Is it true that taking Robitussin will in any way increase your chances of getting pregnant? I was told that it thins cervical mucus, which helps in achieving conception.

-- Amy

No. Taking Robitussin is a waste of time and energy. I have not seen any evidence that it effectively thins mucus, or that thinning the mucus results in pregnancy. Thick mucus is often due to infection, a previous surgery on the cervix, or low estrogen or high progesterone levels at the wrong time of your cycle.

In fact, we no longer perform a postcoital test (a test to look for sperm in the cervical mucus after intercourse) because it is not an accurate predictor of whether you will conceive. Neither does it point to specific treatment that will likely result in pregnancy. That is, if the cervical mucus is abnormal, you need ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination. If the mucus is normal, you have unexplained infertility and will need ovulation induction and insemination. So, since the treatment is the same in both situations, you can avoid the unecessary stress and expense of the test.

This is a bit frustrating. Most women want to learn what they can do to help: "Which positions will improve the chances of achieving pregnancy?" "What foods can I eat to help me conceive?" "Can I use Robitussin? herbs?" There is just no scientific evidence that any of these will do much to help you conceive. In fact, if you waste time on unproven manipulations in order to conceive, you may end up delaying helpful treatment until it's too late. I feel sorry for many of my patients who wait until their late 30s to see an infertility specialist and gather the necessary information to make informed decisions about treatment options that do work.