cough medicine - the secret to BFP

hayley

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Hi

Has anyone else heard about cough medicine helping to produce cervical mucus during ovulation? I've read it once before on another site, then I read it on here 2 weeks ago...

I've just bought a big bottle from sainsburys. It's a standard chesty cough medicine but contains the secret ingredient GUAFENESIN which apprently helps you to produce more mucus during ovulation. And we all know how important mucus is.... i don't seem to produce much mucus during ovulation so i'm hoping the cough medicine works.

Has anyone else heard of this? If so how much do I drink and when. I think I read about 3 times a day around ovualtion.... but if you know more please help....

x
 
Hiya Hayley

Guaifenesin can help you get pregnant by thinning your cervical mucus, which enables sperm to travel through your cervix and fertilise an egg. Guaifenesin, a common ingredient in cough syrups, is an 'expectorant'. That is, it relieves congestion by helping liquefy mucus in your lungs, allowing you to cough it up. And because it works systemically on all mucus membranes in your body, it can make your cervical mucus wetter, too.
If you know from taking your temperature every morning that you're ovulating, but you don't seem to be producing much wet, slippery, cervical mucus, guaifenesin might help you to get pregnant. This is the paradox though: you need to know when you're approaching ovulation to take advantage of this recommendation, and the only way to know that is by checking your cervical mucus. So guaifenesin works best on women who do produce at least some cervical mucus.

If you're taking the liquid form of guaifenesin, take two teaspoons three times a day around the time of month you're expecting to ovulate. Either way, It is encouraged that you to take it from the first day you notice any type of wetness until the day of your change in body temperature. That may be for about a week.
The trick is to find a cough medicine in which guaifenesin is the only active ingredient, so check labels carefully. Many cough and cold medicines contain antihistamines that also work systemically in your body but have the reverse effect. They dry up mucus and diminish wet cervical fluid. And while you're trying to get pregnant, you shouldn't expose yourself to any other drugs unnecessarily, so find a product that contains only guaifenesin and no other active ingredients, including dextromethorphan (a cough suppressant) and alcohol.

Hope this helps
 
Hi Racheal

Yea that helped explain a lot. I don't record my temp's but i do use ovualtion sticks. I get a positive result around day 11 of my cycle. I assume I ovulate around day 11 to 13 because my mucus becomes much clearer and wetter although not much! as soon as ovulation is over my mucus goes back to normal which is white and thick (and loads of it) I have never got the egg white mucus a lot of books and other woman describe. I find that my underwear feels damp during ovulation but i wouldn't say stretchy egg whites.

I'm starting my ovulation kit on day 9 this month so maybe i'll start the cough medicine around the same time (10). And keep taking it till day (15). I checked the label because i've heard that ceratin ingrediants can dry your mucus up. The label on the bottle states expectorant and states the main ingrediant to be guafenesin.

Thanks for your reply.

x
 
Perhaps you should try the temping thing just for a month alongside the cough medicine thing, to see if you notice a change in temp at the same time as the ovulations sticks predict?

Even doing it for just a month should help you to get to know exactly when you ovulate and how long your luteal phase is before the next AF. This info was invaluable to me and really made me feel as if I was a bit more in control of what was going on inside.
 
Hi sarah

The thing that puts me off temping is that you have to do it first thing in the morning before you get up. I get up at 6am when it's still a little dark outside and quite dark in the bedroom. My husband works a few late nites a week so i would wake him if i started feeling around for the themometer. Also I need to put the light on to read the result.

How do other people do it before they get up out of bed? If I could do it after i get up (imediatly after) then i would but i think this would effect the result.

I get ovulation pains as well so i'm always aware of them coming and going....

thanks for your reply

x
 
I got sick of doing it first thing in the morning for the same reason as you. The winter was a tedious time for doing it, so I changed it so that I did it as soon as I got in from work every night at 5pm on the dot.

I know the books don't recommend this, but I still got a temperature shift ecery month doing it this way. My theory was, as long as I did it the same time every day, it was Ok to do it in the evening.

Best to avoid any food in the lead up to taking temp as things like spicy foods affected the reading

Hoping this helps
 
Hi sarah

Thanks a lot... i really didn't think I could temp in the afternoon. Good idea! Might give it a go but will it be okay to start in the middle of a cycle.. well not the middle - i'm one week into my 4 week cycle. Might call into Tesco's and see if i can pick up thermometer...

Thanks a lot

x
 
Hi Hayley

Make sure you pick a time that fits into your daily routine and also make sure that you don't have a shower/bath or eat spicy food or drink a hot drink in the hour before as these might have an effect.

What worked for me was 5pm as I walked in through the door from work. I got a consistent result this way.

I will probably get slated by others who believe it should be in the morning, but it happened to work for me.

Hope you see a shift! My normal temp was between 35.9 and 36.1 and my ovulation temp was between 36.4 and 36.6.

Hope this helps
 
Hi Sarah

You've confinced me.. i've just been to sainsburys to buy a thermometer. They only had a digital one which was £7.99 - it said it's accurate to 0.1. Does that make sense? Might give it a go tonight when i get home. My drive home is over an hour so if I don't have a drink before i leave work and test as soon as i walk in (same time each day) it should work. However i'm on day 7 of my cycle. I should get a good 7 days before i see a drop. If i get a drop does that mean i've ovulated and not become pregnant? If i become pregnant should my temp go high and stay high?

I'm gonna have a good read up on it tonight... excited now!

I've got my cough medicine ready, ovulation sticks and now thermometer.... i bet DH does feel in the mood at the right time! He's got no choice....... he he he
 
You should actually see a rise, which should last for between 10 and 16 days roughly.

If you have 18 high temperatures in a row then you are pregnant, if you get a drop at between 10 and 16 days and then your AF follows suit then you know that you are not.

Digital thermometers are much quicker as the result takes one minute instead of three minutes.
 
Hiya Hayley

Although Sarah successfully charted using evening temps, I personally wouldn't advocate it.

Your BASAL BODY TEMPERATURE refers to a 'resting' or 'base' temperature. That means that your BBT must be measured prior to any physical activity, after at least three to four hours of sleep. It is important to take your temperature immediately upon waking. Your temperature will fluctuate once you are moving around. If you wake up during the middle of the night and you go back to sleep and get at least three additional hours of uninterrupted sleep, your temperature will be accurate. If you wake up less than three hours before your normal scheduled waking time and have to get up for any reason, it is advisable to take your temperature then (before you get out of bed) and not at your normal waking time.

Your temperature reading can rise up to 1/10 of a degree for every half an hour taken later than normal or fall 1/10 of a degree for every half hour taken earlier than normal. To get an accurate chart, it is crucial to take your temperature as close as possible to the same time everyday. If you normally get up during the weekdays at 6:00 AM try and take all your temperatures at this time. Each temperature that is not taken at the normal time has to be adjusted (using the 1/10 for every half an hour rule) which will get you close to what your temperature should have been.

If you have bought a digital themometer, most will store the last temp taken, so you wouldn't have to put the light on to read the temp. - You could wait until you got up and look at it when your in the bathroom. They also tend to beep once it has accurately taken your temperature, so you don't need to see it to know that your temp has been successfully stored. I used to put my thermometer in an empty glass on my bedside table, that way it was easy to find without switching the light on.

Best of luck!
 
thanks a lot girls for your replies...

I decided to have a go at taking my temp first thing in the morning as you have said rachael, the digital therm is much better at reading in the dark. It wasn't as hard as I imagined. It bleeps 10 times to tell you it has an accurate reading. It also stays on for 10 mins for you to read the result.

This monring I got a reading of 36.2 (is this normal as this means nothing to me)

It must have been on my mind as I was falling asleep because i drempt of taking my temp, I also drempt I got a BFP. It was so real I actually saw those 2 blue lines although in my dream I m/c.... weird as I have never been pregnant. Maybe it's my mind worry....

x
 
Hiya Hayley

A temp of 36.2 is perfectly normal. Your BBT probably ranges from 97.2 (36.2) to about 97.7(36.5) degrees before ovulation. During the two or three days after you ovulate, hormonal changes have caused a rise in your BBT of between 0.5 and 1.6 degrees, which lasts at least until your next period. You'll probably notice your temperature spiking on other days, but unless it stays that way, you probably haven't yet ovulated. If you become pregnant, your temperature will stay elevated throughout your pregnancy.

What I would advise though is that when you plot your temps on a chart, you plot in Farenheight, not Celsius as the temp changes are a lot easier to spot in F's. For example from 36.2 to 36.5, that is only 3/10 degree change. These temps in F's are 97.2 to 97.7, giving a 5/10 degree change. Obviously it's a lot easier to spot a bigger shift in temps using F's.

I used a Celcius thermometer, like you, but converted to F's to plot.

You can convert your reading from C's to F's using this Converter
http://www.intmed.mcw.edu/clincalc/wtmeas.html

Hope this makes sense, I'm not sure I've explained it too well.

Best of luck
 
Hi Rachael

Thanks. I've saved that web address in my favourites and can change from C to F every day. If my digital therm only gives results in C, what if the change is very small... If my temp raises by 0.4F will this be recorded in C or is this too small of an increase to register on my digital? Hope that makes sense. I've just read that our temp can go up by 0.4F after ovualtion.

If I notice my temp rise i will then know i've ovulated. If my temp stays high could this mean i'm pregnant?

I'm due to ovulate around fri or sat this week. I'm using ovualtion sticks also so i should get a positive in a few days. I will keep an eye on my temp around sunday, monday....

Thanks a lot Rachael and Sarah for the advise... I don't know why but i thought temping was scary.
 
Hi Hayley, your temperature has to stay up for a minimum of 18 consecutive days to register a pregnancy.
 
Hiya Hayley

Your digital thermometer will give your temp reading accurate to 1/10 of a degree. The change will always appear less significant when charting in C's, but if you convert to F's, you'll notice that a rise by 2/10 (say 36.2 to 36.5) a 3/10 degree change. The equivalent F tems when converted are 97.2 and 97.7 - Thats a 5/10 degree change, which would obviously stand out more on a graph. By converting you temp to F's, it's just so much easier to spot a temperature shift.

Some info for you to help you understand how to interpret your temps:-


The Information Temps Give
Taking your waking body temperature can give you information that is very helpful if trying to conceive. If not pregnant your temperature will reflect two phases during a cycle, three phases if conception has occurred. Your temperatures will vary (fall and rise) during your monthly cycle. They will be lower in the first phase, higher in the second phase and higher still in the third phase once implantation takes place. The rise in temps from the first phase to the second phase is caused from ovulation. Your temps will rise only AFTER ovulation has taken place. Charting temperatures alone without using cervical fluid and position DOES NOT indicate when your most fertile time is (before ovulation) until after ovulation has occurred - which is too late. Therefore it's recommended that all indicators are charted to give a more efficient reading of fertility.

First Phase Temps
The first phase (Preovulatory) before ovulation has occured, temps will normally be between 97.0 to 97.5. Right before ovulation occurs the hormone estrogen is produced causing lower temps. Many women are able to see a dip in temp alerting them that peak time is near and ovulation is about to occur. Just remember, your temps can rise and fall multiple times before a dip making it difficult to know when the lowest point will be. It is important to also know that your lowest temperature is most likely NOT your peak day and unless you are charting other indicators you may miss your most fertile time completely.

Second Phase Temps
In the second phase (Luteal Phase) which begins after ovulation temperatures generally will rise between 97.6 and 98.6. The increased temperatures are due to the hormone progesterone which is released from the corpus luetum - the follicle that hold the egg. The temps will remain high for a period usually 12 to 16 days until they drop again (either the day before or the day of) when your cycle ends and menstrual period begins. If conception occurs temperatures will remain high during the entire pregnancy.

Third Phase Temps
Many women experience a third phase (Triphasic Phase) which is temperatures climbing to yet another level that is approximately 3/10's - 4/10's over the Luteal Phase high. This is due to the HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) hormone that is produced if conception has occurred and when implantation takes place.

Detecting Ovulation
Detecting ovulation by charting your temperatures can easily be seen after you have ovulated. A dip in temperature followed by a rise (at least 2/10's of a degree) higher than all temps the previous six days and staying at or beyond this level for at least 3 consecutive days shows that ovulation has occurred. Your coverline is usually drawn at this point. Remember - Snuggle Buggle has to take place BEFORE you ovulate to enhance your chances for conception. Charting your cervical fluid and position along with your temperatures will give you a much clearer picture as to when you are most likely ovulating and when your peak time is.

Identifying Anovulatory Cycles
A anovulatory cycle means that no ovulation occurred during that particular cycle. This can be identified by charting your waking temperature. When viewing charted temperatures that appear to have peaks and valleys (many low and high temps) throughout the entire month with no clear separation of a rise in level of temps (rising from first phase / pre-ovulation Phase to second phase / luetal phase) this is a good indication that ovulation did not occur. Many women who are able to conceive may have months that no ovulation takes place - however, we only have 12 times a year to conceive so in my opinion any anovulatory cycles should be followed by seeking testing and / or treatment from your doctor.

Low Estrogen Levels
Estrogen is a hormone that is produced by the follicles that hold an egg. Estrogen plays a large part in the ability to conceive. It is the hormone needed for women to ovulate. It also plays a part as to the amount and quality of cervical mucus which is crucial for the sperm to travel up to the outer third part of the fallopian tubes for conception. An indication of low levels of estrogen would be a nonovulatory cycle along with low amount or poor quality of cervical fluid.

Low Progesterone Levels
Progesterone is also an important hormone within our cycle. It comes from the corpus luteum. When an egg is released the follicle that held it collapses and becomes a yellowed bodied mass called the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum sticks to the ovarian wall and starts producing progesterone. Its life span is about 12 to 16 days. Progesterone insures that all maturing eggs (15 - 20 within a cycle) are not released, it thickens the uterine lining, and causes the fertile signs - dip and temp, egg white cervical mucus, and high cervical position to return to a non fertile state.
Low Progesterone levels can be indicated by seeing temps close to, on or below coverline after ovulation through the end of a cycle. Even if ovulation was achieved, low progesterone levels make it very difficult to obtain successful conception. Low progesterone levels can be treated by seeking help from an OBGYN or RE specialist. Progesterone shots, pills, and suppositories are some of the ways Doctors may prescribe to increase this hormone.

Indication of Possible Pregnancy
Ovulation day is not necessarily the same day month to month making the first phase of a cycle vary. The luteal phase (second phase after ovulation) usually is the same every month. After ovulation has occurred you can indicate a pregnancy by watching for the passing of your normal luteal phase. For example if you always have 13 days (DPO - days past ovulation) from when you ovulate to when your period comes and its now 16 DPO, there is a very good chance you are pregnant! 18 DPO with high temps usually guarantee's that you have conceived. Seeing the a sustained third phase (triphasic phase) will also put you on the red alert to a possible success!

Indication of Possible Miscarriage
Miscarriages are heartbreaking and unfortunately not a rare occurrence! An astounding 1 out of 3 pregnancies end in miscarriage. Many early miscarriages happen so early that if not charting, one probably would never know it occurred. Sometimes it happens so early that it could be confused with a late period. Passing your normal luteal phase date combined with a third level of temps only to be followed with a steady decline or sudden drop in temp and bleeding may indicate a miscarriage has occurred.

Hope this helps - Best of luck!
 

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