Question:

I heard on TikTok that Mucinex can help you get pregnant. Is that true? If I take Mucinex, will it affect my birth control?

Answer from Danielle Hicks, APRN-NP, Obstetrics and Gynecology:

It is absolutely safe to take Mucinex while using birth control. It will not affect birth control effectiveness.

Will Mucinex increase your fertility? Probably not. But it is not likely to hurt your fertility.

Medications like Mucinex, which contain the active ingredient guaifenesin, thin the mucus throughout your body. One theory, though it is unproven, is that it could thin the mucus in the cervix, making it easier for sperm to pass through more easily.

I am only aware of a couple of studies on guaifenesin and fertility. One showed no impact at all. A 2011 study followed a male with a low sperm count and motility who took guaifenesin for two months. When retested, his sperm count and motility were improved.

That is just one case, however, and there is no definitive proof guaifenesin caused the improvement in male infertility.

Keep in mind that some medications do impact birth control and fertility. These include certain antibiotics  and GLP-1 agonists, such as Ozempic® and Wegovy®. Certain antibiotics make birth control pills less effective.

GLP-1 agonists are used to treat diabetes and obesity. These medications can cause weight loss, which may alone improve fertility. They can also improve conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, a leading cause of infertility. Finally, they can impact how oral birth control pills are digested and how they affect the body.

If you are taking these medications, be sure to discuss their potential impact on birth control and fertility with your provider.