A large study published in the British medical journal BMJ concluded that “there is no evidence of a link between taking paracetamol during pregnancy and the development of autism spectrum disorders in the child.”
The study indicated that “the data currently available are insufficient to prove a link between fetal exposure to paracetamol in the womb and autism disorder or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in childhood.”
The scientific community has also confirmed that paracetamol, which is sold under the name Tylenol in the United States, is the recommended painkiller for pregnant women, unlike aspirin or ibuprofen, which pose proven risks to the fetus.
The World Health Organization has confirmed that there is no conclusive evidence that paracetamol increases the risk of autism in the fetus.
The study published by BMJ reinforces this medical consensus, and also brings together the results of previous research that attempted to provide a comprehensive assessment of what is known so far in this regard.
Many studies have previously indicated a possible relationship between paracetamol, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism. The British Science Media Center, which collects expert opinions after publishing scientific studies, quoted Dimitrios Siasakos, professor of obstetrics at University College London, as saying that this study “is based on a high-level methodology that confirms what experts around the world say.”