Paracetamol During Pregnancy May Affect Development of Reproductive Organs in Girls

A recent study published in the journal Human Reproduction Open suggests that paracetamol use during pregnancy may impact the reproductive system development in baby girls. While paracetamol is widely considered one of the safest options for pain and fever relief during pregnancy, especially compared to alternatives with more significant risks to the fetus, researchers have identified a potential link between its use and anatomical changes in newborns. Early Clues from Animal and Lab Studies Previous research on rodents indicated that paracetamol could reduce ovarian follicle reserves by up to 40%, potentially leading to accelerated reproductive aging. Further laboratory tests on human fetal tissues, specifically from fetuses aged 7 to 12 weeks, showed that the drug decreased the number of germ cells and disrupted the production of progesterone and estradiol. Human Study Investigates Paracetamol's Effects Building on these findings, a team from Copenhagen University Hospital, led by Margit Bistrup Fischer, set out to examine these potential effects in humans. Between 2020 and 2022, they monitored 685 pregnant women, tracking their paracetamol intake and measuring drug concentrations in urine samples. After birth, 302 infant girls were examined at three months of age, a period known as "mini-puberty." This phase is characterized by hormonal system activity that allows for an assessment of ovarian development.