Local OB/GYN weighs in on Trump admin linking autism to Tylenol when taken during pregnancy.

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The Trump Administration is sounding the alarm about Tylenol, which they say could lead to autism in children if taken by pregnant women.

In a White House announcement Monday, President Donald Trump acknowledged the pain and sicknesses that come with pregnancy, but recommended women not take the medication.

President Trump stated, "I think you shouldn't take it and you shouldn't take it during the entire pregnancy."

The President added, "If you can't tough it out, if you can't do it, that's what you're going to have to do. You'll take a Tylenol, but it'll be very sparingly. It can be something that's very dangerous to the woman's health."

Dr. Julie Strebel with the State Medical Association practices in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She said acetaminophen is generally used for fever and pain, serving as one of the only drugs safe for women to take when treating fever and pain in early pregnancy.

"We do know that fever in the first trimester, if we don't treat it, can lead to miscarriage, it can lead to congenital physical abnormalities in the baby, as well as a myriad of other complications just in a lack of treatment," Dr. Strebel said.

Dr. Strebel also told News 4 that she's aware of studies showing early possible links between the two, but linking the medication to autism could take years of scientific trials and study.

"In order to link the two, we have to create studies where there's no exposures in studies, where there are exposures, and then we have to follow those pregnancies and those children to see if there's actually a difference in the rates of autism spectrum disorder," Dr. Strebel added.

In his remarks, the President compared information from other places in the world.

"There's a rumor, and I don't know if it's so or not, that Cuba, they don't have Tylenol because they don't have the money for Tylenol, and they have virtually no autism," President Trump said.

Dr. Strebel mentions data from the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine, suggesting that acetaminophen use is safe when advised in early stages of pregnancy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said they are starting the process to change labels on Tylenol and similar products to make parents and doctors aware of the risks of neurological conditions some believe may be associated with the medicine.