Many women and doctors dismiss Trump’s Tylenol claim as more research suggests no autism link

When President Donald Trump claimed last year that taking Tylenol during pregnancy can be linked with an increased risk of autism, ob-gyn Dr. Nathaniel DeNicola’s office had an influx of questions and confusion – but only for a few days.

“Then, after a week, it had kind of gone away as a hot-button topic,” said DeNicola, based in Newport Beach, California, who helped author the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ guidance on the use of acetaminophen in pregnancy.

At the time, the scientific medical community “was so prompt in its response and so definitive in its assertion of the utility and safety of Tylenol during pregnancy as needed, I don’t think there was any lasting confusion, at least from those who listen to the medical experts,” DeNicola said.

“Patients, I think correctly, are going to their doctors,” he added. “The public seems to have taken the direction from the experts, that they trust their voice on this.”

“In September, October, November, there was quite a bit of public concern and attention on this topic, and now, in January, I feel like things are changing and that I have fewer patients asking me about Tylenol or acetaminophen,” 

said Yee, chief of maternal-fetal medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

“I’m really proud of our professional organizations like American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. 

They’ve done a lot of messaging around the safety of acetaminophen and ‘talk to your doctor,’” she said. “All these trusted organizations have been doing a commendable job of getting the right messages out there, and maybe it’s working.”

Experts stress that autism has many potential causes – including genetics, advanced parental age, and prenatal exposure to air pollution or certain pesticides – and that the science linking it to acetaminophen remains far from settled.

In this photo illustration, Tylenol packages and caplets are displayed, in Los Angeles, California, on September 22, 2025. US President Donald Trump on September 22, 2025 urged pregnant people not to take Tylenol over an unproven link to autism, and urged major changes to the standard vaccines given to babies. 
    
What pregnant people should know about acetaminophen

In guidance released after Trump’s claims in September, ACOG reaffirmed that “acetaminophen remains the analgesic and antipyretic of choice during pregnancy. 

Judicious use at the lowest effective dose for the shortest necessary duration, in consultation with an obstetrician–gynecologist or other obstetric care professional, remains consistent with best practice.”

Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol and sold under the brand name Tylenol, is widely considered the only safe over-the-counter option for treating pain or fever during pregnancy. 

Other common medications, such as ibuprofen or regular-dose aspirin, can raise the risk of serious complications during pregnancy.

In many cases, doctors may recommend Tylenol to treat pain or fever. Leaving a fever untreated can be dangerous for both the fetus and the mother, experts warn, increasing the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, high blood pressure and neurodevelopmental disorders.

“Untreated fevers can have short- and long-term impacts on fetal neurodevelopment,” 

Yee said. “It’s really important to treat your fever, because we know that untreated fever during pregnancy is unhealthy for both the mom and the baby. … And we don’t have better, safe alternatives for reducing fevers during pregnancy.”

It’s estimated that about 65% of pregnant women use acetaminophen at some point during pregnancy.

A medical issue turns political

The White House released a fact sheet in September referencing various studies suggesting that acetaminophen use during pregnancy, especially late in pregnancy, may cause long-term neurological effects in children, such as autism or ADHD.