Everything you want to know about cervical mucus and fertility (but don't dare to ask)
When we talk about female fertility, there are many things to take into account: diet, physical exercise, weight... But, does cervical mucus have anything to do with the chances of conceiving?
What is fertile cervical mucus?
This bodily fluid, as interesting, intelligent and as useful as many others in the body, is a subject that is too little discussed.
Maybe because of social taboo? Because of an excess of sexualization of female physiology? Perhaps because of cultural heritage?
Be that as it may, even today, platforms like Instagram block posts that show the different types of cervical mucus that women who have doubts, who ask, who want to know more...
It appears that these photos violate the platform's policy on "nudity and pornography."
In medical universities, special attention is not paid to the study of the changes in this cervical mucus, so, in the long run, we end up lacking essential knowledge about how a woman's body works.
The woman's body offers signals about its functioning. It is interesting to put aside everything that is not knowledge of physiological processes to help us understand what happens at each moment of a woman's life cycle.
And, especially, if you are looking for a pregnancy, cervical mucus offers a lot of information to the woman to be able to act with knowledge about her fertile capacity and the days you are most likely to conceive.
Differences between cervical mucus and vaginal fluid
Cervical mucus is a fluid secreted by the cervix in response to a number of sex hormones. It is in charge of facilitating the path for sperm to reach the upper reproductive tract so that they can meet an egg and fertilize it.
Their appearance (color, texture) and the sensations of moisture or lubrication they produce in women depend on the levels of estrogen and progesterone during the cycle. As hormone levels change throughout the cycle, so does cervical mucus.
Monitoring this cervical mucus can be of great help to know at what stage of the cycle we are. Regarding fertility, it is very useful to identify the fertile days of the woman.
Vaginal fluid, meanwhile, is made up of cervical mucus and oils from the vaginal glands. Then, Although cervical mucus is a component of vaginal discharge, vaginal discharge does not always contain cervical mucus..
In addition, the woman's vagina can secrete other types of fluids at certain times of sexual stimulation, they are called arousal fluids. They are clear, wet and slippery and their main mission is to prepare the vaginal tract for possible penetration.
A key difference between arousal fluids and cervical mucus is that arousal fluids dry up and are gone within an hour.
Cervical mucus, ovulation and fertility
Cervical mucus changes in quantity, color and consistency depending on the moment of the menstrual cycle in which the woman is. Tracking and learning to understand these changes can help a woman identify when she ovulates, and thus her fertile window.
The most fertile days for a woman are the five days before ovulation and the 24 hours after ovulation.
A 2004 study identified that cervical mucus-based methods of tracking fertility, such as the basal body temperature method or urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) monitoring, can fairly accurately predict the chance of conception.
The study showed that the probability of conception was higher on days when the most fertile type of cervical mucus was present.
How to identify cervical mucus from each stage of the menstrual cycle
We have seen that the different levels of hormones are the determining factors of the characteristics of the cervical mucus.
Cervical mucus in the first phase of the cycle
Estrogens abound in the first phase of the cycle. Increased estrogen levels stimulate the production of cervical secretions to facilitate the passage of sperm.
cervical mucus after ovulation
After ovulation, in the second part of the cycle, progesterone is the most relevant hormone. In order to prevent the migration of sperm and the entry of potential pathogens, this hormone will cause the mucus to change its texture and color, making the area somewhat less “practicable”.
How to test cervical mucus
In order to analyze the cervical mucus, it will be necessary to check the remains of mucus, either by observing the underwear or the toilet paper, before urinating, or by using the fingers (index and middle) to collect some sample from the vagina.
It is important to pay attention to the color and texture of the liquid that remains between the fingertips.
extra trick: if when placing the fingers with the cervical mucus in a glass of water, the mucus sticks to the fingers or, in case of a large amount, falls to the bottom of the glass, it would be cervical mucus. In case it was vaginal fluid, it would tend to get rid little by little with the water.
Types of cervical mucus during the menstrual cycle
These would be the different types of cervical mucus throughout the menstrual cycle:
Cervical mucus with the rule: not seen correctly
Lowering the ruler starts a new cycle. As the days go by, the estrogen level increases but, at the beginning of the period, the bleeding will not allow the changes in the cervical mucus to be analyzed correctly.
Cervical mucus just after the rule: dryness
Estrogens are still on the rise but you probably won't be feeling too much mucus just yet.
The sensation of dryness after the removal of the rule is normal. We will have to wait a few more days to notice the effects of estrogen more clearly.
Cervical mucus just before ovulation: sticky, white, creamy
Just before ovulation, a few days before the middle of the cycle, estrogen levels increase, so the cervical mucus is already better visible.
It will become cloudier or stickier. At first, it can be thick and sticky, then turn into something wetter and creamier, like a lotion.
It may appear whitish or even yellowish (especially if it is dry on underwear). In a 28-day menstrual cycle, you may first notice this fluid around day 9 or 10.
Cervical mucus on the day of ovulation: clear, stretchy, slippery (like egg white)
The surge of estrogen and LH or luteinizing hormone generates the most fertile mucus, also called peak mucus.
The amount of fluid secreted is different for each woman but the texture will always be slippery, clear and elastic, similar to the white of a raw egg.
Ovulation is a short period. The average life of an egg is between 12 and 24 hours, so to increase the fertility window, the lifespan of the sperm is played with, which can be between 3 and 6 days.
Sperm that enter the vagina before ovulation can be suspended in this fluid, allowing them to survive longer in the otherwise acidic vaginal environment. Do not miss more information about the fertile days in this post that we published previously.
Cervical mucus after ovulation (luteal phase): sticky, dry.
After ovulation, due to the drop in estrogen, the mucus is likely to disappear. High levels of progesterone, the dominant hormone in this phase, act to inhibit fluid secretion from the epithelial cells of the cervix. The fluid may become sticky or slimy, or just dry and absent.
Keeping track of cervical mucus well can be challenging. At first you will think that you do not see any difference but as you take practice, things improve.
Studies conducted by the World Health Organization indicate that 93% of women can successfully identify and distinguish fertile and infertile cervical mucus by tracing it themselves.
In the next post you will discover methods to monitor cervical mucus and be able to use it to improve your fertility.
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