There is no evidence that paracetamol use during pregnancy increases the risk of autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or intellectual disability among children, finds most rigorous synthesis of the current evidence to date published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology, & Women’s Health journal.
In September 2025 the U.S. administration suggested that taking paracetamol during pregnancy might increase the risk of autism among children. Earlier meta-analyses suggested small associations between paracetamol in pregnancy and increased risks of autism and ADHD, but these were often based on studies prone to biases.
This new systematic review and meta-analysis looked at 43 studies and found the largest and most methodologically rigorous studies, such as those with sibling comparisons, provide strong evidence that paracetamol during pregnancy does not cause autism, ADHD or intellectual disabilities.
The authors say the findings from the sibling comparisons and their pooled results from multiple studies suggest that previously reported associations between paracetamol during pregnancy and autism, ADHD or intellectual disabilities may be due to other maternal factors, such as underlying pain, discomfort, fever, or genetic predisposition, rather than any direct effect from the paracetamol.
Meta-analysis
People
Prenatal paracetamol exposure and child neurodevelopment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
16-Jan-2026
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