 TTC Articles
Guaifenesin
or FertileCM for Thinning Cervical Mucus?
Looking at Guaifenesin
safety for Trying-to-Conceive Women
For over a decade now, women
have increasingly turned to Guaifenesin (an expectorant drug found in many common
cough syrups) to increase their odds of conceiving a baby. How, you ask, would
something as seemingly unrelated as cough syrup aid your trying-to-conceive
efforts and boost your chances of a pregnancy?
Guaifenesin is reputed to
“thin” cervical mucus – the fluid produced by a woman’s
cervix during her ovulatory cycle. Cervical mucus plays an important role in
human reproduction, providing a fertile, protective medium that allows sperm
to move through the cervical canal, swim the expanse of the uterus, and ultimately
fertilize the egg. For cervical mucus to exhibit “fertile” properties
- emerging around the time a woman ovulates - the fluid must be both abundant
and sufficiently thin (or viscous instead of thick and sticky). In addition,
fertile-quality cervical mucus will alter the PH-balance of the vagina to make
a normally acidic, sperm-hostile environment into “sperm-friendly”
setting commensurate with successful baby-making.
In short, fertile-quality
cervical fluids are vital to sperm survival and transport, as well as to providing
a both insulative and nutritive function in sustaining sperm on the way to the
egg. According to clinical studies, the importance of fertile cervical mucus
during ovulation can’t be overestimated as a key dimension of reproductive
wellness and conceiving.
The question today remains,
is Guaifenesin really effective in thinning cervical fluids or increasing one’s
odds of achieving pregnancy? And is using a Guaifenesin cough syrup, above all,
safe? That is to say, safe for both me or a recently conceived fetus? Moreover,
are there natural alternatives to Guaifenesin designed to safely support the
production of fertile cervical mucus? The answer is the last question is yes
- in a product
called - FertileCM,
to which we will return below.
The Down Side of
Guaifenesin: While Guaifenesin is considered relatively safe, it may
have certain clinical side effects, including a range of potential allergic
reactions, dizziness, headache, rash, nausea, or stomach upset. More problematic
is that fact that, in the case of a yet undiagnosed pregnancy, Guaifenesin is
thought to cross the placental barrier. In principle, a recently conceived baby
may be thusly exposed to Guaifenesin.
Also significant, according
to clinical studies, prolonged use of Guaifenesin has been tied to increased
incidences of urolithiasis (kidney or urinary stones) as well as an increased
risk of a baby experiencing an inguinal hernia during the first trimester of
a pregnancy. In sum, sustained consumption or large doses of Guaifenesin-containing
medications may be contraindicated. And while the efficacy of Guaifenesin for
thinning mucus is apparent, its relative value in trying-to-conceive contexts
remains disputed, as it exhibits no active function in actually producing cervical
mucus.
Finally, it should be noted
that while Guaifenesin is not considered pernicious when used as instructed,
other prescription or over-the-counter cough syrups may contain ingredients
that might harm a developing fetus or the mother if used in high doses (like
Dextromethorphan). In some medications, both Guaifenesin and Dextromethorphan
are admixed.
The Up Side of FertileCM:
While Guaifenesin may have its limitations - as well as possible contraindications
- for trying-to-conceive applications, there are natural alternatives
that may be more effective in both thinning cervical mucus and in facilitating
cervical mucus production. In fact, FertileCM, a dietary supplement designed
by fertility expert Amos Grunebaum, MD, is based on compelling research in this
area - and in particular on the role of nitric oxide (a naturally-produced bodily
chemical) which has been shown to increase circulation and help promote blood
flow to the uterus, ovaries, and genitals.
For fertility and pregnancy, the significance of nitric oxide is connected to
its ability to increase cervical secretions (or CM) during the time a woman
ovulates. In one key study, "nitric oxide markedly increased cervical secretion"
for women taking supplementation in the test group, "while no changes in
cervical secretion were seen in the control group." What is more, besides
helping the body to produce cervical fluids, FertileCM is also designed to thin
the mucus and make it more “fertile”. Finally, the same properties
of nitric oxide that support fertile cervical fluids also promote reproductive
health by increasing circulation to the womb to help build a healthy uterine
lining for the implantation of a fertilized embryo. Thus, FertileCM is designed
to:
• Naturally and safely
support the production of cervical fluids.
• Increase hydration of the mucin (liquidity of mucus).
• Promote mucus alkalinity and mucosal thinning.
• Support a healthy uterine lining for implantation of the embryo.
FertileCM, Guaifenesin,
Clomid
FertileCM offers a
compelling and natural alternative to Guaifenesin cough syrups, if not only
because it offers additional benefits in supporting mucus production, but because
it is actually designed - by fertility experts - for women actively seeking
to achieve pregnancy.
Of course, many women first
seek out a mucus-thinning “solution” due to a general lack of cervical
mucus or the absence of any “fertile quality” fluid during ovulation.
This absence of cervical mucus may be caused by a number of factors, including
decreased estrogen levels or the use of certain fertility drugs like clomid
(known to cause “hostile” CM in at least 30% of the women taking
it). If you are using any prescription drugs, it’s advised to consult
with your doctor before taking additional supplements or Guaifenesin. However,
FertileCM may provide relief for those women using clomid and experiencing symptoms
of absent or hostile cervical mucus.
Lubricants, FertileCM,
and Pre-Seed
Can sexual lubricants or moisturizers stand in for absent cervical fluids? It’s
a good question, but the answer is “No”, with one indirect qualification.
First of all, almost all lubricants are made from ingredients that, while seemingly
“thin” or “fluid-like”, actually obstruct the movement
of sperm or paralyze sperm motility. There is one exception and that is a product
called Pre-Seed which is designed to provide sperm-friendly lubrication for
“on-demand” procreative love-making. Ideally, products like FertileCM
and Pre-Seed might be considered to complement each other in a dialectical “above/below”
operation: Pre-Seed offering a topical moisturizer for the vagina with FertileCM
promoting enhanced secretion within the cervix and uterine lining.
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