Tylenol still safe to use in pregnancy, Canadian doctors say after review

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada said there is no causal evidence linking prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.

A group representing Canada’s obstetricians and gynecologists says it has reviewed evidence on Tylenol use during pregnancy and maintains that the painkiller is safe.

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada said on Monday that it has revisited its position in light of reports questioning whether there is a link between mothers taking acetaminophen while pregnant and autism in children.

The Wall Street Journal recently published a story that said U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to release a report this month linking autism to the use of the common painkiller in pregnancy.

“We want to get ahead of it, ahead of the media and the social media, and unfortunately the misinformation that goes along with this,” said Dr. Graeme Smith, editor and chief of the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada.

The SOGC said there is no causal evidence linking prenatal exposure to acetaminophen and certain neurodevelopmental disorders. That’s consistent with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ stance.

It also said untreated fever in pregnancy carries well-documented risks for both mother and baby, and that pain management is a human right that women should not be denied.

An untreated fever, particularly in the first trimester, carries an increased risk of miscarriage, birth defects, and premature birth, according to the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

In general, health agencies and doctors say acetaminophen is OK to use in pregnancy when medically needed, at recommended doses and for the shortest duration necessary.