Executive Summary
The Story So Far
Why This Matters
Who Thinks What?
President Donald Trump issued a broad warning against taking acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, during pregnancy at a White House news briefing on Monday, citing unproven claims linking the medication to autism. His remarks were swiftly countered by major medical organizations in the United States, which continue to support the drug’s use for pain and fever during pregnancy, emphasizing that the benefits outweigh potential risks.
Trump stated, “If you’re pregnant, don’t take Tylenol. When you have your baby, don’t give your baby Tylenol at all unless it’s absolutely necessary.” This warning was delivered without the presentation of new research to support his assertions.
Medical Community Rebuttal
Leading medical bodies immediately pushed back against Trump’s claims. Dr. Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, issued a statement calling the White House event’s claims “dangerous” and “misleading,” asserting they “do a disservice to autistic individuals.”
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) have both reaffirmed their guidance. They recommend acetaminophen as a safe and first-line treatment for pain and fever during pregnancy. Both organizations note that the weight of evidence regarding a possible causal link between acetaminophen use and neurobehavioral disorders in offspring remains inconclusive.
Research and Risks
Experts highlight significant limitations in the conclusions that can be drawn from existing research on a link between Tylenol and autism. The body of research exploring this connection is not conclusive, and even less data exists concerning autism prevalence relative to acetaminophen use in infancy or early childhood.
Conversely, leaving pain or fever untreated during pregnancy carries its own serious risks. A review published in the journal Pediatrics found that fever in the first trimester can significantly increase the risk of congenital heart defects, neural tube defects, and oral clefts. High-grade fevers during pregnancy can also impact fetal brain development, with some studies identifying fever itself as a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Other commonly used pain medications have known risks during pregnancy. For instance, the steroid prednisone may cause birth defects such as cleft lip or palate. Ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should generally be avoided in the first and third trimesters due to links with miscarriage and various birth defects, with ACOG guidance recommending their use only in the second trimester.
Regulatory Adjustments and Expert Consensus
At the same Monday briefing, health officials announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would issue a notice to physicians “about the risk of acetaminophen during pregnancy.” Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will advise clinicians to “prescribe the lowest effective dose for the shortest necessary duration and only when treatment is required,” according to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. These recommendations largely align with existing medical guidance.
Despite these proposed regulatory changes, experts broadly agree that acetaminophen remains one of the best and safest options for managing pain and fever during pregnancy. Decades of research, including large and case-control studies, have found the medication to be “generally safe” when taken as recommended.
The ongoing discussions underscore the complexity of medical advice during pregnancy, where clinical studies often show associations rather than direct causal links. This can lead to confusion and anxiety for expecting parents, making informed conversations with healthcare providers crucial.
