A group of Canadian obstetricians and gynecologists has reaffirmed the safety of Tylenol for use during pregnancy. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) conducted a review of existing evidence and announced its findings on Monday. This review comes amid growing concerns about a potential link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism in children.

Recent reports, including one from a prominent publication, indicated that U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to release a report this month that suggests a connection between the common painkiller and autism. In response, Dr. Graeme Smith, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, emphasized the importance of addressing misinformation. "We want to get ahead of it, ahead of the media and the social media, and unfortunately the misinformation that goes along with this," he stated.

The SOGC maintains that there is no causal evidence linking prenatal exposure to acetaminophen with neurodevelopmental disorders. This position aligns with the stance of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The SOGC also highlighted the risks associated with untreated fever during pregnancy, which can affect both the mother and the baby. According to the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, untreated fever, especially in the first trimester, can lead to miscarriage, birth defects, and premature birth.

Health agencies generally agree that acetaminophen is safe for pregnant women when used as needed, at recommended doses, and for the shortest duration possible. A 2021 editorial in Nature Reviews Endocrinology raised questions about the safety of acetaminophen during pregnancy, prompting the SOGC to issue a position paper. This paper argued that claims linking acetaminophen to neurodevelopmental issues lack substantial evidence and contain significant flaws.

The SOGC's position paper stated, "Opinions based on limited or flawed evidence should not promote unwarranted fear and guilt in pregnant women." Dr. Smith noted that while some studies suggest a potential association between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and fetal development issues, an association does not imply causation. He referenced a large NIH-funded study that found no increased risk of neurodevelopmental problems when comparing siblings, one of whom was exposed to acetaminophen in utero and the other was not. This suggests that observed associations in other studies may be due to familial factors rather than direct effects of the medication.