Home Remedies for Cold and Flu Symptoms

There's No Proof That Mucinex Helps People Get Pregnant

People online have shared stories of getting pregnant after taking Mucinex. But does the drug actually improve fertility? Here's what we can VERIFY about the science

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Many people worldwide struggle with infertility, with estimates suggesting that approximately one in every six people of reproductive age experience the condition in their lifetime.

Some people online, including Alexa Lemieux from the reality TV show "Love Is Blind," have suggested that taking Mucinex may improve people's chances of conceiving.

Lemieux said in a viral TikTok posted in March 2024 she went through two failed rounds of intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment before trying Mucinex. She also took an estrogen-lowering medication called letrozole that was left over from her treatment.  

"During my ovulation, I took Mucinex and a few weeks later found out that I was pregnant," she said.

VERIFY dug into the existing research to find out whether Mucinex is scientifically proven to help people get pregnant. 

THE QUESTION

Is Mucinex scientifically proven to help people get pregnant?

THE SOURCES

THE ANSWER

No, Mucinex is not scientifically proven to help people get pregnant. 

WHAT WE FOUND

Mucinex is not scientifically proven to increase a person's fertility and help them get pregnant. But doctors say there's generally no harm in taking the medication while trying to conceive due to the low risk of serious side effects. 

Guaifenesin, the active ingredient in Mucinex, works to thin the mucus or phlegm in a person's lungs. The theory is that Mucinex could increase a person's fertility by thinning another type of mucus in the body – cervical mucus. 

But "there is no evidence that using medications to thin the mucus (eg, guaifenesin) improves fertility," Robert Rebar, M.D., a reproductive endocrinology and fertility specialist, said in an article published by Merck Manual. 

When a person is ovulating, mucus in the cervix becomes thinner so sperm can go through it more easily, according to England's National Health Service (NHS).

In some cases, a person's cervical mucus may be too thick, making it harder for them to conceive, Shahin Ghadir, M.D., a reproductive endocrinologist, explained. 

While it's possible that Mucinex could thin cervical mucus for some people, the drug's fertility benefits are "questionable," reproductive endocrinologist Armando Hernandez-Rey, M.D., told VERIFY. Most of the pregnancies that people have reported on social media after using Mucinex can be "chalked up to coincidence," he added. 

Some people, like Lemieux, also take letrozole or other medications used to treat fertility issues in tandem with Mucinex. So it's unclear whether the fertility medication, Mucinex, a combination of both or none of the above may have helped to improve the person's fertility.

Our experts say the link between taking Mucinex and improved fertility stems from a small study published more than 40 years ago. 

That 1982 study involved 40 couples who were unable to conceive for at least 10 months. Tests suggested that "hostile," or poor, cervical mucus rather than defective sperm production could be the cause of the couples' infertility.

Each female participant took 200 milligrams of guaifenesin orally three times daily from day five of her monthly cycle when her temperature started to rise around the time of ovulation, according to the study. More than half of the female participants saw a marked improvement in the quality of their cervical mucus and 40% became pregnant after taking Mucinex.

But experts caution against relying on this study as proof that taking Mucinex increases a person's fertility and helps them get pregnant. 

Reproductive endocrinologist Lora Shahine, MD., told VERIFY partner station WTHR that the "very small study" was "not well-designed."

In an article for GoodRx Health, pharmacist Kevin Le writes that the study did not have a "comparison group," or a group of participants who did not take Mucinex.

"Without a comparison group, it's hard to know if Mucinex is the reason some female participants became pregnant," Le said. 

There is "no proven, acceptable study" that shows taking Mucinex leads to improved fertility, Ghadir added.

A spokesperson for Reckitt, the company that makes Mucinex, also told WTHR that Mucinex should "only be used as intended and in line with usage instructions." They added that "taking Mucinex for infertility constitutes off-label use."

Guaifenesin, or Mucinex, is often combined with other medications used to address cold and flu symptoms, such as the nasal decongestant pseudoephedrine, the Reckitt spokesperson said. Pseudoephedrine should "only be used for approved indications and carries specific risks," they added.

In other words, you shouldn't take pseudoephedrine if you aren't experiencing nasal congestion. 

"Taking medications outside their approved indications or without acknowledging all active ingredients may be harmful," the Reckitt spokesperson said. 

However, doctors say the risks of taking Mucinex alone while trying to get pregnant are generally low since the medication usually does not cause serious side effects. 

"Some people will have nausea, some people will have headaches, but it's pretty rare," Shahine told WTHR. 

People who are experiencing infertility and want to try taking Mucinex should always consult their doctor beforehand. Your provider may also recommend other medications and medical procedures that are scientifically proven to promote fertility.

WTHR reporter Allison Gormly contributed to this report.

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Is It COVID, A Cold, The Flu Or Allergies? How To Tell Symptoms Apart — And How To Stay Safe

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle.

Spring is finally here for Canada, and the outlook for illnesses like flu and COVID looks positive. (Photo via Getty Images)

A soggy, rainy spring has arrived for a good chunk of Canada, and while many people across the country might be down about the wet weather, things are looking up when it comes to flu season.

Infectious diseases expert Dr. Isaac Bogoch told Yahoo Canada influenza is winding down at this point of the year, and there's very little of the virus circulating across the country currently.

"In a matter of weeks, there will be virtually no influenza circulating," he explained. "So that's obviously good news, and we're about to see that season wind to a close as we move our way through spring."

The Toronto-based researcher's sentiment echoes the latest FluWatch report released by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). From March 31 and April 6, nine per cent of tests for influenza came back positive, with a total of 2,611 lab detections reported. Moreover, the number of FluWatchers reporting cough and fever is currently below expected levels for this time of year.

COVID is interesting, too, just looking at a snapshot of where we are with that.Dr. Isaac Bogoch

Moreover, COVID-19 also looks to be taking a back seat this season. While the virus is still circulating, Bogoch explained there won't be as many cases as we might've seen in the winter.

"Most metrics across the country show much lower rates of virus circulating," he shared. "All the signals, wastewater signals, hospital signals, death signals, all of those signals are much lower now compared to the last few weeks and months."

The PHAC indicated in a COVID-19 summary updated on April 9 that indicators for the virus continue to slowly decrease or remain at low levels. Additionally, overall outbreak incidence has been decreasing since early January.

However, how can you exactly tell if you have COVID-19 or the flu, or possibly another condition like a cold or allergies? Overlapping symptoms between each one can make taking care of yourself confusing. Read on to know what's happening with all the respiratory illnesses, and how to tell the symptoms apart.

What can you expect from cold, flu and COVID this spring?

High-risk people are currently being recommended to get a COVID-19 vaccine for the season. (Photo via Getty Images)

Experts are sharing that Canadians don't have too much to worry about when it comes to these illnesses this spring, as indicators show case levels are dropping. Moreover, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) released recommendations in January for administering COVID-19 vaccinations this season. Its suggestions target Canadians with a heightened vulnerability to severe illness caused by the virus.

According to the NACI, people who should seek out another dose of the latest vaccine to better protect them against the current variants of Omicron include:

"We'll probably see much more broad vaccine recommendations as we enter the fall and we expect rates of COVID to go up," Bogoch said. "There's lower rates but not absence of COVID circulating. The risk of transmission is much lower this spring compared to, for example, in the winter."

What's the difference in symptoms between COVID, flu, allergies or a cold?

University of Toronto public health specialist Dr. Andrew Pinto recently explained it's "very, very hard" to differentiate between the symptoms of these respiratory illnesses, especially COVID-19 and influenza.

"There's a lot of overlap. ... There may be some slight differences, particularly that we saw early in the COVID pandemic was around the loss of smell and taste," he told Yahoo Canada. "That still is somewhat of a hallmark of of COVID."

He also added the persistence of symptoms after the initial infection is more common with COVID-19 than other viruses.

"It's important to note COVID is still evolving, and we don't know how new strains will really act and what kind of symptoms they will give us."

What do you do if you have overlapping symptoms?

Pinto said a "really important message" is that anyone who is experiencing respiratory illness — including the symptoms above — should do an at-home test for COVID-19.

"These test kits are being made available to many provinces and territories, for free through grocery stores, through pharmacies, through health clinics," said the Upstream Lab director.

"Some of the benefits of doing a test to see if you have COVID or not are, it helps you reduce the spread to other people, because it will change kind of your behaviour."

It can also help those who are feeling sick and might need to take time off from work. "Potentially, if you develop long-COVID and need to need to seek disability, accommodation or financial support, that can help with your claim," he added.

I would encourage people, if they have respiratory illness of cough, cold fever, sore throat, they should try and do a home kit.Dr. Andrew Pinto

He claimed in the future, we could see multi-pathogen tests available to narrow down whether an illness is COVID-19, influenza or RSV.

What can Canadians do to stay safe this spring?

Vaccines are still important, the doctor says. (Photo via Getty Images)

"There's nothing new in this round, absolutely nothing," Bogoch said when it comes to protecting yourself against these kinds of illnesses.

"The two take-home points for me are that we had an influenza season this year that was basically comparable to pre-pandemic influenza seasons, and the season is really winding to a close now. ... The second point is COVID circulates year-round. ... Even though it's not absent, it's still much, much, much lower than it was in the past."

Still, Canadians can still take up COVID-19 best practices this spring, which can also help curb the spread of other viruses. While the country no longer has testing or masking mandates in place like it used to, there are still protocols Canadians can follow. For those who are eligible, getting vaccinated is the most important move, according to Pinto.

"We know that a lot of people are tired of the pandemic and want to just move on," he began, before adding COVID-19 is here to stay.

We knew early on that this virus was going to be with us and stay with us — similar to influenza.Dr. Andrew Pinto

Pinto also encouraged anyone who does get infected with COVID-19 to reach out to CanTreatCOVID within the first few days of infection.

"We really still don't have a good sense of what works and for whom to treat COVID when people are acutely infected. So we're doing this study. ... We're studying which treatments work and for whom," he explained.

"It's a really important way to help figure out how we can not only treat acute COVID, but also reduce long COVID as well."

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

Do I Have Seasonal Allergies Or Is It The Common Cold?

The allergies or cold question is relevant for more of the year as climate crisis has made allergy season longer and more intense.Photograph: Carol Yepes/Getty Images

Ah, spring. A time of thawing and rebirth, of blooms bursting forth from frost. Days become longer, warmer and – oh no, what's this? A tickle in your throat. Pressure building in your sinuses. A runny nose. A sneeze. Another sneeze. Was there ever a time before sneezing?

But is it allergies or a cold? Beautiful as springtime may be, the emerging greenery can also expel waves of allergens. So how can you tell if your runny nose is the result of unruly pollen or a virus? Are you infectious or is your immune system overreacting to an outside stimulus?

People often get the two confused, says Dr Jesse Bracamonte, a family physician with Mayo Clinic Family Medicine. In both cases, he explains, there is "nasal stuffiness, a runny nose and sneezing".

The "allergies or cold question" is now relevant for more of the year. As average global temperatures rise, allergy seasons are getting longer and more intense. According to one study, between 1990 and 2018, the US pollen season got 20 days longer and pollen concentration increased by 21%. In the UK, the Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warns that pollen allergy season, which typically started around March, could now start as early as January or February.

So how can you tell seasonal allergies from a cold? We asked experts to explain.

What are seasonal allergies?

Allergies happen when your body's immune system overreacts to a substance that it thinks is dangerous, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Seasonal allergies, sometimes known as hay fever or seasonal allergic rhinitis, affect roughly one-quarter of adults in the US and the UK. Symptoms tend to spike as seasons change and plants release pollens that send vulnerable immune systems into overdrive.

"In the spring, tree pollen is the primary allergen," says Dr Neeta Ogden, director of the Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center in Edison, New Jersey, and spokesperson for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. In the summer, she says, the primary allergen is grass pollen, and in the fall, it tends to be ragweed.

In the UK, according to the UKHSA, trees like hazel and birch kick off allergy season in the spring, followed by grass pollen from May until July. Weed pollen, such as dock and mugwort, usually floats around from June to late autumn.

Interactive What is a cold?

"The 'common cold' typically refers to a virus that affects individuals during particular times of the year," says Bracamonte.

Most commonly, he says, the term refers to the rhinovirus, which tends to be most prominent in the spring and summer months. He adds that other types of viruses, like the flu or RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) can also result in cold-like symptoms.

How are cold and allergy symptoms different?

In the case of both colds and allergies, many symptoms require the sufferer to keep plenty of tissue paper on hand due to congestion, nasal discharge and sneezing. Experts also say that both can cause fatigue.

Still, there are differences. Bracamonte notes that allergies tend to cause itchiness around the eyes and in the throat, while a cold may cause a sore throat, but usually not itchiness.

If you feel like you're "swallowing glass", Bracamonte says, "it's probably a cold".

Cold symptoms also usually resolve themselves after several days, says Ogden, while seasonal allergies "continue throughout the season".

A cold is also infectious, while allergies are not. A cold can be passed onto others through the air, or by droplets left behind on surfaces. "If you're actively sneezing and having those symptoms, typically you're contagious," says Bracamonte.

In most cases, he says, a cold can last anywhere from three to seven days, though symptoms may last longer or be more severe for those who are older or have weakened immune systems.

Related: How much coffee is OK for me to drink in a day? I asked the experts

What are the most effective treatments for seasonal allergies?

There are a variety of ways to treat seasonal allergies, says Ogden. She explains that saline nose rinses can cut down on mucus and rinse allergens from your nose. Eye drops can help with red eyes and itchiness. And over-the-counter corticosteroid nose sprays and antihistamines can help reduce many allergy symptoms. For the latter, she recommends looking for a "long-acting, non-drowsy" variety.

Decongestants can also be helpful, she says, though you should check with your doctor before using one if you have high blood pressure, glaucoma, thyroid disease or trouble urinating.

Ogden also suggests downloading a pollen app "so you can track pollen count and stay indoors on those high days". And if your symptoms don't improve with over-the-counter medicines, she recommends seeing a doctor.

What are the most effective treatments for a cold?

For most healthy individuals, Bracamonte says, the answer is pretty straightforward: "Time, rest, staying hydrated and staying home." It's also important to keep away from others, "so you don't get them sick".

Did you write this article because you had a runny nose for three days and you couldn't tell if it was allergies or a cold?

Yes, and FYI, it was a cold.

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