When former President Donald Trump suggested last year that taking Tylenol during pregnancy could raise a child’s risk of autism, confusion rippled briefly through doctors’ offices across the country. But for many clinicians, the moment passed almost as quickly as it arrived.
At Dr. Nathaniel DeNicola’s obstetrics practice in Newport Beach, California, phones rang with anxious questions for a few days after the claim made headlines. Then, the concern faded.
“After about a week, it stopped being a hot topic,” said DeNicola, who helped draft guidance for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) on medication use in pregnancy. He credits the rapid response from medical organizations for calming fears.
“The medical community was very clear and very fast in explaining that acetaminophen remains safe when used properly,” he said. “Patients are doing the right thing — they’re talking to their doctors and trusting medical advice.”
Chicago-based maternal-fetal medicine specialist Dr. Lynn Yee noticed the same shift. In the fall, many patients asked about Tylenol. By January, far fewer did.
“Public concern was intense for a few months,” said Yee, chief of maternal-fetal medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “Now, the questions are tapering off. That tells me the messaging from trusted organizations is getting through.”
Medical groups have repeatedly emphasized that autism has many possible causes — including genetics, parental age, and environmental exposures — and that evidence tying it directly to acetaminophen remains inconclusive. ACOG reaffirmed last year that acetaminophen is still the preferred pain and fever medication during pregnancy when used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest necessary time.
For most pregnant patients, Tylenol is not just an option — it’s often the only safe choice. Common alternatives like ibuprofen and aspirin can increase the risk of serious complications. And leaving a fever untreated can be dangerous for both mother and baby.
“Untreated fever can affect fetal brain development,” Yee explained. “We know fever itself is harmful. And we don’t have safer alternatives. Treating it matters.”
Roughly two-thirds of pregnant women are estimated to use acetaminophen at some point during pregnancy.
When medicine became political
The controversy intensified last fall after the White House released a fact sheet citing studies that suggested prolonged acetaminophen use during pregnancy might be linked to autism or ADHD. The Food and Drug Administration followed with a cautious advisory urging clinicians to minimize use for mild fevers.
Some of those concerns stemmed from a review of 46 studies published in BMC Environmental Health, which reported an association between long-term acetaminophen use and neurodevelopmental conditions. Lead author Dr. Andrea Baccarelli acknowledged the findings but also emphasized balance.
“Acetaminophen remains an important tool,” he said. “High fever itself carries real risks. The goal is careful, informed use — not panic.”
New evidence shifts the conversation
Now, fresh research is reshaping the debate — and offering reassurance.
A large review published this week in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Women’s Health examined data from more than 300,000 pregnancies and found no evidence that acetaminophen use increases the risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability.
“We found no increased likelihood of autism linked to prenatal acetaminophen exposure,” said lead author Dr. Asma Khalil of St George’s Hospital in London. “This supports current clinical guidance.”
Notably, several of the strongest studies compared siblings — cases where one child was exposed in the womb and the other was not. These designs help control for shared genetics and family environment.
“Sibling studies are powerful,” said Dr. Steven Kapp of the University of Portsmouth. “They show the medication doesn’t cause disability. We should stop chasing false prevention theories and focus on supporting neurodivergent people.”
Khalil said her team launched the study after encountering frightened patients influenced by political statements.
“Many women were genuinely scared,” she said. “This research provides reassurance rather than alarm.”
Trusting science over sound bites
While some officials caution that questions remain, many clinicians say the new findings reinforce what they have long believed.
DeNicola praised the rigor of the new work, even while noting its limits. “Three sibling studies don’t answer everything,” he said. “But when all three point in the same direction, that’s meaningful reassurance.”
The broader message, doctors say, is simple: talk to your physician, follow evidence-based guidance, and don’t let politics dictate medical decisions.
As headlines fade and new data emerges, one conclusion is gaining ground: Many women and physicians reject Trump’s Tylenol claim as new research finds no link to autism — and trust science to guide care during pregnancy.
