In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Tami Rowen discuss the controversy surrounding the use of Tylenol during pregnancy and its potential link to autism. She emphasizes that the evidence is largely anecdotal and not supported by robust scientific studies. Dr. Rowen highlights a study published in Environmental Health in 2025 that found a weak association between Tylenol use and autism, but adds that a subsequent study revealed flaws in the earlier study and showed no association. Fever in pregnant women can have dangerous effects and should be relieved. She stresses that Tylenol is the safest pain reliever and fever reducer for pregnant women, who experience fevers in 20% of pregnancies. Dr. Rowen criticizes the media and some health officials for misrepresenting the risks, potentially leading to harmful decisions by pregnant women.
Key Takeaways:
Tylenol is the safest option that we have in terms of a fever reducer and pain reliever. Fevers actually have more association with autism than Tylenol does in the research.
On the other hand, Ibuprofen and NSAIDs are unsafe in pregnancy, especially in the third trimester.
"Pregnancy is quite an uncomfortable state of being. We tell pregnant women, and we tell women in general, to tough out a lot of things, but pain is not something that I think is reasonable. I think that it goes against the principle of doing no harm, to tell people they should just suffer with pain when there is actually effective and safe medication for them." — Dr. Tami Rowen
Episode References:
The Conversation Article: https://theconversation.com/as-an-ob-gyn-i-see-firsthand-how-misleading-statements-on-acetaminophen-leave-expectant-parents-confused-fearful-and-lacking-in-options-265947
Connect with Dr. Tami Rowen:
Professional Bio: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/tami.rowen
Connect with Therese:
Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net
Bluesky:@CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social
Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net
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