Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. raised questions Thursday about a possible connection between infant circumcision, Tylenol use and rising autism diagnoses, bringing renewed attention to the safety of acetaminophen in early childhood.
Kennedy made the remarks during a cabinet meeting with President Trump, claiming that “two studies” found boys circumcised early had double the rate of autism, a link he attributed to Tylenol.
He did not specify which studies supported the assertion.
However, a 2015 study from Denmark tracking over 340,000 boys found circumcised males were more likely to be diagnosed with autism before age 10.
Researchers theorized that early surgical stress or pain could influence neurological development, though critics noted circumcised boys’ increased medical interactions may explain higher detection rates rather than a causal link.
Adding complexity, a smaller 2024 Irish study reported that circumcised boys with autism experienced improvements in irritability, sensory sensitivity and repetitive behaviors compared to uncircumcised peers.
The study also noted reductions in urinary pain and nighttime urgency.
Circumcision rates differ widely worldwide, complicating comparisons.
In the U.S., roughly 60 percent of boys are circumcised, according to a 2023 article titled “The Dangers of Acetaminophen for Neurodevelopment.”
Researchers estimate that if circumcision doubled autism risk, it could account for 15–20 percent of U.S. cases, though no causal relationship has been confirmed.
Some analyses report a hazard ratio of 1.46 for autism among circumcised boys by age 10.
Brooklyn-based Rabbi Nechemia Markovits, a fifth-generation certified mohel with nearly 40 years of experience, said newborns rarely require Tylenol after circumcision.
“The procedure is quick and well-tolerated,” he told the New York Post. “Every family has direct access to me afterward through WhatsApp, and I guide them personally until everything is completely healed.”
He added that older children may benefit from Tylenol for temporary soreness but emphasized that newborns usually do not need medication.
Kennedy’s remarks followed President Trump’s recent warnings about acetaminophen use during pregnancy.
The president advised that Tylenol should be avoided unless medically necessary, stating, “Acetaminophen is not good for pregnant women unless they have a high fever,” and calling for updated FDA labeling.
Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, has been widely used for decades to relieve pain and reduce fever.
Some studies suggest that prenatal or early-life exposure may affect neurodevelopment, though causation remains unproven, according to JAMA research.
The FDA continues to review emerging evidence and may revise labeling guidance.
Legal scrutiny has intensified around Tylenol’s safety.
Reuters reports that hundreds of lawsuits claiming prenatal use caused autism or ADHD were dismissed after courts determined expert testimony lacked sufficient evidence.
Some law firms, including Keller Postman, continue to pursue state-level cases.
The Post notes that CDC data show autism diagnoses have increased roughly 400 percent since 2000, with one in 31 U.S. children currently affected.
Experts attribute much of the increase to broader screening and heightened awareness rather than environmental causes.
Kennedy’s statements have prompted renewed discussion on early childhood medication and neurological development, prompting researchers, regulators and courts to reexamine decades of data on widely used medications.
WATCH:
