Israeli study finds common painkillers safe during pregnancy, do not raise birth defect risk

A new study from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev offers crucial clarity for pregnant women worldwide regarding the safety of common painkillers. The research, which analyzed data from over 264,000 pregnancies, found that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, are safe during the first three months of pregnancy. It also confirmed the safe use of paracetamol throughout pregnancy, including the final trimester.

Published in PLOS Medicine and Human Reproduction Open, the study's findings challenge previous hesitations some medical professionals had about painkiller use during pregnancy. Dr. Sharon Daniel, a senior pediatrician and epidemiologist involved in the study, explained that initial data might have suggested a link between these medications and birth defects. However, the in-depth analysis revealed that the apparent risk was actually associated with the mother's pre-existing conditions, like high fever or infection, which can independently pose risks to fetal development.

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At first glance, raw data might suggest a slight increase in birth defects among women who took these medications. However, our analysis revealed that the risk was actually tied to the mother’s underlying condition – such as a high fever that can itself pose risks because prolonged high body temperature and inflammation, possibly affecting fetal development and pregnancy outcomes, infection, or chronic illness – rather than the painkillers themselves.

The comprehensive clinical data was drawn from the Southern Israeli Pregnancy Registry (siPREG), a detailed initiative tracking maternal and fetal health outcomes. The researchers examined pregnancies at Soroka University Medical Center between 1998 and 2018. Their conclusions provide much-needed reassurance, indicating that paracetamol use is not independently linked to adverse perinatal outcomes, and commonly used NSAIDs in early pregnancy do not elevate the risk of major congenital malformations.

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Our results suggest that paracetamol use throughout pregnancy is not independently associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, and that commonly used NSAIDs in early pregnancy ar