magic medicine?

well im on day 16 so started taking my cough medicine yesterday 2 teaspoons three times a day, thinking i ovulate on day 21 so giving myself plenty of time to build upo the CM!! im taking the sainsburys own make, haven't noticed any great change yet but will keep you posted, hoping to be back here in 4 weeks time saying i got my BFP and this worked for me!!
also eating natural yoghurt suggested by jaidybaby! watch this space! :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray:
 
Hiya Girls

Cough Medicines with robitussin or guaifenesin are supposed to aid conception by by thinning your cervical fluid, which enables sperm to travel through your cervix and fertilize an egg. As these ingredients are "expectorant." they relieve congestion by helping liquefy mucus in your lungs, allowing you to cough it up. And because it works on all mucous membranes in your body, it can make your cervical fluid wetter, too.

Anyway, I've found this info for you, it should help answer any of your questions, for example when to take it.

Hope it helps

Rach

What kind of Robitussin is used to improve cervical mucus?

One should buy the plain kind with no letters after it. The only active ingredient is guaifenesin, and it contains 100 mg per teaspoon. It is very important to avoid the versions that contain decongestants as those may dry up cervical mucus. Also, there is some conflicting information about whether dextromethorphan, the DM in some cough medicine names, may be linked to birth defects such as neural tube defects and cleft palate.



Do I need to use the brand Robitussin?
No. Robitussin is the most common brand name, at least in the U.S., that carries a guaifenesin-only expectorant, but there are other brands and generics available. As long as the only active ingredient is guaifenesin, you can use any variety you find. For those with diabetes or otherwise concerned about sugar intake, there is the brand Diabetic Tussin available.


What is the recommended dose of guaifenesin?
The recommended dose for improving cervical mucus, based on a 1982 article in Fertility and Sterility, is two teaspoons (200 mg) taken orally three times per day. If mucus still appears thick and doesn't have good spinnbarkeit (ability to stretch), one can take as much as four teaspoons (400 mg) four times per day (the maximum dose on this over the counter medication). Each dose should be taken with a full glass of water, and attention should be given to drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day -- one needs water to produce mucus.


What cycle days should one take guaifenesin?
Just as the dose can vary a bit, so can the days. The article linked above had patients starting the guaifenesin on cycle day 5 - five days after the start of menses. This seems rather early as mucus is not an issue until about five days before ovulation - based on the fact that sperm can only live five days at best, and most pregnancies are the result of intercourse in the five days leading up to ovulation. Because of this information, it is now more common for doctors to suggest starting guaifenesin about five days before expected ovulation and continuing through ovulation day (six days total, for those with regular cycles). For those with irregular cycles, one should start taking guaifenesin about five days before the earliest day ovulation might be expected. For those taking Clomid (clomiphene citrate, Serophene) in a 5-day protocol, one can probably wait until the day after the last Clomid pill before starting the expectorant.



Is guaifenesin available in pill form?
Yes, but in most cases a prescription is needed. In the U.S., one can get a 600 mg time released caplet as the generic Guaifenesin CR, or brands Humibid LA, and Fenesin. This is often less expensive than the liquid. Another brand that is available OTC is Mucinex, though it probably is not a cost savings.


How does one diagnose cervical factor/hostile mucus?
Many women try taking guaifenesin after noting little or no egg white (stretchy) cervical mucus while charting their fertility signals, but clinically it is diagnosed when a doctor checks mucus one or two days before ovulation in what is usually referred to as a post-coital test. The doctor does a vaginal exam and takes a sample of mucus to immediately analyze under a microscope to check for live sperm and for a ferning pattern. It is also checked for signs of infection. Quality mucus will be stretchy, fern, lack cellularity, and have live sperm swimming in it.



Why do so many women take guaifenesin while on Clomid?
Clomid (clomiphene citrate, Serophene) can cause hostile mucus in 30 percent or more of women using it. Higher doses tend to be more associated with less cervical fluid and a thinner uterine lining, than the 50 mg dose.


Will guaifenesin help if there is little or no mucus present?
Guaifenesin doesn't actually create mucus, it only thins what is already there. One would need to look into why there is no mucus (infection, not really ovulating), or bypass the mucus issue by doing intrauterine insemination.


Does one need to take guaifenesin when doing intrauterine insemination (IUI)?
It would only make sense to take guaifenesin if one is planning to have intercourse in addition to doing IUI. Those doing donor insemination, for example, wouldn't benefit.


Will taking guaifenesin cause any problems if it isn't needed?
Probably not. Since fertile mucus can be watery, there is probably no harm in taking guaifenesin and thinning it out.


What are some other possible ways to improve cervical mucus?
Drinking plenty of water should always be considered in addition to any other therapies one might try. Estrogen is sometimes given to help mucus production, though doctors have mixed opinions of its benefit, especially when used with Clomid (and some suggest using Tamoxifen instead of Clomid). Injectable gonadotropins used for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation often have a positive effect on cervical mucus as well. Some home/natural remedies include eating salty foods such as popcorn (mucus is very salty), taking evening primrose oil, avoiding dairy products (they can thicken mucus), eating lots of baby carrots, and also avoiding antihistamines, including high doses of vitamin C. Another suggestion that is increasing in popularity is to drink grapefruit juice in order to improve or increase the amount of cervical mucus. If one is on prescription medications, it is a good idea to look for warning about grapefruit juice consumption (it isn't recommended with several medications for hypertension, for example).


Can lubricants be used in place of CM?
Lubricants aid in intercourse, but not in sperm travel through the cervix. Most over the counter lubricants are not "sperm friendly" -- meaning that using them is likely to kill off some sperm. In most cases, one needs to weigh the benefits against the risks . . . it may well be worth losing a few sperm to make it possible to complete intercourse. That said, there are some friendlier options out there. One is FemGlide, a lubricant you can get from your doctor. You can buy the same product marketed as Slippery Stuff (apparently more available at stores that sell sexual aids than at pharmacies and such). There is also a more recently introduced product called Pre-Seed from Bio-Origyn. Another option discussed on many fertility boards is using raw egg whites at room temperature. There may be some risk of salmonella exposure with egg whites, so some suggest using pasteurized egg whites available in the grocery store. With any lubricant, it is generally best to use as little as possible.


Does guaifenesin do anything for male factor infertility?
It is possible that men with thick semen may benefit from guaifenesin in the same manner it helps with cervical mucus in women. The suggested doses on the newsgroups and fertility boards range from two teaspoons twice per day to four teaspoons four times per day.
 
hey getting positives on my OPKs and been taking the medicine for5 days last night had loads of EWCM :dance: fingers crossed for me this month but even if i don't get my BFP girls i really really recommend this for increasing EWCM its working! i hope i can come back here in a few weeks and say it was the key to my BFP :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray: :pray:
 
Oooh Rusks that is good news! - Are you using Medicine with guaifenesin or Robitussin?

lotsa
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Hope you get your
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this month!
 
yes its sainsburys own expectorant with guaifenesin as the only active ingrediant. good stuff hope i get my BFP also thanks rachael. :pray:
 
I've got eveything crossed for you hon - Heres my little baby dancer for you....Seems this little guy did the trick for Charlene! lol
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Mind you, Charlene had Super Sperm on her side too!
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I'm really not hearing the last of it in my house today! I'm just ignoring him!!! :roll: :lol:
 
hope my OH has some of that super sperm this month :lol:

Love the baby dancer thanks for that cheered me up no end!! Loving your work Rachael!! :clap:
 
Can I ask an :oops: embarrassing question about CM? You all talk about how cough mix seems to increase CM but I find that after BDing at night, I get some old baby batter coming back to visit me all next day and so would find it hard to distinguish what is actually CM and what is old 'you know what' because its quite similar!

I expect I am being extremely naive or stupid about this so apologies if you are all groaning! If I am being daft, I'll read up on my sex ed!

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I had that same problem the month I concieved Alicebabe! I think you can try smelling it :oops: I don't think the CM smells of anything.

You probably all know this already but if you are taking hayfever medication this can also dry things up so it may be worth getting a nasal spray instead of tablets.

Baby dust to all TTC x
 
i know what you mean i think i have also experienced this, although sometimes when i wipe i see the EWCM and convince myself it is that and not old "Baby Batter" :lol: love that phrase!!
 
Phew - embarrassment over! I thought I was missing something simple there! Mind you, it all looks the same as me!

I have been taking Piriton for my terrible hayfever but I didnt realise about the CM drying up. I usually get heavy CM all the month anyway so should balance it all out hopefully. Man, this is a cringeworthy post! :oops: At least we can all have a laugh about it eh?
 
:lol: we're laughing with you mate!

yes i heard anti histimines can dry up CM so you lucky still getting lots of CM :clap:
 
Hiya Alice

Sperm and CM are very similar in consistency so it is hard to tell the difference - You are not the first person to have some confusion over this!
Sperm sometimes appears as a rubbery whitish strand or slippy foam. It tends to be thinner, breaks easily and dries on your fingers much quicker than CM.
CM tends to be clear, shimmering and stretchy.

Sending lots of
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your way!
 

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