Paracetamol, Painkillers use During Pregnancy Affect Fertility of Future Generations: Study

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Pregnant women who take paracetamol and other common painkillers may be jeopardizing their offspring's fertility, a study suggests.

Mice tests reveal that when a pregnant woman is given painkillers such as paracetamol or the aspirin-like drug indomethacin, her female children had smaller ovaries, fewer eggs and less litter of babies. Male children were found to be affected as well. When they are born they have fewer cells that develop into sperm. When they reach adulthood, however, their fertility recovers.

Researchers wrote in a press release that the phenomenon may be caused by prostaglandins reacting to painkillers. Some painkillers may also affect the fetus' germ cells, or cells that give rise to egg and sperm. These hormones are associated with female reproduction and other functions including ovulation, menstruation and labour induction. The study was made by University of Edinburgh researchers and published online at Scientific Reports.

For their research, they exposed the mice with either indomethacin for four days or paracetamol for nine days. They found that painkiller use can affect the immediate offspring and the next generations. In females, however, granddaughters of mothers who were given the drugs had smaller ovaries and unusual reproductive function.

However, researchers note that the studies were done in mice and not humans and foetal development time varies so it is unclear if it is applicable.

"It's important to remember that this study was conducted in rats not humans, however, there are many similarities between the two reproductive systems. We now need to understand how these drugs affect a baby's reproductive development in the womb so that we can further understand their full effect," said Prof. Richard Sharpe, co-leader of the study, in a press release.

According to co-author Professor Richard Anderson, the research done was focused on the long term use of painkillers. Additional investigations should be made to determine if the effect is the same on short-term use, Telegraph reports.

The researchers recommend for pregnant women to only take painkillers only when needed in the lowest dose and in the shortest time possible.

The recommendation was supported by a statement by the chairman of British Fertility Society, Professor Adam Balen.

"This is an interesting study of long-term use of paracetamol in pregnant rats and so, whilst we must be cautious extrapolating to humans, it is sensible for pregnant women to minimise use of paracetamol and other painkillers and seek medical advice if they experience problems with significant pain in pregnancy," he said as reported by Express.