Many women on TikTok are turning to cough medicine to help get pregnant. Here’s why!

A simple google search will tell you that the internet is brimming with the most outlandish of fertility myths for couples looking to conceive — consuming pineapple cores and handstands after intercourse are probably the most believable of them all, too. So it is very understandable for you to scoff at the possibility of cough medication of all things helping you get pregnant. But, rather surprisingly, it isn’t all hokum.

The “Mucinex method” has been trending on social media in recent times, with many women on TikTok claiming that the over-the-counter cold medicine helped them conceive. More specifically, the people sharing their stories said that they took the Mucinex pill every day during their “high-fertile” window.

"Make it make sense"

To put it plainly, Mucinex, with its active ingredient guaifenesin, is designed to thin mucus — making it easier to cough up phlegm. And some people believe that its congestion dispelling properties could help with mucus in other parts of the body as well, like in the cervix.

The cervix naturally produces mucus that varies in consistency throughout the menstrual cycle, becoming more fertile around ovulation. If the mucus is too thick, it could block sperm from reaching the egg. Enter Mucinex, the supposed solution to thinning that mucus and helping sperm swim more easily through the cervix to fertilise the egg.

It's easy to see why this method has gained popularity. Fertility-tracking apps have heightened awareness of cervical mucus changes, leading women to seek out ways to optimise their chances of conception. A quick, over-the-counter solution like Mucinex may seem like a straightforward shortcut compared to other methods, such as lifestyle changes.

However, the science behind using guaifenesin for fertility is shaky at best.

Why it’s not the best idea

A 1982 study published in Fertility and Sterility examined 40 couples dealing with cervical-factor infertility. The women took guaifenesin during their cycle, and 15 couples conceived. While this might sound promising, the lack of a control group means we can’t definitively credit the guaifenesin. Another case study of a man showed increased sperm production after taking guaifenesin, but the study only involved one participant, making the results far from conclusive.

Reckitt, the makers of Mucinex, have even stated that their product should only be used according to label directions, warning that using it for fertility is considered "off-label." While there’s no evidence that guaifenesin causes harm, there’s also no solid data on how it might affect embryo development.

That being said, there are increasingly more drugs being used for purposes they weren’t created for — Viagra was originally meant to treat hypertension and is being used to treat memory disorders today (talk about versatility). So while consuming Mucinex to get pregnant is certainly not advised currently, this TikTok trend might just push researchers to look into the matter and whip something up using guaifenesin.

In the meantime, for those struggling to conceive, the best advice remains simple: consult with a healthcare professional. As tempting as the Mucinex method might seem, without larger studies and clinical trials, it is simply a new (?) wives tale.