- Users on social media say the “Mucinex Method” has helped them get pregnant.
- The “Mucinex Method” involves taking a medication containing guaifenesin while trying to conceive in order to improve fertility.
- Doctors say that there’s no research that supports the use of guaifenesin to improve fertility.
Users on TikTok and other social media platforms are sharing stories that taking Mucinex helped them to get pregnant, sometimes after only one dose.
How?
Guaifenesin, Mucinex’s active ingredient, is an expectorant that relieves congestion by thinning mucus in the air passages, making coughing easier.
However, some social media users believe that it also helps to improve fertility by thinning cervical mucus.
“I’m a true believer of Mucinex. It has worked for so many women, especially women who have tried for years to get pregnant…I took Mucinex, first try, and we’re pregnant,” said TikTok user Amanda Macgibbon in a video.
Comments on the video share similar stories about what is now being referred to online as the “Mucinex Method.”
“After 2 miscarriages and a year of infertility, I finally tried the Mucinex method, and now I am 15 weeks pregnant,” wrote one user.
Despite numerous anecdotal reports on social media, doctors dispute whether these claims have any scientific validity outside of a very small 1982 study with limited evidence.
“Where we stand right now, there’s no data, there are no studies that show that using mucinex or any medication that has guaifenesin in it increases the chance of pregnancy or improves fertility,” Michelle Roach, MD, the Medical Director of the Vanderbilt Fertility Clinic and an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told Healthline.
Mucinex Method: What is it?
The “Mucinex Method” involves taking Mucinex or another medication containing guaifenesin at various intervals according to a female’s menstrual cycle. There is no exact protocol, so the dosage, regularity, and even the variety of Mucinex appear to vary from video to video.
The general consensus among social media users involves taking the medicine throughout the fertility window, the time of the menstrual cycle when a person is most likely to get pregnant, and prior to intercourse.
The goal of taking Mucinex is to increase the likelihood of pregnancy by thinning the cervical mucus, which is believed to improve sperm motility.
But Roach pushes back on these claims.
“Physiologically, in women, that happens on its own. When a woman is ovulatory, there will be a physiologic change that happens naturally with the cervical mucus. This change happens on its own to try to help make it easier for the sperm to meet the egg. So you don’t need the Mucinex to do that,” she said.
Reckitt, the maker of Mucinex, has also warned against taking the product for any other indication than those prescribed on the box. In a statement to Healthline, the company stated:
Reckitt is aware of recent social media activity surrounding Mucinex and fertility, and we understand why there is heightened interest in this topic. As a global leader in health and hygiene, it is important that we clarify that Mucinex should only be used as intended in line with label directions. Taking Mucinex for infertility constitutes off-label use.
Taking any medications outside their approved indications or without acknowledging all active ingredients may be harmful. In case of doubt, we recommend women have a discussion with their healthcare professional. Please always read the label and safety information before taking any self-care medication.
Is Guaifenesin safe to take if you’re trying to get pregnant?
Guaifenesin is generally a safe medication, including for females who are trying to become pregnant. However, it can result in some side effects, including:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
You should inform a doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away.
Mucinex and other medications containing guaifenesin are frequently combined with other ingredients to treat cough and cold, such as dextromethorphan. Always read the ingredients on the packaging to ensure there are no potential allergens or contraindications.
“Given that there’s no real data to support the use, I usually encourage women to not take it unless there’s some other medical reason for them to take it. As with any medication, you should carefully weigh the risks and benefits,” said Roach.
Health misinformation can easily spread on social media
Benjamin Morse, BA, a Visiting Lecturer in New Media and social media expert at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, told Healthline that social media algorithms can make it harder to sort through good and bad information.
“Instead of having to look something up, you’re getting it served to you by algorithms, by people who purport to be experts,” he said.
“If I’m a pregnant woman or if I’m dealing with mental health issues, the algorithm is putting things in my face, and the algorithm is not going to fact-check for me,” added Morse.
Addressing health misinformation online is a complex topic that is often framed as a battle between free speech and censorship. Some claim that restricting information about health topics violates the first amendment, while others argue that the government and social media platforms must do more to clamp down on false and potentially harmful health topics.
According to Morse, combating misinformation comes down to improving digital literacy:
“They need to teach digital literacy in school at a younger age. So kids know how to navigate the internet. I think with adults, it’s the same thing. They need to have an education as well,” he said.
Roach suggests that if people have questions or concerns, they shouldn’t hesitate to raise them with their doctors.
“There’s a lot of misinformation out on social media, particularly as it pertains to fertility. So, we always counsel patients that if they have a concern or a question or a thought, that they should always reach out to us to get our opinion or our feedback,” she said.
The bottom line
Users on social media are promoting the “Mucinex Method” to improve fertility and help get pregnant.
The “Mucinex Method” involves taking Mucinex or another medication with the ingredient guaifenesin during your fertility window and prior to intercourse.
Despite numerous anecdotal reports, doctors say there is no evidence to support the use of guaifenesin to improve fertility.
