Our Statement on Paracetamol in Pregnancy
- Article
September 23, 2025
At Autism East Midlands, we were extremely disappointed to see the American Government promote theories about autism that have no foundation in science.
To be very clear there is no material evidence that pregnant women taking paracetamol causes autism. Nor is there any link to childhood vaccines. This seems to be a case of people not understanding the difference between correlation and causation.
To promote such theories, without any evidence base, is damaging and hurtful, particularly when done so by powerful people with loud voices.
The increase in diagnosis of autism is largely accounted for by our better understanding of it in all its presentations and as such improved diagnosis rates. The prevalence is not believed to have changed, we are just better at identifying autistic people and hopefully providing the right support.
We'd also like to share a statement from our friends at the Autism Alliance:
Today, the Trump administration has issued a statement linking paracetamol use in pregnancy to autism. Paracetamol is known as acetaminophen/Tylenol in the USA.
The evidence to suggest paracetamol use in pregnancy increases the likelihood of a baby being autistic is very weak and based on poorly conducted studies.
High-quality, well-controlled studies suggest there is no link between paracetamol in pregnancy and autism. Pregnant people should continue to follow existing NHS advice.
The Trump administration has regularly referred to rising rates of autism and named various incorrect causes.
The rising rates of autism that we have seen in recent years are most likely due to increased awareness and changes to diagnosis.
Hundreds of studies have been carried out to look at the causes of autism but none have found a major environmental cause.
There are no proven therapies or drugs that ‘cure’ autism. Most autistic people and families want research to focus on better understanding and support.
We are concerned by the multiple recent inaccurate claims from the Trump administration. These claims are not only stigmatising, they are a distraction and act as an impediment to progress.
As a group of charities who exist to make the world better for autistic people, we want to see governments focusing on following high-quality evidence to help autistic people to thrive instead of focusing on disproven theories.
Joint statement from: Ambitious about Autism, Autism Alliance UK, Autistica and National Autistic Society.
Would you like to find out more about autism?
Being autistic does not mean you have an illness or disease. It means your brain works in a different way from other people.
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