During a White House press conference on Sept. 22, U.S. President Donald Trump advised pregnant women to avoid taking acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol, unless in extreme cases. He cited concerns that the drug increases the risk of autism.
“Don’t take Tylenol,” Trump said. “Don’t take it. Fight like hell not to take it.”
The president started by describing how the Food and Drug Administration would be informing physicians of the drug’s links to autism. He announced that because of these alleged risks, the FDA would soon update acetaminophen labeling to discourage pregnant women from taking Tylenol for fevers.
Many doctors and researchers, including those at Case Western Reserve University, have expressed concern about this claim and argue that there is not enough conclusive evidence to connect the two. Kimberly McBennett, an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University and interim chief health officer, noted the position of the drug as one of the only pain-relievers open to pregnant women.
“It’s important to note that acetaminophen is the only over-the-counter drug approved for use to treat fevers during pregnancy, and high fevers in pregnant women can pose a risk to their children,” McBennett said. “Additionally, ibuprofen and aspirin have well-documented adverse impacts on the fetus and therefore cannot be used to treat fever during pregnancy.”
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) issued a statement in September 2025 reaffirming acetaminophen as the analgesic and antipyretic of choice for pregnant women. Their statement includes the advising that “overstating theoretical drug risks can lead to undertreatment, which is not without its own health risks.”
These conflicting arguments between White House claims and physician recommendations can be confusing to Americans, highlighting the need for clear guidance for women struggling with health problems.
“I think it enforces the standard that women should need to suffer, that suffering is part of being a woman,” third-year biochemistry student Lucy Candeub said. “There’s a lot of pain being dismissed and that obviously affects pregnant women because then their voices aren’t heard.”