Key takeaways
Most people can safely take Tylenol (acetaminophen) while pregnant. In fact, it’s a first-choice medication for pain relief in pregnancy.
Some research shows a link between frequent Tylenol use during pregnancy and developmental conditions, like autism and ADHD. But, there's no evidence that acetaminophen directly caused these conditions.
Talk with your healthcare team about the best way to manage pain, discomfort and fever during pregnancy. They can help you find the best strategies to fit your needs.
Save on related medications
Pregnancy can be a time of great joy. But it can also be uncomfortable. As your baby bump grows, so does the likelihood you’ll feel all the aches and pains of pregnancy.
Aches and pains are common during pregnancy common. In fact, 3 out of 4 women report taking a pain reliever during pregnancy. Over 70% of them are using Tylenol (acetaminophen), a popular over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication. If you’re wondering whether Tylenol is safe during pregnancy, we have you covered. Let’s discuss how to safely take Tylenol during pregnancy as well as any potential risks.
Is Tylenol safe during pregnancy?
Medical experts consider Tylenol to be a safe choice during pregnancy. It hasn’t been shown to raise your chances of miscarriage or birth defects. But some studies have raised concerns that Tylenol use during pregnancy is linked to higher rates of certain developmental conditions like:
These studies did not show that Tylenol caused these developmental issues either. They just noticed that people who took Tylenol routinely during pregnancy were more likely to have children with these developmental concerns than people who didn't take Tylenol during pregnancy.
Still, it’s important to know what risks have been studied. Being familiar with the research can help you make the best decision for yourself and your unborn baby.
What are the risks of taking Tylenol while pregnant?
There’s been much debate about whether taking Tylenol during pregnancy impacts the development of the fetus. This is largely due to a 2021 review of studies written by several scientists and healthcare professionals. This article discussed concerns of Tylenol use during pregnancy.
Below, we’ll cover some of the most commonly discussed concerns of Tylenol use during pregnancy.
Developmental issues
Some studies have suggested that taking Tylenol during pregnancy might increase your child’s risk of developmental issues. Some studies have focused on attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Other developmental issues studied include autism, communication skills, and motor skills.
There dozens of studies on whether Tylenol use during pregnancy can lead to developmental issues. And the results are mixed.
For example, a 2013 study that looked at close to 50,000 children found that mothers who took Tylenol for over 28 days during pregnancy had a higher likelihood of having children with developmental issues by age 3. Some of these developmental issues included delayed walking and worse communication skills. Two smaller studies found similar results.
On the other hand, a 2024 study of close to 2.5 million children, showed that children exposed to Tylenol during pregnancy were not more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, autism or intellectual disability. A similar study included over 200,000 children and found the same results.
Changes in the reproductive tract and puberty
Some studies suggest that taking Tylenol during pregnancy can change how the reproductive tract develops in boys. For example, a study of over 3,000 baby boys found that mothers taking Tylenol in their second trimester of pregnancy were more likely to have a baby boy with cryptorchidism (undescended testicles). And another study of close to 700 baby boys found that mothers who took Tylenol between weeks 8 to 14 of their pregnancy were more likely to have baby boys with a shorter than normal anogenital distance (the distance between the anus and the genitals). However, several other studies haven’t found a link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and the problems discussed above.
Managing side effects: Tylenol is generally well tolerated, but it still has risks. Learn about Tylenol side effects here.
How to take Tylenol: Taking the lowest effective dose of Tylenol can help keep side effects at bay. Learn how much Tylenol is too much.
Medications to avoid during pregnancy: While Tylenol is safe for most people during pregnancy, several other medications aren’t. Learn which medications are considered unsafe to take while pregnant.
Studies have also looked at whether Tylenol use in pregnancy impacts the timing of puberty. One study of close to 16,000 girls and boys found that Tylenol use didn’t impact puberty in boys, but it did show some girls going through some stages of puberty earlier than normal. This included growing pubic hair and armpit hair as well as having acne breakouts. Still, it’s not clear if experiencing these events early has a negative health impact.
What’s the final word? Can you take Tylenol during pregnancy?
Many experts, including the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and the World Health Organization (WHO), state that there is no clear evidence that Tylenol causes developmental issues. They continue to say that Tylenol is the safest pain reliever to use during pregnancy.
The studies discussed above didn’t prove that Tylenol caused developmental conditions, like ADHD or autism. In fact, the authors acknowledged that they were not able to control for confounders in their studies. Confounders are factors that may influence the results of a study, making it seem like there’s a connection between two things when there really isn’t. Normal development in children can be alerted by several causes (both in the womb and after they’re born).
How to stay safe while taking Tylenol during pregnancy
If you Tylenol during pregnancy, there are a few things you can do to make sure you are staying as safe as possible:
Speak with your care team before taking any medications. If you’re thinking about Tylenol, or any other medication, during pregnancy, speak with your care team first. They can let you know if there’s anything about your current health status that may put you more at risk after using Tylenol. They may also recommend avoiding medications in general during a certain trimester of pregnancy.
Less is more. You should always take the lowest effective Tylenol dose for the shortest amount of time. This is the safest bet during pregnancy.
Pay attention to medication labels. There are several Tylenol products on the market today. And Tylenol is also part of several combination medications. Check your medication labels to make sure you’re not taking more than the recommended Tylenol dosage (a maximum of 4,000 mg per day, or less for some people).
Consider Tylenol interactions. Some medications can interact with Tylenol, making you more likely to experience Tylenol side effects (or the other medication’s side effects). Ask your pharmacist or another member of your healthcare team to check for Tylenol interactions. Giving them an updated medication list will help them do this.
Can you take medications like Advil or Aleve while pregnant?
The FDA recommends avoiding nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) after your 20th week of pregnancy. This includes medications like:
Taking NSAIDs during pregnancy can lead to complications like low amniotic fluid levels. They can also affect your baby's developing kidneys and heart. It's unclear if it's safe to take NSAIDs before the 20th week of pregnancy.
One notable exception to what’s discussed here is aspirin. Low-dose aspirin (81 mg) may be necessary to prevent preeclampsia (a pregnancy-related condition involving high blood pressure). Your care team will let you know if you need low-dose aspirin during pregnancy.
The bottom line
Taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy is generally considered safe. In fact, it’s usually a first-choice pain reliever in pregnancy. Although some studies show that Tylenol use during pregnancy can affect the development of your baby, there’s not enough evidence to show that Tylenol causes developmental problems.
If you’re interested in trying Tylenol for pregnancy aches and pains, talk to your healthcare team first. They can let you know if they think it’s a safe option for you. And always use the lowest effective dose for the shortest amount of time.
Why trust our experts?
References
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