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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A new study finds that baby girls exposed to Tylenol (acetaminophen) in the womb had smaller ovaries, fewer egg-containing follicles, and smaller uteruses compared to unexposed infants. The findings, published in Human Reproduction Open, are the first to show such effects in humans — though researchers stress this doesn't prove harm or predict future fertility outcomes. Current guidelines still consider Tylenol safe during pregnancy.
A new study out of Copenhagen is raising questions about one of pregnancy's most commonly used pain relievers. Researchers found that three-month-old baby girls whose mothers took Tylenol (acetaminophen/paracetamol) during pregnancy had measurably smaller reproductive organs and fewer ovarian follicles than those who weren't exposed — the first time such findings have been reported in humans.
The study tracked 302 infant girls and a separate cohort of 1,210 girls followed into adolescence. Importantly, the mothers took relatively low doses — none exceeded the recommended daily maximum — mostly for headaches or musculoskeletal pain. Researchers caution that the study is observational and cannot prove cause and effect, nor does it predict outcomes for any individual child.
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Why it matters: Since a girl's entire egg supply is established before birth, any disruption during fetal development could have long-term reproductive implications. Experts are calling for follow-up studies extending into menopause and a reconsideration of current guidelines — though for now, Tylenol remains the recommended option for managing pain and fever in pregnancy.
