Women who used paracetamol during pregnancy have been urged not to panic following a new Danish study that found possible changes in the reproductive organs of baby girls exposed to the medicine before birth.
The study found that exposed girls had smaller ovaries and wombs, fewer ovarian follicles and lower levels of reproductive hormones. However, researchers stressed that the findings do not prove that paracetamol causes fertility problems later in life.
The research involved 302 three-month-old girls whose mothers had been monitored during pregnancy. A separate group of 1,210 girls was also assessed as part of a confirmatory study.
Researchers found that girls exposed to paracetamol during early foetal development had, on average, 40 per cent smaller ovarian volume, while uterine volume was 13 per cent smaller. Some exposure periods were also associated with fewer ovarian follicles.
Lead researcher Dr Margit Bistrup Fischer said it remains unknown whether the differences could affect fertility or the age at which the girls eventually reach menopause.
“Women who have used paracetamol during pregnancy should not be alarmed by our findings,” Fischer said.
She added that long-term follow-up would be necessary to determine whether the changes observed in infancy have any implications for reproductive health later in life.
British scientists have also urged caution, noting that the observational nature of the study means it cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship.
Paracetamol remains widely used during pregnancy and is generally considered a first-choice treatment for pain and fever when used as directed.
