Following the Trump administration’s statement indicating a possible connection between the use of Tylenol during pregnancy and autism, medical professionals are now advising individuals to consult their healthcare providers for personalized guidance.

During a press conference on Monday, President Donald Trump stated that “Taking Tylenol is not advisable,” recommending that women avoid the over-the-counter medication unless it is absolutely necessary.

Trump mentioned that the Food and Drug Administration would be notifying doctors that the use of acetaminophen, the active compound in Tylenol, “may be linked” to a “significant increase in autism risk.”

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), however, opposes this view and has reiterated the safety and advantages of acetaminophen for expectant mothers shortly after Trump made his remarks.

In light of Monday’s announcement, insights were gathered from doctors, an insider connected to Robert Kennedy Jr., and a mother of a child with autism on what parents should consider. Here’s their perspective.

Dr. Justin Shafa: There are implications to not taking Tylenol

Los Angeles-based Dr. Justin Shafa told after Monday’s announcement that urging pregnant women to avoid Tylenol could have unintended implications. 

“There are numerous implications. Advil is not advised for pregnant women due to various reasons. Opting not to use Tylenol for pain or fever during pregnancy could result in complications for both the mother and fetus, as untreated fever might cause birth defects, miscarriage, preterm birth, and other maternal issues,” Shafa explained.

Shafa points out that Autism was first diagnosed in 1943 by Dr. Leo Kanner. Tylenol was invented by McNeil Laboratories in 1955.

“After having to hear for decades that vaccines caused autism, false claims which were repeatedly disproven, I’m now surprised that it’s only taken eight months for this administration to now claim an association between Tylenol and autism,” Justin Shafa, MD explained to .

Mother and autism advocate: Err on the side of medical personnel, not headlines

Stephanie Hanrahan, activist and mom of two children with autism, told that she was appreciative that the Trump administration was taking on the task of researching links to autism, but cautioned that research and access are equally important. 

“We need research and we need access to interventions that have already proven to be successful. My children have progressed greatly because of their exposure to early interventions and therapies—all of which should be accessible to every family caring for an individual with autism,” Hanrahan said. 

As for the use of acetaminophen, she said that she has seen benefits for pregnant women as a former delivery nurse, and urged thoughtfulness about how findings and recommendations are presented. 

“As this administration begins to explore the link between autism and acetaminophen use during pregnancy, I believe it’s advisable to err on the side of medical personnel instead of headlines currently offering correlation without causation,” Hanrahan said. “Autism is not a problem to be solved. It is a difference to be supported.”

Pelvic pain specialist: Doctors have ‘ethical responsibility’ to call out misleading claims

Dr. Tayyaba Ahmed, a pelvic pain specialist, was critical of the administration’s announcement.

Ahmed told that it is the “ethical responsibility of medical professionals to speak up when we see dangerous or misleading health claims being spread.  This is one of those times.” 

Other healthcare professionals have voiced similar concerns. 

Dr. Steven Fleischman, president of the ACOG, called Monday’s announcement “irresponsible” and said it “dangerously simplifies the many and complex causes of neurologic challenges in children.”

RFK Jr. PAC advisor: Kennedy vowed to find root cause of autism

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vowed to find the root causes of autism by September.

During Monday’s news conference, Kennedy said his agency would continue “…to investigate a multiplicity of potential causes with no areas of taboo.” 

Kristin Davis, a former advisor for Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s Common Sense PAC, said identifying acetaminophen as a possible autism contributor is a first step, but more work needs to be done. 

“We need research not only on prevention, but also on treatments for the millions of families already living with autism. And frankly, it’s refreshing and maybe even a little shocking to see a politician actually deliver on a promise,” Davis told . 

Immunologist says autism-Tylenol link has been debunked

New York-based immunologist Purvi Parikh said a recent study out of Sweden has debunked the theory that there was a link between autism and Tylenol use.

“This study was very good as they looked at siblings too to control for other confounding factors that other studies didn’t look at making this a much stronger study. This study shows no link between Tylenol use in pregnancy and autism,” Parikh told . 

The study found that while initial results suggested there could be a link, the risk was not prevalent in the siblings of those children, according to Autism Speaks.  

Parikh added that “untreated fever in pregnancy is far more dangerous for mom and baby.  So my concern is moms may now not take Tylenol out of fear.”

Dr. Marty Makary: Acetaminophen is reasonable in certain situations

The head of the FDA, who stood next to Trump and Kennedy at Monday’s news conference, laid out what the agency would be doing based on the suggested evidence between Tylenol use and autism. 

“The FDA is taking action to make parents and doctors aware of a considerable body of evidence about potential risks associated with acetaminophen,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Even with this body of evidence, the choice still belongs with parents. The precautionary principle may lead many to avoid using acetaminophen during pregnancy, especially since most low-grade fevers don’t require treatment. It remains reasonable, however, for pregnant women to use acetaminophen in certain scenarios.”  

The agency sent a letter to physicians alerting them of the connection and will be initiating a label change for Tylenol and other products with acetaminophen, “to reflect evidence suggesting that the use of acetaminophen by pregnant women may be associated with an increased risk of neurological conditions such as autism and ADHD in children,” the agency said in a news release.