Prenatal Paracetamol Linked to Smaller Daughters' Ovaries
Pregnant women taking paracetamol should talk with their doctor, as this observational study of 302 daughters cannot prove cause.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Pregnancy
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A study published in Human Reproduction Open links paracetamol use during pregnancy to smaller ovaries and fewer follicles in daughters at about three months of age. The observational study, led by Margit Bistrup Fischer of Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, analyzed 685 pregnant women and 302 of their daughters, and the authors call for revisiting paracetamol-in-pregnancy guidelines.
Why it matters
Paracetamol is one of the most commonly used medicines during pregnancy, so even a modest association with daughters' reproductive development draws attention to how clinicians discuss pain and fever treatment with expectant mothers. The findings arrive as the topic has been politically charged, with a separate review confirming no increased risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability.
This observational study followed 685 pregnant women from the first trimester and examined 302 daughters at a mean age of 106 days, with a separate group of 1,210 girls tracked from infancy into adolescence. Associations with smaller ovarian and uterine measures were reported, but the design cannot establish that paracetamol caused the differences.
The players
Rigshospitalet
A major Copenhagen university hospital whose researchers led the study on prenatal paracetamol exposure and daughters' reproductive development.
Margit Bistrup Fischer
Lead researcher from Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen who conducted the study on paracetamol use during pregnancy.
Donald Trump
Current President of the United States, who warned pregnant women against taking paracetamol at a September 2025 press conference.
The details
Expectant mothers reported their paracetamol use at two-week intervals, and urine samples were also analyzed to check exposure. Researchers then measured ovarian volume, follicle counts, uterine size, and reproductive hormone levels in the daughters. The maternal doses were comparatively small, and none exceeded the recommended maximum of 4,000 mg per day.
Timeline
September 2025: Trump warned pregnant women against taking paracetamol at a press conference.
Some months later: a review study confirmed paracetamol in pregnancy does not increase autism risk.
October 26, 2026: findings on paracetamol and daughters' fertility were reported.
Health Landscape
Paracetamol remains a first-line option for pain and fever in pregnancy, and recent research has largely focused on neurodevelopmental outcomes. This study adds a reproductive-development question that will need replication and longer follow-up before guidelines change.
If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, it is worth discussing pain and fever treatment options with your doctor or midwife rather than changing anything on your own. The findings suggest that discussions about medication need during pregnancy are reasonable, while the reassurance from the autism review still stands.
The takeaway
Prenatal paracetamol exposure is linked in this observational study to differences in daughters' ovarian and uterine development, but causation is not established. Anyone with questions about medication during pregnancy should raise them with a clinician.
Further reading
For more on pregnancy health, explore our Pregnancy coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Star.
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