Many women are raising concerns over news from D.C. that could affect their pregnancies. The Trump administration on Monday suggested that using Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy may be linked to an increased risk of autism.
At a White House press conference, President Donald Trump said the Food and Drug Administration will notify physicians that it “strongly recommends that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary,” citing situations such as extremely high fevers.
However, studies have not established a direct cause-and-effect relationship between acetaminophen and autism. While some research has explored potential links, major medical organizations continue to recommend acetaminophen as the safest pain reliever for pregnant women.
“Suggestions that acetaminophen use in pregnancy causes autism are not only highly concerning to clinicians but also irresponsible,” said Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. He emphasized that the announcement oversimplifies the complex causes of neurological conditions in children and could confuse expectant mothers.
Tylenol manufacturer Kenvue also pushed back, stating that research does not show acetaminophen causes autism. “It is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women,” the company said, warning that limiting access could force women to endure harmful fevers or use riskier alternatives.
The administration additionally announced plans to start the FDA approval process for leucovorin, a drug sometimes used in cancer treatment that early studies suggest may improve symptoms in some children with autism. Experts caution that robust evidence is still lacking and more research is needed.
During the press conference, Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also raised concerns about the childhood vaccine schedule and autism, contradicting extensive scientific research showing no link between vaccines and autism.
Tylenol use (or the use of generic acetaminophen) by pregnant women has now been the subject of over twenty-six epidemiological studies. All twenty-six studies found an association between their child’s in-utero exposure to acetaminophen (commonly sold under the brand name Tylenol) and an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) diagnosis in the baby who was exposed.
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