Paracetamol Not Safe For Pregnancy? Prolonged Medication Lowers Testosterone Levels in Boys

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Paracetamol is a popular painkiller known to be very safe that even pregnant women can take it. However, a new study has shown that taking the drug for prolonged periods of time could have a lifetime effect in unborn males.

Scientists from the University of Edinburgh have found that paracetamol use triggers the lowering of testosterone levels in the womb, and this can lead to life-long reproductive disorders in males, Reuters has learned. 

The study was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine on Wednesday. The researchers used mice grafted with human testicular tissue to test the effect of the drug that is usually used to relieve pain and fever.

Scientists learned that taking paracetamol for one day has no effect on testosterone levels. However, taking the tablet three times a day for seven weeks caused the levels to reduce by half.

The researchers are now warning pregnant women to regulate their intake of paracetamol or to take the drug at the lowest dose possible. 

"This study adds to existing evidence that prolonged use of paracetamol in pregnancy may increase the risk of reproductive disorders in male babies," said Dr. Rod Mitchell, study leader from the University of Edinburgh, according to the BBC.

Dr. Mitchell also noted that low testosterone exposure in the womb is associated to higher risk of testicular cancer, infertility and undescended testicles, reports Fox News. 

"We would advise that pregnant women should follow current guidance that the painkiller be taken at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time," Dr. Mitchell added.

According to Daily Mail, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has maintained that paracetamol is still generally considered safe to be taken during pregnancy. 

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health claims paracetamol is sometimes necessary to treat fever in pregnant women.

Spokesman Dr. Martin Ward-Platt says, "The study specifically relates to paracetamol use over at least several days. There are times where one or two doses is needed to treat one-off episodes of fever, for example."

"Fever during pregnancy can be harmful to the developing embryo, with links to a significant increase in the rates of spina bifida and heart malformations, so small doses of paracetamol are sometimes necessary," Dr. Ward-Platt added.

Meanwhile, Dr. Sadaf Ghaem-Maghami, of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, says, "[While] this is a robust piece of research, it is important to note that the study was carried out in animal models and it is not possible to translate the findings into a recommendation regarding what would be safe or unsafe in pregnant women."

"Additionally, the mice were not pregnant but in a 'pregnancy state' which was induced by a hormone and human foetal testicular tissue which was grafted on to them. Further research needs to be conducted into how paracetamol may affect testosterone levels as well as examining the long-term developmental effects on testosterone production," Dr. Ghaem-Maghami concluded.