Pharmacist Jamie

The COPANA study found associations between acetaminophen exposure during pregnancy and certain measurements of reproductive development in female infants and adolescents. The findings are worth paying attention to, especially because they add to questions that deserve more research.

But association ≠ causation. And the study did not measure infertility, pregnancy rates, age at menopause, or reproductive outcomes in adulthood.

There are also important limitations—including small numbers for some measurements, difficulty measuring infant ovaries, a relatively narrow study population, and the possibility that the illness prompting acetaminophen use contributed to the findings.

So what do we do with this information?

We keep studying it. We don’t dismiss concerning findings—but we also don’t turn preliminary evidence into conclusions that the research hasn’t established.

And importantly: acetaminophen remains the preferred medication for pain and fever during pregnancy when medication is needed. Untreated fever and significant pain also carry potential risks, so the answer isn’t simply “avoid all medication.”

If you’re pregnant and dealing with pain or fever, talk with your OB/midwife. ❤️

Sexual assault needs to stop being brushed under the rug. Perpetrators need to be held accountable.

I vaccinate to protect myself, my loved ones, and my community. 🖤

I recently had a mom comment that if there was evidence of vaccines not causing autism, it would be reassuring for parents to see it. Good news: there is an overwhelming amount of evidence that vaccines DO NOT cause autism.

Your doctors aren’t secretly hiding the truth from you. Good medicine is about weighing evidence, risks, benefits, and uncertainty.

Ask questions. Look at the whole body of evidence. And be wary of anyone who profits from your fear.

Welcome ❤️

Should we split MMR into 3 vaccines?

Before we do, we should ask a simple question:

What evidence shows that separating measles, mumps & rubella vaccines makes children safer?

There isn’t evidence showing that it does.

What we do know: MMR has decades of safety data, and combination vaccines reduce the number of injections and opportunities to fall behind.

Especially during a measles resurgence, keeping kids protected on time matters.

Evidence should drive vaccine policy—not fear. 💛