Pregnancy is a beautiful journey, and the longing to have a biological child is deeply emotional and personal. However, for many, this dream remains unfulfilled due to the challenges of infertility.
In many cases, people often resort desperate measures to conceive a healthy child. No wonder, there are many conception hacks or Gharelu Nuska that people don’t really shy away to try.
Recently, social media filled with “the Mucinex method” that promises successful conception and the much-awaited pregnancy experience that women often desire.
According to a report by Science Alert, many women on TikTok are attributing successful conception to their use of the widely available cough and cold medicine Mucinex which is a popular over-the-counter decongestant medicines containing the active ingredient guaifenesin.
Can a cough and cold medicine help women get pregnant?
During unprotected sexual intercourse, sperm are deposited at the top of the vagina. According to doctors, to reach and fertilise the egg, the sperm must first traverse the cervix which is a small canal that connects the vagina and the womb.
The cervix has a pivotal role in regulating the passage of sperm through its production of cervical mucus. During a woman’s menstrual cycle, the quantity and consistency of the cervical mucus changes and it becomes optimal around the time of ovulation.
Too much mucus, or it is too thick can prevent the sperm from reaching the egg. So people who are using this cough syrup believe that by taking Mucinex, a woman would thin her cervical mucus and make it easier for the sperm to reach the egg.
What science says?
A simple over-the-counter product such as Mucinex may seem like a quick solution with potentially more rapid results than dieting or a change in other lifestyle factors. However, questions are being asked over the validity of taking Mucinex, or other guaifenesin-containing medicines, as fertility aids.
The fact is, there is scant scientific evidence proving that Mucinex can help with fertility. According to the report by ScienceAlert, the most cited scientific study is from 1982 and was published in the journal Fertility and Sterility. Here, scientists studied 40 couples whose infertility was defined as being a “cervical issue”.
In the study, the women were given 200mg of guaifenesin, three times a day starting on the fifth day of their menstrual cycle. By the end of the study, 15 out of the 40 couples had become pregnant, which some may see as supporting the use of guaifenesin. However, as there was no group that didn’t take guaifenesin (a control group), it is not possible to attribute these pregnancies solely to guaifenesin.
In a separate case study, a man took 600mg of guaifenesin, twice a day, for two months. The study reported a dramatic increase in sperm production and motility. However, as this study was conducted on a single 32-year-old man, the researchers could not confirm that guaifenesin was the cause of the change.
What Mucinex makers say?
Amid the rise in popularity of this cough syrup’s use as a fertility aid, Reckitt, the makers of Mucinex, said in a statement that Mucinex should “only be used as intended in line with label directions”. And that taking Mucinex for infertility “constitutes off-label use”, as reported by ScienceAlert.
Are there any harmful effects of taking guaifenesin to conceive?
While no associations between guaifenesin and birth defects have been identified, there is still no solid data on how guaifenesin might affect embryo development, scientists maintain.
“For those seeking to become parents, the idea of boosting your chances with a widely available medication is understandably enticing. However, there is not enough evidence to support taking guaifenesin to improve fertility,” Adam Watkins, Assistant Professor, Reproductive Biology, University of Nottingham and Emma Lucas, Lecturer in Reproductive Medicine, University of Sheffield said as quoted by ScienceAlert.
It is noteworthy that there are a range of other simple, lifestyle changes that have been shown to help with getting pregnant. These include maintaining a healthy weight and diet, reducing alcohol intake, giving up smoking and lowering stress. For those experiencing difficulties in becoming pregnant should consult your doctor.