Your cervical mucus is important for maintaining good reproductive health. It not only cleans and protects your intimate area, but is also an effective way to determine whether you're fertile. If you observe your vaginal discharge regularly, you may be able to tell if you're more, or less likely, to become pregnant.
What is cervical Mucus?
Cervical mucus is the fluid or gel-like discharge released from your cervix during your monthly cycles or in the early stages of pregnancy. Sometimes, it is also referred to as vaginal discharge.
It may vary in color, consistency, and volume during your monthly cycle and pregnancy. Although these changes are usually mild, it is possible to identify them and use them as an indicator of pregnancy or fertility.
How important is cervical Mucus
- Protection
- Lubrication
- Sperm transport
- Fertility indication
- Ovulation tracking
Menstrual cycle
The average menstrual cycle lasts from 28 to 35 days. The menstrual cycle is broken into phases - Follicular Phase and Luteal Phase.
After ovulation, the follicle that held the egg turns into something called a corpus luteum. It makes the hormones progesterone and estrogen to support pregnancy. If pregnancy does not happen, the corpus luteum breaks down between 9 and 11 days after ovulation. The uterine lining will shed, bringing us back to the start of the next follicular phase.
Job of Cervical Mucus
Throughout your menstrual cycle, your cervical mucus changes in quantity and texture due to hormones. These changes are far from being random. They actually help protect and regulate your reproductive system.
In fact, fertilization only occurs when sperm manages to travel through the cervix, and past the uterus to reach the mature egg. During infertile days, the job of cervical mucus is to avert foreign bodies from reaching the cervix. Its texture becomes rich in white blood cells to destroy foreign bodies and seal the cervical canal. But when you ’re ovulating, its texture changes and so does its job at this time, the mucus becomes responsible for carrying the sperms through the cervix and extending their life for around five days in your body.
Observing Cervical Mucus
Observing the changes in your cervical mucus is a helpful tool while trying to conceive. There are different ways to check the consistency and color of your discharge. You can either wipe your vagina with a toilet paper or insert your index and third finger into your vaginal opening to collect the secretions.
Once collected, examine the color of the mucus. Then, press it and stretch it between your thumb and your index. This allows you to determine its consistency and texture. To understand better, We will see the the relationship between your cervical mucus and fertility.
There are three main types of vaginal discharge that mark four different stages of a woman’s cycle:
Infertile Mucus( Pre and post ovulation discharge)
This usually happens right before or right after a period . In most women, the infertile cervical mucus is often thick, and dry. As a result, sperms cannot pass through the mucus to reach the cervix for conception to occur.
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| Dry cervical mucus |
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| Post ovulation cervical mucus |
Fertile Mucus
Eventually, the infertile mucus thins out and increases in volume. At this point, sperms may pass through but it is unlikely that pregnancy would occur in the presence of potentially fertile mucus secretion.
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| Cloudy or thick cervical mucus |
Highly fertile mucus
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| Egg white cervical mucus |
Abnormal cervical mucus
If you observe any of these features in your cervical mucus, it is a sign that something is not right:
- Foul Smell
- Green/Yellow/Gray Color
- Itching
- Irritation
If you notice any of these signs, it’s really important to consult your doctor for proper examination and treatment.