Study: Tylenol Bad For Unborn Boys

(RTTNews) - The ubiquitous pain- and fever-reducing medication acetaminophen (Tylenol) may increase risk of reproductive disorders in male babies if too much is taken by pregnant women, according to a recent study by the University of Edinburgh.

Tylenol is the leading pain-killer medicine in the U.S. which is owned by McNeil Consumer Healthcare, a medicals products subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ).

Acetaminophen drugs like Tylenol, Panadol or paracetamol are known to be a common and the safest medicine for managing pain or fevers during pregnancy.

However, the study showed that prolonged use of acetaminophen by a pregnant mother reduced production of testosterone in her unborn male babies in the womb that will in turn harm the child's fertility.

The study was carried out on mice found that rodents given three doses of acetaminophen a day for a week had a 45 percent reduction in testosterone compared to a placebo.

Testosterone is a male sex hormone produced by the testicles that encourages the development of male sexual characteristics and stimulates the activity of the male secondary sex characteristics. High levels of testosterone appear to promote good health in men.

Testosterone is the most potent of the naturally occurring androgens, which cause the development of male sex characteristics, such as a deep voice and a beard as well as strengthen muscle tone and bone mass.

Having low testosterone levels can cause decreased sex drive, erectile dysfunction, depression, lack of energy, and loss of muscle mass. It has also been linked to increased risk of infertility, testicular cancer and undescended testicles.

"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," said Rod Mitchell, one of the authors of the study from the University of Edinburgh.

Another study last year showed that acetaminophen may increase risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, in children whose mothers use the drug while pregnant. Children whose mothers used the drug frequently had a 30 percent higher risk of an ADHD diagnosis.