For many years, Tylenol (also known by its main ingredient, acetaminophen) has been considered safe for use during pregnancy. It’s one of the few pain and fever medications that doctors often recommend for pregnant women.
But recent news has caused confusion. Some people are asking: Can Tylenol cause autism in babies?
Let’s break down the facts in simple language.
Some scientific studies have looked at whether using acetaminophen during pregnancy might be linked to autism or other developmental disorders in children.
Here’s what researchers and doctors say:
No study has ever proven that Tylenol causes autism.
Some studies show a possible link (association), but association is not the same as cause.
Other studies found no link at all.
“Association” means that two things are seen together (like acetaminophen use and autism), but it doesn’t prove that one causes the other.
Think of it like this: If people who wear glasses score better on tests, it doesn’t mean glasses make you smarter — maybe people who study more need glasses.
This is the same logic researchers use when looking at Tylenol and autism.
One huge study from Sweden (with over 2.5 million births) found that any connection between Tylenol and autism disappeared when researchers compared siblings born to the same mother.
This suggests that genetics or other environmental factors, not the medication, may be the real reason behind the earlier link.
For example:
A mother who experiences more pain or fever during pregnancy might take more Tylenol.
That same pain or illness (like a fever) — not the Tylenol — may increase the risk of autism.
Or the mother may already have a genetic link to autism, which gets passed on to the child.
Major medical groups like:
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM)
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
…all say that Tylenol is safe for use during pregnancy when taken as directed.
In fact, it’s safer to treat pain and fever with Tylenol than to leave it untreated, which can actually be dangerous for both mother and baby.
“An untreated fever in pregnancy is more risky than taking Tylenol,” said Dr. Salena Zanotti of Cleveland Clinic.
Doctors warn that other pain medications like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve) are not safe during pregnancy — especially after 20 weeks — because they can harm the baby’s development.
So for pregnant women needing pain or fever relief, Tylenol is still the safest option available.
Autism is a complex condition. Many factors can play a role, such as:
Genetics
Parental age
Low birth weight
Pregnancy illnesses or fever
Environmental conditions
None of these are fully understood yet — but so far, Tylenol has not been proven to be one of them.
If you’re pregnant and feeling worried, remember:
Don’t stop taking your medication without talking to your doctor.
Tylenol remains a safe choice for pain and fever.
Most research shows no strong evidence of harm.
“The science isn’t strong enough to make people afraid,” said Dr. Christopher Zahn of ACOG.
