Health and Me

Ishita Roy

Fact Check: Does Circumcision Really Cause Autism As Claimed By RFK Jr.?

Of the many unproven claims made by the US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr., another claim he made is of the link between autism and circumcision, while reasserting his previous unproven claim of <span>Tylenol</span> and autism. 

Kennedy said, "There's two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism. It's highly likely because they are given Tylenol." 

Kennedy's remarks at the Cabinet meeting has met with push backs. Though he has not mentioned the study he was quoting, however, experts tell that a 2013 study might be the source for it. 

<h2>Is There Any Truth Behind This Claim?</h2>

A 2013 study published in the journal Environmental Health studied eight countries and another 2015 study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, found link between <span>circumcision and autism</span> rates. However, experts point out that these both studies have issues in it. 

It is a surgical procedure that removes the foreskin from a boy's penis. For some, circumcision is a part of cultural or religious practices. A John Hopkins Medicine study published in 2025 found that the prevalence of the practice had decreased nearly 5%, going from 54.1% to 49.3% from 2012 to 2022. 

While one of the studies published in 2015 in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine does link circumcision with autism, another study published in the same journal, a month later in the same year denies the claim. 

In fact, the study is titled, "'Circumcision Pain' unlikely to cause autism". Claims by Frisch and Simonsen were made that circumcision pain increases risk of autism spectrum disorder. They looked at the Danish medical records of 342,877 boys aged 0–10 years looking for an adverse effect of circumcision. However, the authors of the new study questioned that while the study was about pain in specific, why didn't Frisch and Simonsen examine other painful conditions?

The study notes that even Urinary tract infections are associated with excruciating pain and are common in uncircumcised male infants and boys. 

The Scientific American reports that neither of the studies which RFK Jr. may have quoted show a causal link between circumcision or pain relief medications and higher rates of autism. There is in fact, very little evidence that acetaminophen, which is sold under the brand Tylenol, a popular pain med increases risk of being diagnosed with autism for babies, when the mother consumes it during pregnancy. 

Tager-Flusberg leads the Coalition of Autism Scientists, tells Scientific American, "They are looking at an association involving a sample size of eight countries, and they don’t take into consideration any other factors about those countries." 

David S. Mandell, a psychologist, in a statement sent to Scientific American, said, "That study is riddled with flaws, which others have written about."

The claim is also wrong as acetaminophen, which is the active ingredient in Tylenol is to not to be given to children younger than 12 weeks, notes the American Academy of Pediatrics, and most circumcisions happen before then with a local anesthetic. Cleveland Clinic notes that while circumcision may happen at any age, most common age is within the first week after birth and usually within the first 48 hours.

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Of the many unproven claims made by the US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr., another claim he made is of the link between autism and circumcision, while reasserting his previous unproven claim of Tylenol and autism. Kennedy said, "There's two studies that show children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism. It's highly likely because they are given Tylenol." Kennedy's remarks at the Cabinet meeting has met with push backs. Though he has not mentioned the study he was quoting, however, experts tell that a 2013 study might be the source for it. Is There Any Truth Behind This Claim?A 2013 study published in the journal Environmental Health studied eight countries and another 2015 study published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, found link between circumcision and autism rates. However, experts point out that these both studies have issues in it. What Is Circumcision?It is a surgical procedure that removes the foreskin from a boy's penis. For some, circumcision is a part of cultural or religious practices. A John Hopkins Medicine study published in 2025 found that the prevalence of the practice had decreased nearly 5%, going from 54.1% to 49.3% from 2012 to 2022. What Do The Studies Say?While one of the studies published in 2015 in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine does link circumcision with autism, another study published in the same journal, a month later in the same year denies the claim. In fact, the study is titled, "'Circumcision Pain' unlikely to cause autism". Claims by Frisch and Simonsen were made that circumcision pain increases risk of autism spectrum disorder. They looked at the Danish medical records of 342,877 boys aged 0–10 years looking for an adverse effect of circumcision. However, the authors of the new study questioned that while the study was about pain in specific, why didn't Frisch and Simonsen examine other painful conditions?The study notes that even Urinary tract infections are associated with excruciating pain and are common in uncircumcised male infants and boys. The Scientific American reports that neither of the studies which RFK Jr. may have quoted show a causal link between circumcision or pain relief medications and higher rates of autism. There is in fact, very little evidence that acetaminophen, which is sold under the brand Tylenol, a popular pain med increases risk of being diagnosed with autism for babies, when the mother consumes it during pregnancy. Tager-Flusberg leads the Coalition of Autism Scientists, tells Scientific American, "They are looking at an association involving a sample size of eight countries, and they don’t take into consideration any other factors about those countries." David S. Mandell, a psychologist, in a statement sent to Scientific American, said, "That study is riddled with flaws, which others have written about."The claim is also wrong as acetaminophen, which is the active ingredient in Tylenol is to not to be given to children younger than 12 weeks, notes the American Academy of Pediatrics, and most circumcisions happen before then with a local anesthetic. Cleveland Clinic notes that while circumcision may happen at any age, most common age is within the first week after birth and usually within the first 48 hours.