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Is it safe? · Pregnancy Smart

Is Biofreeze safe during pregnancy?

Assigned clinical reviewerMatt Stahl· PharmDDraft · pending clinical reviewUpdated

What does the evidence say about Biofreeze during pregnancy?

  1. ACOG names acetaminophen as the best pain reliever for headaches and other causes of pain in pregnancy, and advises talking with an ob-gyn before taking any over-the-counter medicine for pain. 1
  2. Because many over-the-counter products contain NSAIDs without announcing it, FDA advises reading the Drug Facts label, and it recommends avoiding NSAIDs at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later. 2
  3. Medicine applied to the skin reaches lower levels in the blood than the same medicine swallowed or injected, which is why topical products are looked at separately from pills. 3
  4. Lidocaine, the other common ingredient in over-the-counter pain creams and patches, does have human pregnancy data: a study of 293 women exposed in the first four months found no higher chance of birth defects. 4
  5. The clearest FDA warning about over-the-counter topical pain products concerns lidocaine applied over large areas, on irritated or broken skin, for prolonged periods, or under a covering, which can raise absorption enough to cause serious injury. 5

Is Biofreeze safe in each trimester?

  • First trimester. Aches this early are usually postural and hormonal rather than muscular. Because menthol lacks pregnancy studies, most clinicians view occasional use on a small area differently than daily use over a wide one. Mention it at your first prenatal visit alongside anything else you keep in the cabinet.
  • Second trimester. This is when the low back and hips start complaining and when people tend to reach for a cooling gel most often. It is also a good moment to ask about prenatal physical therapy, which addresses the mechanics rather than the sensation. Skin can be more reactive now, so patch test a small area.
  • Third trimester. Late pregnancy back and pelvic pain is stubborn, and the pull toward using more product is real. Do not put a heating pad over any topical, and keep the area uncovered rather than wrapped. If pain is severe, sudden, or comes with tightening, that is a call to your provider, not a gel question.

Frequently asked questions

Can you use Biofreeze while pregnant?

The label itself tells you to ask a health professional first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, which is the honest position given how little menthol has been studied in pregnancy. Many clinicians are comfortable with occasional small-area use. Ask yours before it becomes a daily habit.

Is menthol safe during pregnancy?

Menthol applied to skin has not been studied in pregnancy the way oral pain medicines have, so no one can give you a confident yes or no. Absence of a known problem is not the same as evidence of safety, and that distinction is why this page defers to your provider.

Can I use Biofreeze on my lower back in the third trimester?

Lower back pain late in pregnancy is the single most common reason people ask. Keep it to a limited area, leave the skin uncovered, and skip heating pads over it. Then raise it with your ob-gyn, who may point you toward physical therapy instead.

Does anything in a topical gel reach the baby?

Skin application generally means far lower blood levels than a pill, but not zero. How much crosses depends on the area covered, how long it stays on, whether the skin is broken, and whether it is wrapped. Those details are what your clinician will ask about.

Related in the library

References

  1. Is It Safe to Take Ibuprofen or Naproxen During Pregnancy?

    ACOG · https://www.acog.org/womens-health/experts-and-stories/ask-acog/is-it-safe-to-take-ibuprofen-or-naproxen-during-pregnancy

  2. FDA Recommends Avoiding Use of NSAIDs in Pregnancy at 20 Weeks or Later Because They Can Result in Low Amniotic Fluid

    FDA · https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-recommends-avoiding-use-nsaids-pregnancy-20-weeks-or-later-because-they-can-result-low-amniotic

  3. Diclofenac: MotherToBaby Fact Sheet

    MotherToBaby · https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/diclofenac/

  4. Lidocaine: MotherToBaby Fact Sheet

    MotherToBaby · https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/lidocaine/

  5. FDA Warns Consumers to Avoid Certain Topical Pain Relief Products Due to Potential for Dangerous Health Effects

    FDA · https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-warns-consumers-avoid-certain-topical-pain-relief-products-due-potential-dangerous-health

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.