New study flags fertility risk from paracetamol in pregnancy

Paracetamol use during pregnancy may affect the future fertility of baby girls, a new study has found.

Peoples Gazette reports that the COPANA study, published on Oxford Academic and led by Dr Margit Bistrup Fischer of Copenhagen University Hospital, found that girls exposed to paracetamol in the womb had smaller ovaries, fewer ovarian follicles, altered reproductive hormone levels and reduced uterine size during infancy, with similar findings observed in participants followed into adolescence.

The research examined 302 healthy Danish girls, assessing paracetamol exposure through mothers’ self-reports and urine samples.

However, researchers cautioned the study cannot confirm paracetamol directly caused the differences, calling for further research to determine any long-term reproductive health implications and to guide future pregnancy medication guidance.