Study examines paracetamol in pregnancy

Prolonged paracetamol use by pregnant women may reduce testosterone production in unborn baby boys, research has found.

Researchers say their findings could help to explain reported links between paracetamol use in pregnancy and reproductive health problems in young boys. Paracetamol is the primary medicine used for managing pain and fever during pregnancy. The authors recommend that expectant mothers should follow existing guidelines that the painkiller be taken at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible time.