More than 90 scientists, doctors and public health researchers are calling on U.S. and European regulators to conduct new safety reviews of acetaminophen, pointing to mounting evidence that fetal exposure to the commonly used pain reliever could increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders and reproductive system effects.

Pregnant women should take as low a dose of Tylenol and other acetaminophen-containing drugs as possible, say the authors of a consensus statement published Sept. 23 in Nature Reviews Endocrinology. Other recommendations include:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Europe Medicines Agency should conduct new safety reviews of the drug.

Acetaminophen-containing medicine labels should include recommendations for use during pregnancy.

Acetaminophen-containing medicine should be sold only at pharmacies, as is already the case in some European countries.

Additional epidemiological studies should be conducted that more accurately account for dosage, timing, and potentially confounding genetic factors.

Acetaminophen is the most common drug taken by pregnant women, with up to 65% of pregnant women in the U.S. saying they've used the medication, according to the statement authors.

The pain reliever is a known endocrine disruptor — meaning it interferes with the proper functioning of hormones — leading to speculations that its widespread use could be contributing to rising rates of reproductive problems and neurodevelopmental disorders. That's because hormones play a significant role in guiding reproductive organ and brain development.

"We have to remember that these drugs are available everywhere, cheaply in huge bottles, and people take a lot of them," said Shanna Swan, a professor of environmental medicine at Mount Sinai and co-author of the consensus statement, during a press briefing. "So, I think many people take these drugs without serious thought and without considering that they're taking a medication which has side effects."