- In September 2025, the Trump administration suggested that taking Tylenol during pregnancy may raise the risk of autism in children. Many experts have spoken out against this statement.
- Multiple studies published in 2026 confirmed that there is no evidence to show a link between Tylenol during pregnancy and increased risks of autism or ADHD, including a new 20-year study from Hong Kong.
- A large Danish study also found no link between Tylenol and an increased risk of autism.
- A gold standard systematic review and meta-analysis found no evidence to support the idea that acetaminophen during pregnancy raises the risk of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or intellectual disabilities.
A growing body of evidence, including several new, peer-reviewed studies in 2026, shows that there is no link between using Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy and an increased risk of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and intellectual disabilities.
Following the announcement, the
Medical experts have also spoken out, emphasizing the fact that a causal relationship was never established between acetaminophen and neurocognitive outcomes such as autism.
“Suggestions that acetaminophen use in pregnancy causes autism are not only highly concerning to clinicians but also irresponsible when considering the harmful and confusing message they send to pregnant patients, including those who may need to rely on this beneficial medicine during pregnancy,” said the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) president Steven J. Fleischman, MD, MBA, FACOG, in the organization’s 2025 statement.
In this Healthline studies roundup, we highlight two additional, peer-reviewed studies published in 2026 with large samples and data sets that confirmed that there is no link between prenatal acetaminophen use and neurological conditions such as autism.
A 20-year study out of Hong Kong published in
The study examined a cohort of 708,020 mother-child pairs, of whom approximately 43.3% had prenatal acetaminophen (paracetamol) exposure.
The researchers then used sibling-matched analysis to check for autism and ADHD in the child participants. They found that prenatal exposure to acetaminophen was not associated with an increased risk for autism or ADHD.
These findings were consistent across exposure timing, dosage, and pattern.
“The exaggerated hype and misrepresentation about acetaminophen [Tylenol] increasing the risk of autism and ADHD during pregnancy has been exploited, harmful to pregnant women, and causing unnecessary confusion,” Ross told Healthine in a previous interview. Ross wasn’t involved in the study.
“Tylenol is commonly used to treat fever, headache, and pain during pregnancy,” she said.
This study adds to the growing evidence and expert opinion showing that the use of Tylenol during pregnancy is safe when you follow the instructions of your healthcare professional.
A large Danish study published in April 2026 in
The study examined 1.5 million children born between 1997 and 2022. Among these, 31,098 were exposed to Tylenol in utero. The researchers found that 3% of the unexposed children were diagnosed with autism, while only 1.8% of the children who were exposed were given a diagnosis.
This lack of association between Tylenol during pregnancy and autism persisted when the Danish researchers took into account individual risk factors, such as the trimester of pregnancy when exposure occurred and the dosage used.
G. Thomas Ruiz, MD, an OB-GYN and the lead OB/GYN at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in California, previously told Healthline that acetaminophen does not cross from the mother’s bloodstream into the placenta. Ruiz wasn’t involved in the study.
However, other pain medications, like ibuprofen, do cross that threshold. This can endanger the health of a developing fetus.
“Most pain relievers are medications you shouldn’t take while pregnant,” said Ruiz.
Sherry Ross, MD, an OB-GYN and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in California, who wasn’t involved in the study, agreed, and previously told Healthline, “The risks of untreated fevers, headaches, and pain during pregnancy may be dangerous for mother and baby and do outweigh the unsupported risks of using Tylenol to treat these harmful symptoms.”
The link between Tylenol use in pregnancy and autism entered the spotlight following a 2025 review that sounded the alarm over a potential risk.
The Harvard-Mount Sinai review of 46 studies suggested a slightly higher risk of autism and ADHD in children with prenatal exposure to acetaminophen. However, the findings point to an association, not causation.
Since the release of this study and subsequent government announcements, various experts have spoken out, contradicting its findings.
“Studies like this are not proving anything other than an association,” Danelle Fisher, MD, FAAP, board certified pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA, who wasn’t involved in the review, told Healthline in a previous interview.
“The timeliness of taking acetaminophen while pregnant does not mean that every woman who takes it will have a child with autism,” she said.
Christine Feigal, MD, board certified OB-GYN and vice chair of the OB-GYN Department at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, CA, also told Healthine in a previous interview that association doesn’t equate to causation. Feigal wasn’t involved in the review.
“Studies looking for relationships between prenatal exposures and postnatal outcomes, particularly complex neurocognitive outcomes such as autism, must be interpreted cautiously, as these conditions are multifactorial in nature,” she said. “Confounding variables, that is, factors that can impact the likelihood of both the exposure and the outcome, are common and difficult to erase in these studies.”
Quatiba Davis, chief clinical officer at ABA Centers of America, also previously told Healthline that, “There is currently no clear-cut conclusion as to what causes autism, and we welcome any studies or research that help us come closer to identifying its underlying origin.”
Experts agree that Tylenol is safe and there’s no link between acetaminophen, neural tube defects, and autism.
“Acetaminophen is one of the few safe pain and fever medications we have to offer patients in pregnancy, and avoiding treatment can have its own consequences,” Feigal told Healthline. “I will continue to recommend Tylenol for pain and fever in pregnancy.”
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