According to the findings of a new study, published in the scientific journal ‘Reproduction’, paracetamol could also reduce fertility in daughters too.
The researchers found the pills inhibit the development of ‘male behaviour’ in mice by reducing the amount of the ‘masculine’ hormone testosterone in their bodies.
To this end, the researchers have warned mothers-to-be to think twice before popping the painkillers.
A ‘mailonline’ report quoted Professor David Mabjerg Kristensen, from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark as saying: “We have demonstrated that a reduced level of testosterone means that male characteristics do not develop as they should,” adding, “This also affects sex drive.”
“In a trial, mice exposed to paracetamol at the foetal stage were simply unable to copulate in the same way as our control animals.
“Male programming had not been properly established during their fetal development and this could be seen long afterwards in their adult life. It is very worrying.”
This is not the first time researchers will caution on the dangers of overdosing on paracetamol. A report in the ‘British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology’ in November 2011 similarly warned that taking too much paracetamol could increase the risk of dying from liver failure.
While the new study focused on the effect of paracetamol on masculine characteristics, paracetamol during pregnancy also has the potential to influence the subsequent lives of female mice.
A study by the same researchers last year showed female mice had fewer eggs in their ovaries if their mothers had had paracetamol during pregnancy. This led to the mice becoming infertile more quickly.
But even if paracetamol is harmful, that does not mean it should never be taken, even when pregnant and women should consult their GP if concerned.
According to Kristensen, these days it has become so common to take paracetamol that consumers of drugs forget it is a medicine, and all medicines have side effects.
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