Cervical mucus is a fluid that comes from the cervix. It is one of the main components of vaginal discharge, it is typically clear or white, and it may have a faint odor. In early pregnancy, there may be noticeably more of this mucus than usual.
It may also have a runny, watery consistency. If a person experiences implantation bleeding, the cervical fluid may have a pink tinge. Implantation bleeding occurs 8—10 days after ovulation, when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the womb.
However, not everyone experiences implantation bleeding, and some people who are pregnant do not have noticeably different cervical fluid. Also, it is normal for cervical fluid to change in quantity and consistency over the course of a menstrual cycle. The changes vary from person to person, but generally, they are as follows:.
Finally, it is important to note that other factors can change the consistency of cervical mucus. We describe these later in this article. Hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and human chorionic gonadotropin, sometimes called HCG, are responsible for the early symptoms of pregnancy.
It takes several weeks after implantation for these hormones to build up in the body. As a result, a pregnant person may not see any changes in their cervical fluid or have any other signs of pregnancy until several weeks after conception.
If a person notices a change in their cervical fluid immediately after ovulation, the cause may be something other than pregnancy.
And if there is no change, this does not necessarily mean that the person is not pregnant. The simplest way to check for pregnancy is to use a home testing kit after the next missed period. A person may instead be able to check any cervical mucus on their underwear or wiped on a tissue.
Abundant, elastic cervical mucus can be an indication of when a person is most fertile. Implantation is the attachment of a fertilized egg to your uterus.
After implantation, mucus tends to be thick, gummy, and clear in color. Some women experience implantation bleeding , or spotting. This can occur 6 to 12 days following conception. Unlike your normal period, implantation bleeding should stop after 24 to 48 hours. You may notice these changes prior to a positive pregnancy test. During the first weeks of a pregnancy, cervical mucus may change in color and consistency. You may notice stickier, white, or yellow mucus, known as leucorrhea.
As your pregnancy progresses, your vaginal discharge may continue to change. There are a few ways to check changes to cervical mucus.
Be sure to wash your hands before and after performing any of the following methods. Track your mucus daily by inserting a clean finger or two into your vagina, near the cervix. Remove your finger and note the color and texture of the mucus on your fingers. Wipe the opening of your vagina with white toilet tissue.
Do this before you pee or use the restroom. Note the color and consistency of the mucus or discharge on the tissue. Look for changes in discharge on your underwear daily. Or, use a panty liner to track changes. The cervical mucus method is a method of natural family planning. You may also want to chart your basal body temperature, so you know which if any of the fertile cervical fluids indicated ovulation.
Some medication may interfere with your cervical fluids. Antihistamines dry up more than your sinuses — they also dry up your cervical fluids. Ironically, Clomid can prevent you from having fertile quality cervical mucus. In this case, you might not find as much fertile cervical mucus before ovulation. So, you might want to try using an ovulation predictor kit to detect ovulation instead. If you never get fertile quality cervical mucus, tell your doctor. Lacking fertile quality cervical mucus can be a sign of a hormonal imbalance or fertility problem.
Cervical mucus that doesn't ever become fertile is sometimes referred to as hostile cervical mucus. You may see fertile cervical mucus again right before your period. Some women notice that their cervical mucus becomes wet or almost egg white-like again right before menstruation.
Obviously, this isn't a sign of impending ovulation. Women sometimes wonder if getting a lot of cervical mucus just before their period is a possible early pregnancy sign. The fact of the matter is, it's almost impossible to tell the difference between "early pregnancy" cervical mucus and regular "just before your period comes" cervical mucus.
You may confuse semen with cervical mucus. A day or two after sexual intercourse, you may confuse semen with wet cervical mucus. With experience, you can learn how to differentiate the two, but for the purposes of getting pregnant, assume that you may be approaching ovulation and mark your calendar or chart accordingly. Do not attempt to wash away your natural vaginal fluids!
Cervical mucus is normal and healthy. Some women wash away "ovulation secretions" thinking they are unhygienic or unhealthy, but douching can decrease your fertility. Make sure you're drinking enough water. Your body will reserve the water it has for the most vital body functions.
Cautiously consider supplements. Some say that vitamin E supplements can improve cervical mucus quality. It's also been said that grapefruit juice and green tea may improve cervical mucus quality, but there are currently no clinical studies backing up either of these claims.
It will take some trial and error to find a method that works best for you. Beginning of your cycle: menstruation. On day one of the cycle, the first day of your period, levels of both estrogen and progesterone are low. Since estrogen levels determine cervical fluid production, the cervix is not producing much fluid at all at this time 4.
Just after your period: absent, dry. In the days just after your period, estrogen is rising estrogen is produced by the follicle growing in your ovary as it prepares to release an egg at ovulation.
Leading up to ovulation: sticky, white, creamy, lotion-y. As estrogen levels rise, the cervix produces more fluid. At first, it might be thick and sticky or tacky, and become more wet and creamy, like a lotion. In a day menstrual cycle, you may first notice this fluid around day 9 or 10 1,4.
Around ovulation: eggy, wet, slippery, clear, stretchy. As ovulation approaches, much more cervical fluid is produced. Your vagina will likely start to feel much wetter, and fluid becomes more slippery as its water content rises.
Over a couple of days, fluid becomes stretchier and clearer. As estrogen peaks, 1—2 days before ovulation, cervical fluid often resembles a raw eggwhite that you can stretch for inches between your thumb and finger 4,5. The amount of vaginal discharge at this time is different for everyone, but it can be up to 10—20 times more than other points in the cycle 6.
According to Google, people tend to call this type of cervical fluid "ovulation discharge". Ovulation tests and basal body temperature tracking is more reliable for confirming ovulation.
Luteal phase: sticky, dry. As soon as ovulation is over, vaginal discharge changes once again. Even before you notice a visual change, cervical fluid will already have become more fibrous and difficult for sperm to pass through 1.
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