You will have read the recent headlines.

People have suggested a causative link between taking Tylenol (active ingredient paracetamol/Acetomenophen )in pregnancy and Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Apparently, they have linked the rising rates of Autism to the rising rates of Tylenol use in Pregnancy.

I can see how one might be tempted to reach that conclusion also. But, just because something is associated does not mean it causes it.

For example, Trinidad and Tobago sees a spike in the birth rate 9 months after Carnival. This has been noted by the CSO. Seeing that one might decide that that means that women are naturally more fertile in the months of February/March. Or that Carnival causes pregnancy. It doesn’t. Sex causes pregnancy. However, one could argue (and religion has for years) that people dancing scantily clad while disinhibited from Alcohol makes couples more likely to have unprotected sex. But we all know It’s the SEX that causes the pregnancy not the Carnival itself. However, the circumstances of Carnival make it more likely that people have unprotected sex. That’s an association not a cause.

Now let’s look at why women would want to take a Tylenol while pregnant: Pain or fever. Fever is often caused by an infection. The infection causes a fever, so women take the Tylenol to reduce the fever. How do we know if it might not be an infection which is causing the supposed increased rates of autism? I use the word “Supposed” to bring me to the second flaw in the argument that Tylenol use in pregnancy causes Autism:

They have linked “rising” rates of ASD to rising rates of Tylenol in pregnancy. But are rates of ASD really increasing? or are we just getting better at diagnosing it? The diagnostic criteria for ASD has recently been expanding. It is as it says in the name a “spectrum” That means a wide range of severity from people who may be very highly functioning to people who need special schooling. Sometimes people are so highly functioning that they were never diagnosed as children. On top of which, physicians, parents and educators are more aware of ASD than ever. We have all read stories in the press about boomers just being diagnosed with ASD when obviously they have had it their whole lives. So, it may not be that rates are rising. It’s just that we are better at recognizing milder cases and those milder cases are now being counted in the statistics.

As for why the use of Tylenol in pregnancy is increasing. That’s because women are becoming educated about the fact that it is the safest thing for them to take in pregnancy if they do have a fever or are in pain. They should not take NSAIDS like Ibuprofen because we KNOW that can cause closing of a fetal blood vessel called the Ductus arteriosus. As well as other serious birth defects. Opiates can cross the placenta and harm the baby too. As for the fever, if it is not brought down, it can increase the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth and neural tube birth defects like Spina Bifida. So, Paracetamol/Tylenol/Panadol/Acetaminophen is the safest thing to bring it down.

Besides, why should women suffer in pain if they don’t have to?