Acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol®, remains the best option for pregnant women who need to fight a fever or relieve aches and pains, according to Parkview Health’s director of maternal-fetal medicine.
News release from Parkview Health:
Consult with your medical provider regarding acetaminophen use during pregnancy
OB-GYN warns of risks of other over-the-counter painkillers, advises moderation
From Parkview HealthFort Wayne, Indiana (September 25, 2025) – Acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol®, remains the best option for pregnant women who need to fight a fever or relieve aches and pains, according to Parkview Health’s director of maternal-fetal medicine.
On Monday, the White House announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would begin advising doctors to warn patients that Tylenol can be associated with an increased risk of autism. An FDA statement released Monday noted some research suggesting a connection, while also noting that it’s not been established as a causal relationship.
“It is important to note that while an association between acetaminophen and neurological conditions has been described in many studies, a causal relationship has not been established and there are contrary studies in the scientific literature,” the FDA statement reads. “It is also noted that acetaminophen is the only over-the-counter drug approved for use to treat fevers during pregnancy, and high fevers in pregnant women can pose a risk to their children. Additionally, aspirin and ibuprofen have well-documented adverse impacts on the fetus.”
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) refuted the announcement in a statement issued on Monday, stating, “In more than two decades of research on the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy, not a single reputable study has successfully concluded that the use of acetaminophen in any trimester of pregnancy causes neurodevelopmental disorders in children.”
In response to the new announcement, Parkview Health’s Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Dr. Geoffrey Gordon, said the association of acetaminophen with autism is not new, but agreed there hasn’t been strong evidence in the past or new evidence to support the sudden reversal.
“In the scientific community, it’s understood that these studies have limitations and that the association does not imply causation,” Gordon said. “We don’t know what other confounding factors are present in the groups that took acetaminophen. Do they have more viral illnesses with fevers? Do they have more inflammatory pain conditions?”
Before talking about acetaminophen, Gordon wanted to stress why aspirin and ibuprofen, the two other common over-the-counter painkillers, are not recommended during pregnancy and should not be substituted if people are concerned about Tylenol.
Aspirin, which is commonly used as a blood thinner, and ibuprofen, which reduces inflammation, are both Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and have been more strongly linked to potential complications.
“NSAIDs are recommended to be avoided in pregnancy due to the risk of their documented effect on amniotic fluid production, decreasing it to low levels, and the risk of premature closure of the ductus arteriosus, a special artery near the heart that helps to get oxygenated blood to the fetus,” Gordon said. “This is not to be confused with use of low-dose aspirin for the prevention of preeclampsia.”
Acetaminophen also works as a pain reliever and fever reducer but isn’t an NSAID. By working centrally in the brain to provide pain relief and anti-fever effects instead of prompting a physical response in the vascular system, it doesn’t carry the same risks as NSAID drugs.
Some studies about acetaminophen during pregnancy have suggested potential harmful impacts if women take it frequently throughout their pregnancy. While those outcomes require more in-depth study, Gordon suggests that pregnant women should practice moderation if using acetaminophen to treat aches and pains or a fever.
“We advocate for the lowest effective dose, whether it’s for blood pressure, mental health or pain control in pregnancy,” Gordon said.
Gordon also noted that choosing not to take any medicine, such as in the case of a maternal fever, can carry its own risks to healthy fetal development.
Therefore, it’s important to have a conversation with your doctor to talk about your symptoms and discuss the best options for you during pregnancy. No two patients are the same, and your OB-GYN will be the best-equipped person to analyze your situation and make a safe and effective recommendation.
“It can be complicated to navigate what medications are safe in pregnancy and what medications aren’t,” Gordon said. “Therefore, I would encourage you to speak to your qualified healthcare provider about your concerns.”
Tylenol® is a registered trademark of Kenvue Brands, LLC.
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