Does Mucinex Help You Get Pregnant? Here’s What You Need To Know
Trying to get pregnant can be an emotional journey, and the idea of a simple solution is hard to resist. Many people struggling to conceive are eager to find anything that could help. This hope can lead to viral trends and new “miracle” methods.
In 2020, a TikTok video caught attention when a woman shared how Mucinex helped her get pregnant, sparking interest and curiosity.
But how can cough medicine possibly play a role in something as complex as fertility? We’ll be exploring the science behind this viral claim and laying out all the facts.
What Is Mucinex?
Mucinex is a popular over-the-counter medication used to treat symptoms of respiratory illnesses, such as the common cold or flu. Its main active ingredient, guaifenesin, is an expectorant. This means it thins and loosens the mucus in your airways.
The action of guaifenesin relieves congestion and makes it easier for you to cough out phlegm. The idea is that this same action could affect other types of mucus in your body, including cervical mucus.
The Connection Between Mucinex And Fertility
Cervical mucus plays an important role in fertility. It helps sperm travel through the cervix and into your uterus to fertilize an egg. During your menstrual cycle, cervical mucus changes in texture and consistency.
When you're most fertile, it becomes more slippery and stretchy, resembling raw egg whites. This is the ideal type of mucus for sperm to swim through. For some women, cervical mucus can be too thick or sticky, making it harder for sperm to move. This is sometimes called hostile cervical mucus.
In theory, Mucinex may help thin your cervical mucus, allowing sperm to travel more easily. But where did this theory come from?
Mucinex And Female Fertility
TL;DR Mucinex doesn’t have strong scientific support for helping couples trying to conceive.
Most of the viral and anecdotal claims are based on a single study from 1982. In this study, researchers gathered 40 couples who had been infertile for at least 10 months. The women in the study had tests showing that the problem was hostile cervical mucus.
After treating the women with 200 mg of guaifenesin, the researchers checked how well it worked by checking how many sperm survived in the mucus. There was higher sperm survival in twenty-three women, with 15 of them becoming pregnant.
Women whose infertility was only due to cervical mucus became pregnant within an average of 2.4 months of using guaifenesin. For women with additional fertility problems, pregnancy occurred in about 5.6 months.
The study has a small sample size and focuses mainly on infertile couples. So, the results might not apply to everyone. Plus, there’s no control group, meaning we can't be sure that the improvements came from guaifenesin and not other factors. Without a control group, it’s hard to tell if the drug makes a difference.
Mucinex and Male Fertility
Guaifenesin may also help improve the chances of pregnancy by enhancing male fertility.
In a 2011 case report, a 32-year-old man and his wife had trouble conceiving after 18 months of trying. The man’s sperm analysis showed low sperm count and poor movement. He started taking 600 mg of guaifenesin twice a day.
After two months, doctors tested his sperm again. The second test revealed a significant improvement. The man's sperm count jumped from 2.4 million/mL to 34.7 million/mL and motility increased from 10% to 61%.
It’s important to note that despite the improvement, the man’s wife had not yet conceived during the second test. Furthermore, the researchers couldn’t confirm whether the drug led to the change.
When to Take Mucinex to Get Pregnant
Women on social media report that using Mucinex every day during their fertile window helped them conceive. This is in line with the original study.
In the study, women were given 200 mg of guaifenesin three times a day starting from day 5 of their menstrual cycle. They continued taking it until they observed a rise in their biphasic basal body temperature, which indicates ovulation. The women were not allowed to take any other medications.
You might also be taking clomiphene to help with ovulation. This can sometimes make cervical mucus thicker. To help with this, some doctors recommend taking Mucinex along with clomiphene. If you're on a 5-day course of clomiphene, you can start taking Mucinex the day after you finish your last clomiphene pill.
So, how long do you take Mucinex?
Well, in the study, when the women showed any improvement, they continued the therapy for at least 6 months. Remember, this is based on just one study. It doesn’t provide enough evidence to say for sure that Mucinex will work for everyone.
Mucinex Pregnancy Success Stories
Since the 1982 study, no new clinical trials have directly linked Mucinex to improved chances of conception. However, there are countless personal success stories online.
We would be remiss not to mention the original creator of the viral TikTok Video. In 2020, TikTok user @julia_schuller shared how Mucinex D helped her conceive while using it to treat COVID-19 symptoms.
Since then many women have shared their own stories, crediting Mucinex with helping them get pregnant. These women are sharing on social media and online forums to inspire and support other women on their fertility journey.
While these stories are encouraging, we all know everyone is different. There are other factors to infertility beyond cervical mucus. So talk to your doctor to figure out what’s best for you. And remember, these stories are purely anecdotal, not guarantees.
Is It Safe To Take Mucinex When Trying To Get Pregnant?
Mucinex (guaifenesin) is generally considered safe to take when trying to get pregnant but it’s considered as an off-label use of the drug.
Taking the medication while pregnant is another story. Guaifenesin is a category C drug for pregnant women. This means that while risks to the fetus can’t be ruled out, there haven’t been enough studies on pregnant women. You can still use guaifenesin as long as the benefits outweigh the risks.
You should also be mindful if you’re taking a form of Mucinex that has other drugs mixed in. This includes Mucinex D which has pseudoephedrine. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends avoiding pseudoephedrine during the first trimester. This is because pseudoephedrine is linked to a small risk of birth defects. Regardless if you're trying to conceive or are pregnant, always consult your healthcare provider. They can give you personalized advice based on your health history.
Wrapping It Up
The evidence behind the claim is thin and it's based on a single, outdated study from twenty years ago. Taking cough syrup isn’t harmful to your fertility efforts but it also doesn’t offer any upsides.
Ultimately, it’s all a matter of preference. If you've tried everything else without success, you might consider Mucinex as a last resort.
That said, if you're struggling to conceive, try to have an open conversation with your healthcare provider. They will have the right resources to guide you toward more reliable, effective options to support your journey.
RACRaoul Angelo Cam is a freelance health content writer and a registered clinical laboratory scientist. He earned his degree in Clinical Laboratory Sciences from Cebu Doctor’s University and completed three years of medical school. During university, he developed a passion for helping patients improve their well-being, including reproductive health and fertility.