If you’ve been trying to conceive for any amount of time and are interested in understanding natural fertility signs, chances are pretty good you’ve heard at least a little bit about cervical mucus. Cervucal mucus is a secretion of the cervix that, during ovulation, can help with conception. The right kind of cervical mucus will help to protect sperm and carry it on its journey to the egg. Some medications, however, may interfere with cervical mucus.

Clomid

The fertility medication Clomid has been tremendously effective at helping couples who are trying to conceive. However, depending on the reason you’re having trouble trying to conceive, Clomid may actually work against you. In some cases, Clomid can change the consistency of your cervical mucus, and can make your cervical mucus hostile. Hostile cervical mucus, instead of helping the sperm along its journey, actually hinders it.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines, such as Benadryl, are another medication that can affect your cervical mucus. It is thought that these medications will decrease the amount of cervical mucus you’re producing, or that it will cause your cervical mucus to thicken.

Guaifenesin (Robitussin)

The cough medicine Robitussin can affect your cervical mucus, but perhaps in a positive way. This over-the-counter medication may actually help your cervical mucus. The active ingredient in Robitussin, guaifenesin, works to prevent the production of hostile cervical mucus and helps to promote the production of egg-white cervical mucus.  You should take no more than the recommended dosage of this medication, and you should try to get the version of Robitussin that contains only guaifenesin as its active ingredient. There are many OTC products that contain only guaifenesin. Mucinex is a brand name of this ingredient but most drug stores also have private label versions of it.

Ultimately, if you’re concerned that a medication you’re taking is negatively impacting your cervical mucus, you should talk with your doctor. She may be able to help identify other possible factors that are changing things around.