The drug known as guaifenesin is something that you might be aware of in your local pharmacy. It is part of various kinds of over-the-counter and prescription medications. It generally aids in alleviating symptoms associated with the common cold. In terms of fertility treatments, guaifenesin can help in the production of cervical mucus for better projected conception outcomes.
Recommended Dosage
For patients who are using this drug as a fertility aid, doctors often recommend a dosage of 200mg. In popular brands, this generally comes out to about 2 teaspoons. This dosage is often recommended for use three times a day. Doctors recommend taking guaifenesin with plenty of water and drinking more water throughout the day. This will help the patient to increase cervical mucus.
Taking Guaifenesin for Fertility
In a very general sense, fertility doctors often recommend the start of this kind of medical regimen about five days prior to expected ovulation. This will help in the production of cervical mucus before ovulation, giving the sperm a better chance to fertilize the egg. Experts recommend skipping the “fancier” kinds of guaifenesin that include decongestants, as this might thin out the mucus unnecessarily.
Although some experts use the brand name Robitussin to refer to guaifenesin for use in fertility, other brands can also do the job. In addition, specialized products like FertileCM have also been formulated to help women improve their chances of conception and enhance their general fertility outcomes. Doctors may also recommend using a certain class of “sperm friendly” lubricants for the couple who are trying to conceive. Other lubricants may act negatively against the conception process if they are not conductive to the success of sperm and fertilizing the egg.
Couples who want the best chances of conception can talk with their family doctor, OBGYN or other qualified professional in-depth about what kind of treatments can give them the best possible chances (and what is most healthy for aiding in conception). Expecting mothers should always evaluate the “pregnancy safety rating” of any drugs during the term of their pregnancy in order to understand whether a certain medication might pose a risk for an unborn child. Prior to the pregnancy, fertility doctors take care to balance the need for aiding in conception with any risks and side effects that may apply.
Using guaifenesin as part of the fertility process is only a small part of the many tools available to modern doctors for greater reproductive health and successful pregnancies. The general category of assisted reproductive technology or ART includes many tools for manipulating embryos, screening sperm and otherwise influencing the final outcome of a pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about all of the modern options available and how they may fit into an overall fertility plan.
