A new study published in Science Translational Medicine shows that pregnant women who use Tylenol for prolonged periods of time may give birth to baby boys with fertility problems.
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom grafted human testicular tissue onto mice, and then divided them into two groups: one group received acetaminophen, the main ingredient in Tylenol, for 24 hours, and the other group was given the daily drug for seven days. After measuring testosterone production an hour after the last dose in both groups, scientists observed no effect in the mice given acetaminophen for 24 hours. This was not the case in the second group, however; the team found that group had a 45 percent reduction in testosterone, according to Toronto Sun.
Tylenol is popular among pregnant women because it has for years been considered a safe, over-the-counter (OTC) painkiller. According to university researchers, lower exposure to testosterone in the womb has been linked to a greater risk of male infertility, undescended testicles and testicular cancer. While the study was performed only in animals, the scientists are urging pregnant women to be cautious about the length of time they take Tylenol for aches and pains.
“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. Rod Mitchell of the University of Edinburgh said in a news release obtained by Toronto Sun.
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from Parker Waichman http://www.yourlawyer.com/blog/prolonged-use-of-tylenol-while-pregnant-may-cause-infertility-in-baby-boys/
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