Publish date: 24 September 2025
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has confirmed that taking paracetamol during pregnancy remains safe and there is no evidence it causes autism in children.
Paracetamol remains the recommended first-choice pain relief option during pregnancy when used as directed in the patient information leaflet.
Untreated pain and fever can pose risks to the unborn baby, so it is important to manage these symptoms with the recommended treatment.
Pregnant women should continue to follow existing NHS guidance and speak to their healthcare professional if they have questions about any medication during pregnancy.
Members of the public and healthcare professionals are encouraged to report any suspected side effect from medicines, including paracetamol, to the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme.
The MHRA is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that benefits justify any risks.
