consensus of science offers a steadying hand.
Discover more from NJTODAY.NET
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.