Can Guaifenesin Help You Get Pregnant? Here’s What to Know About Mucinex for Pregnancy

Mucinex (guaifenesin) is an over-the-counter cough medication. It helps thin mucus in your airways to reduce coughing and chest congestion when you’re sick.

But some people are turning to Mucinex for another reason. They’re taking Mucinex for pregnancy — that is, as a medication to help them become pregnant.

Here, we’ll take a look at what the science says about Mucinex as a possible infertility treatment and what you should know before taking it.

Can Mucinex help you get pregnant?

Not that we know of.

Mucinex is an expectorant. It helps thin out the mucus in your lungs. This makes the mucus easier to clear when you have a cough or chest congestion.

Cervical mucus — fluid produced by the cervix — plays a role in becoming pregnant. When there’s enough cervical mucus at the right consistency, it helps sperm travel through the reproductive tract to fertilize an egg. If it’s too thick or there isn’t enough, sperm can have a harder time reaching the egg to fertilize it. The quality and consistency of cervical mucus can also help you detect your fertility window.

Some people believe that Mucinex can promote fertility by improving the quality of cervical mucus. But problems with cervical mucus aren’t typically a major cause of infertility. And we don’t have any high-quality studies (such as a randomized controlled trial) that prove Mucinex is an effective off-label treatment option. This means there’s no good evidence that shows taking Mucinex affects cervical mucus in a way that increases your chances of getting pregnant.

What does the research say about taking Mucinex for pregnancy?

The link between Mucinex and fertility traces back to a small study from 1982. This study involved 40 male-female couples with the following qualifications:

• Unable to become pregnant after at least 10 months of trying

• Healthy sperm

• Poor-quality cervical mucus

• Not taking clomiphene (Clomid) or gonadotropins to improve fertility

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The woman in each couple took 200 mg of guaifenesin by mouth 3 times daily from Day 5 of the menstrual cycle until ovulation. Over half of the female participants had a substantial improvement in cervical mucus quality. And 40% became pregnant after taking guaifenesin.

But this was a small study, and there was no comparison group (a group of participants who didn’t take guaifenesin). Without a comparison group, it’s hard to know if the medication was the reason behind the increased pregnancy rates in this study.

What do studies show about men taking Mucinex for fertility?

There’s not much research to show that Mucinex helps with male fertility.

There is one case report of a man with low sperm count and motility who took 600 mg of guaifenesin extended-release twice daily. Both sperm count and motility improved after 2 months of treatment. But his female partner hadn’t become pregnant at the time the case report was published.

This case report alone doesn’t prove that Mucinex can improve fertility in men. More high-quality research is needed to confirm whether this is true.

Is it safe to try taking Mucinex for infertility?

Mucinex isn’t FDA approved for infertility. It doesn’t support ovulation, implantation, or other steps of conception that are commonly associated with trouble becoming pregnant. It may help improve the quality of cervical mucus, but this hasn’t been proved to help improve your chances of becoming pregnant.

With this in mind, if you’re still interested in trying Mucinex for fertility, it’s unlikely to cause a problem. It’s considered a safe and well-tolerated medication. Most people don’t experience side effects while taking it, but headache, nausea, and diarrhea are possible.

Still, it’s a good idea to check with your healthcare team before taking Mucinex. They can make sure it’s a safe option for you based on your health history and other medications.

It’s also important to be aware that the Mucinex brand makes a variety of medications, such as Mucinex DM (guaifenesin / dextromethorphan), Mucinex D (guaifenesin / pseudoephedrine), and Mucinex Sinus Max (acetaminophen / guaifenesin / phenylephrine). These aren’t a safe alternative to plain Mucinex since they contain other ingredients in addition to guaifenesin.

Can you take Mucinex while pregnant?

If you’re pregnant, talk to your pregnancy care team before taking Mucinex. It’s unclear whether guaifenesin is safe to take during pregnancy.

What are other ways to enhance fertility? 

There are several steps you can take to help improve your fertility. These include lifestyle changes, such as:

• Eating a balanced diet

• Avoiding or limiting alcohol

• Avoiding excess sugar and refined carbohydrates

• Limiting red and processed meats

• Maintaining a healthy body weight

• Managing stress

There are also several medications and treatments that have been proved to help with infertility. These include:

• Fertility pills, such as clomiphene

• Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

• In vitro fertilization (IVF)

A fertility specialist can help determine the reason you’re having trouble conceiving and recommend the best steps for your situation. Keep in mind that in most cases, you’ll need to try conceiving for at least 12 months before fertility treatments are an option.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

Reviewed by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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