Study: Paracetamol during pregnancy could affect the fertility of daughters
Quick Look
- An observational study from Denmark suggests that taking paracetamol during pregnancy may be associated with smaller ovaries, uteruses and lower hormone levels in daughters as young as three months old.
- However, the researchers emphasize that no causal relationship has been proven and further long-term studies are needed.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Paracetamol is the most commonly used painkiller during pregnancy and is recommended as the drug of first choice worldwide. Previous studies had examined possible links to developmental disorders such as autism, but these could not be confirmed.
Taking paracetamol during pregnancy could potentially affect fertility and the timing of menopause in girls, according to a study. Girls whose mothers took acetaminophen during pregnancy had smaller ovaries, fewer follicles, smaller uteruses and lower levels of reproductive hormones at three months of age, the research team reports in the journal Human Reproduction Open.
The results are consistent with findings from animal studies. According to the team led by Margit Bistrup Fischer from Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, paracetamol during pregnancy can result in reduced fertility and a shortened reproductive lifespan of the female offspring.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Recommendations for the use of paracetamol during pregnancy will be reviewed and possibly revised in the coming months.
Likely · Within months
Further long-term studies are being conducted to examine the observed differences in ovarian and uterine volumes for their impact on fertility and menopause.
Very likely · Within months
Open Questions
- Do the differences in ovarian and uterine volume manifest themselves in the long term?
- Does the observed change actually lead to earlier menopause or reduced fertility?
- Is there a safe upper limit for taking paracetamol during pregnancy regarding reproductive effects?