On Sept. 22, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Tylenol, a widely used pain reliever, was linked to an increased risk of autism and urged pregnant women to avoid taking the drug.
"Don't take Tylenol," Trump said during a news conference. "Fight like hell not to take it."
On the same day, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it initiated a label change process for acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, to reflect evidence suggesting that its use by pregnant women "may be associated with an increased risk of neurological conditions such as autism and ADHD in children."
Following Trump's comments, dozens of Snopes readers searched our website looking for information on whether Tylenol causes autism.
Autism spectrum disorder, commonly known simply as autism, is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that doesn't have a single known cause. Researchers currently believe autism develops from a combination of genetics and environmental factors.
There's no definitive evidence that Tylenol causes autism, medical experts say. While some studies have found an association between Tylenol use during pregnancy and increased autism risk, others have not. However, studies that show a link do not prove causation, Dr. Rachel Follmer, an assistant professor of developmental behavioral pediatrics at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, told Snopes via email.
Multiple medical groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have reiterated that Tylenol remains safe to use during pregnancy when taken as directed. Experts also noted that an untreated fever, particularly early in pregnancy, can increase the risk of certain complications for both the parent and fetus.
No evidence Tylenol causes autism
While some studies have suggested a potential link between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and an increased risk of autism in children, others have found no such connection. No study to date has proven that acetaminophen use during pregnancy causes autism, according to multiple experts.
"There is no definitive or even strong evidence that Tylenol use during pregnancy causes autism," Follmer told Snopes.
Dr. Steven J. Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), echoed that conclusion in a statement, writing that "not a single reputable study has successfully concluded that the use of acetaminophen in any trimester of pregnancy causes neurodevelopmental disorders in children."
The nonprofit Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine also noted that while some research suggests a potential link, the existing evidence "does not establish a causal relationship."
In its September 2025 notice to doctors on acetaminophen use during pregnancy, the FDA acknowledged both the ongoing scientific debate and lack of definitive proof. The federal agency wrote, in part:
To be clear, while an association between acetaminophen and autism has been described in many studies, a causal relationship has not been established and there are contrary studies in the scientific literature. The association is an ongoing area of scientific debate and clinicians should be aware of the issue in their clinical decision-making, especially given that most short-term fevers in pregnant women and young children do not require medication.
What studies show
A systematic review published in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health in August 2025 analyzed 46 studies to evaluate whether acetaminophen use during pregnancy was linked to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and ADHD. Some of the studies specifically focused on autism risk.
The review found that a majority of the studies reported a positive association between prenatal acetaminophen use and increased risk of conditions such as autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. However, the authors emphasized that these findings did not prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
They also cautioned against avoiding the drug entirely, noting that "untreated maternal fever and pain pose risks such as neural tube defects and preterm birth." Instead, they recommended taking the smallest effective dose for the shortest time possible and consulting a doctor before use.
In her email to Snopes, Follmer also emphasized the importance of distinguishing between "association" and "causation" in research, noting that "an association indicates that variables could be related" but it does not prove that one causes the other.
A separate large study published in JAMA in April 2024 examined data from about 2.48 million children born in Sweden between 1995 and 2019. Initial findings showed a small association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and a higher risk of autism and ADHD in children. However, when researchers compared siblings, the association disappeared.
"This suggests that family genetics and maternal health, rather than acetaminophen itself, may explain the earlier findings," Follmer said.
So what kind of evidence would definitively prove that Tylenol causes autism? According to Dr. Joshua Ewen, division head of developmental-behavioral pediatrics at Northwestern's Feinberg School, the gold standard would be a randomized clinical trial.
In an email to Snopes, Ewen explained that such a trial would involve randomly assigning pregnant participants to two groups: one that takes Tylenol under certain conditions and another that does not. He added:
In a well-done randomized clinical trial, the only thing that differs is whether the parent receives Tylenol during pregnancy. Assuming the sample was large and diverse enough, the effect was large enough, the findings were replicated sufficiently and so on, then we would take that as effectively definitive evidence that Tylenol use during pregnancy causes autism.
However, Ewen noted that these types of studies "need very strong ethical review, and they are not always scientifically or logistically practical to perform."
Untreated fever, pain during pregnancy can pose risks
Acetaminophen is considered the safest over-the-counter drug for treating fevers and pain during pregnancy. Other common medications like ibuprofen and naproxen aren't recommended for use during pregnancy because they can affect fetal development, the Cleveland Clinic says.
Medical experts also warned that untreated fever and pain can carry risks for both the parent and fetus.
"The conditions people use acetaminophen to treat during pregnancy are far more dangerous than any theoretical risks and can create severe morbidity and mortality for the pregnant person and the fetus," Fleischman said.
According to the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), an untreated fever, particularly in early pregnancy, can increase the risk of miscarriage, birth defects and premature birth. Some studies have shown an association between maternal fever early in pregnancy and neural tube defects like spina bifida, Follmer said. The SMFM added that untreated pain during pregnancy can lead to depression, anxiety and high blood pressure.
Multiple medical experts continued to emphasize that acetaminophen remains safe to use during pregnancy.
For example, the SMFM reiterated its recommendation that "acetaminophen is an appropriate medication to treat pain and fever during pregnancy." The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also noted that the medication is "well studied and proven to be safe for use in pregnancy," recommending its use "as needed, in moderation, and after consultation with a doctor."
A spokesperson for Tylenol maker Kenvue provided the following statement to Snopes via email:
We believe independent, sound science clearly shows that taking acetaminophen does not cause autism. We strongly disagree with any suggestion otherwise and are deeply concerned about the health risks and confusion this poses for expecting mothers and parents.
Acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women as needed throughout their entire pregnancy. Without it, women face dangerous choices: suffer through conditions like fever that are potentially harmful to both mom and baby or use riskier alternatives. High fevers and pain are widely recognized as potential risks to a pregnancy if left untreated.
Acetaminophen is also one of the most widely studied pain relievers and fever reducers in infants and children, and numerous randomized, controlled clinical trials support the safety of acetaminophen in infants and children when used as directed.
The facts are that over a decade of rigorous research, endorsed by leading medical professionals and global health regulators, confirms there is no credible evidence linking acetaminophen to autism. We stand with the many public health and medical professionals who have reviewed this science and agree.
We will continue to reinforce that expecting mothers speak to their health professionals before taking any over-the-counter medication and will explore all options to protect the health interests of American women and children.
Some social media posts in late September 2025 also claimed Tylenol once posted that it did not recommend using any of its products during pregnancy; while the post was authentic, Kenvue told Snopes that the information in it was "incomplete" and that the company doesn't "make recommendations on taking any medications in pregnancy because that is the job of a healthcare provider."
Anyone who is pregnant and has questions about their medications should always consult with a doctor.
For further reading, Snopes previously debunked a claim that Amish people do not get autism because they do not vaccinate their children.