You may be familiar with utilizing Biofreeze for pain treatment if you frequently experienced body aches and pains prior to becoming pregnant.
And if you weren’t aware of it, you might have learned about it now that you’re expecting and searching for phrases like “pain relief for muscles and joints.”
But the consequences of Biofreeze on pregnancy are not well understood, much like with many over-the-counter (OTC) goods.
Before utilizing it, you might want to think about the following.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
✅ To know whether Biofreeze is safe to use during pregnancy, more research is needed.
✅ Pregnant women have not been tested in order to evaluate the product.
✅ Before using Biofreeze or other painkillers, see your doctor.
✅ They might approve your usage of topical menthol products or offer substitutes.
✅ In either case, keep in touch with your provider.
✅ Not only are aches and pains common during pregnancy, but they are also typical.
✅ However, in order to ensure that your pregnancy goes as well as possible, it’s crucial that your doctor be aware of what’s happening during these nine months.
What is Biofreeze?
A substance called Biofreeze is sold as a painkiller for athletes (and for those of us taking part in more modest sports endeavors’) who experience localized muscle and joint stiffness or discomfort. Biofreeze asserts to provide prompt, efficient relief for any condition that might benefit from hot and cold therapy, including arthritic joints, the lower back, and sprained ankles.
It is a topical menthol treatment that has a cooling sensation when applied and is available in a number of forms, including:
- patch
- cream
- gel
- spray
- roll-on
On your skin, menthol produces a cooling feeling. An ice pack is beneficial for pain because your brain effectively prioritizes the chilly sensation over the pain sense. However, since menthol can be applied to the skin and left alone while you go about your daily activities, you might prefer it to traditional ice.
Pregnant women
Your joints may experience additional tension during pregnancy, particularly in the second and third trimesters. Your extra weight may cause your muscles, especially those in your legs, to feel sore.
Additionally, any trimester can experience physical aches due to the hormone progesterone’s ability to loosen up your muscles. More backaches may also result from your center of gravity shifting and your body producing more relaxin, a hormone that loosens joints.
All of this can make you consider menthol-based topicals like Biofreeze while you’re expecting.
Is Biofreeze safe to use when expecting?
We simply don’t know, which is the shortest response to this query. There is no specific study on the usage of topical menthol during pregnancy. However, a very old study from 1996 examined the effectiveness of massage during pregnancy using two different stretch mark lotions. Menthol was among the constituents in one of the creams.
Although there wasn’t necessarily a link between menthol and a decrease in stretch marks, using menthol topically had no documented negative effects. Researchers believed that the message may have contributed to the lower incidence of stretch marks in the groups that utilized the lotions.
Another, more recent 2016 study examined the effects of Lactobacillus reuteri-containing throat lozenges on pregnant gingivitis. Additionally, these throat lozenges had menthol. Once more, there were no side effects attributed to the menthol (or the lozenge itself). However, this study didn’t focus on menthol at all, and the menthol in question was absorbed orally rather than topically.
Before any firm conclusions can be drawn concerning the usage of Biofreeze during pregnancy, more research is required. According to the company’s disclaimer on its product page for the United Kingdom, Biofreeze has not been tested on pregnant or nursing women and you should consult your doctor before using it.
What pregnancy category falls under Biofreeze?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) previously rated the pregnancy safety of drugs using a classification scheme. Although the FDA has abandoned this system, many people still find it useful.
This lettered system (A through D and X) did not, however, cover all drugs, especially over-the-counter medicines. Menthol can also be found in a variety of cough drops, throat lozenges, and sprays, in addition to topical lotions and gels. However, neither of these items nor menthol itself has ever gotten a pregnancy category classification.
There simply aren’t enough data to evaluate the level of safety for menthol in pregnancy without human trials.
There are no animal reproduction studies either because Biofreeze does not test its products on animals. No pregnancy category exists that effectively represents a medicine for which there are no data.
Alternatives to painkillers
Keep in mind that your body absorbs even topical treatments and lotions. Other products aren’t safe, even though Biofreeze might be.
Methyl salicylate, an NSAID linked to aspirin that should be avoided during pregnancy unless your OB specifically advises you to take it, is an ingredient included in many muscle creams and patches.
Although there are risks, doctors frequently advise Tylenol for aches and discomfort associated with pregnancy. You might choose less-medicated alternatives like massage or heat-and-cold therapy.
Just be careful not to apply intense heat, such as that from a heating pad, directly to the area around your uterus. Additionally, look for massage therapists who are familiar with pregnancy.
Side sleeping position stretches, and light exercises can all help.