Loading...
Tue, Oct 21, 2025

News

Obstetricians confirm: Paracetamol in pregnancy does not cause autism

Photo by: Pexels.com
Photo by: Pexels.com

The South African Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (SASOG), together with the Society of Obstetric Medicine South Africa (SOOMSA) and the South African Society for Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (SASUOG), has dismissed recent claims suggesting a connection between paracetamol use during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

In a joint statement issued by the Alkemi Collective on behalf of these organisations, they confirmed that “there is no evidence that taking paracetamol in pregnancy at recommended therapeutic doses causes autism in children.”

The statement comes in response to media reports and studies that raised concerns about a possible link between prenatal paracetamol exposure and ASD.

While some early observational studies indicated a small association, these were criticised for being vulnerable to confounding factors such as genetics, family environment, and unreliable self-reporting.

More robust research, including sibling-controlled analyses and large population studies, notably a Swedish study, found that once shared familial factors were accounted for, the association between paracetamol and ASD disappeared. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses further support the conclusion that earlier observed links were due to confounding rather than causation.

The medical bodies emphasised the risks of untreated maternal symptoms during pregnancy.

“Fever in pregnancy is not benign; it has been associated with miscarriage, congenital malformations including neural tube defects and cardiac defects, preterm delivery and intrauterine fetal demise,” they said. 

They added that untreated pain can also have severe effects on maternal mental health, affecting both mother and fetus.

Given this context, paracetamol remains “the safest and most effective first-line treatment for pain and fever in pregnancy,” with no alternative offering a better safety profile.

At standard therapeutic doses, it is “not associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy or child health outcomes,” the statement reassured.

“There is no reliable evidence that paracetamol use in pregnancy causes ASD. Apparent associations are explained by confounding, not causation. Clinical practice should not change.

Paracetamol remains an essential, safe, and effective treatment for fever and pain in pregnancy, and pregnant women should not be denied appropriate care because of unsubstantiated claims,'' said the collective. 

*This article was first published by IOL News

Please fill the required field.
Journal News