All You Need to Know About Cervical Mucus
Cervical mucus is a fluid that is produced in the woman’s body by the cervix. It can be a barrier or a facilitator to sperm, it all depends on the phase of the menstrual cycle.
Understanding cervical mucus can turn out to be a crucial step in increasing awareness about fertility.
With the help of this blog, you will get in-depth knowledge about the stages & how to track them, and their importance in fertility.
What is Cervical Mucus
It is a fluid, composed of water, proteins, electrolytes and enzymes produced by the glands in and around the cervix. When it comes to the women’s reproductive system, cervical mucus plays an important role.
The changes in the mucus vary depending upon the hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle!
Tracking and charting mucus can be beneficial for couples, whether they are planning or avoiding pregnancy.
At times abnormal cervical mucus can become a cause of infertility. Such a case is common in women having a cervical infection or scar tissue in the cervix. Such women can be treated at the best IVF clinics.
Functions of cervical mucus:
1. Protecting sperm:
It provides nourishing surroundings to the sperm and protects it from the acidic environment of the vagina. Which allows them to stay up to 5 days within the female reproductive system.
2. Acts as a barrier:
Cervical mucus acts as a barrier by blocking the entry of sperm which helps to prevent unwanted pregnancies. It becomes thicker outside and acts as a barrier to the sperm making it difficult to pass by.
3. An indication of fertility!
Women can get important clues about fertility by noticing the changes in cervical mucus consistency and quantity. It can also help in infertility testing.
4. Allowing sperm movement.
During the fertile window, the clear, slippery mucus provides an optimal environment for sperm movement allowing the sperm to enter through the cervix into the uterus easily.
5. Protects from infection
The thick mucus also reduces the risk of infections and serves as a barrier against pathogens.
Stages of cervical mucus.
There are several stages of cervical mucus characterised by hormonal fluctuations. There are different stages according to the phases of the menstrual cycle and it provides clues from time to time about the fertility of women.
The stages are as follows:
1. Menstruation phase (Days1-5)
Due to the presence of menstrual blood, it becomes impossible to notice the cervical mucus during menstruation. It becomes difficult to distinguish due to the presence of menstrual blood.
2. Post – menstruation phase(Days 6-9)
At this stage, after menstruation, where oestrogen level is relatively low the mucus may feel dry or slightly sticky. There might be little or no mucus present. Such mucus is generally considered infertile.
3. Pre – ovulation phase (Days 10-12)
During this stage, the cervical mucus becomes creamy, abundant in texture and feels smooth and cloudy in appearance. It is because of the increase in the level of oestrogen. It is still not the fertile stage, but it indicates the approach of ovulation.
4. Ovulation phase (Days 13-16)
During this stage, the mucus reaches the most fertile point and it becomes clear, stretchy and resembles raw egg whites. This facilitates the movement and survival of sperm and is marked as the most fertile day.
5. Post ovulation phase (Days 17-28)
At this stage, the level of progesterone level rises after the ovulation phase making the cervical mucus thick and sticky again. This stage indicates the end of the fertile window.
3 Ways to Track Cervical Mucus
Women need to keep track of the cervical mucus regularly and understand the menstrual cycle to identify the fertile window. With the help of tracking, you can gain insights into your fertility which can help in achieving or preventing pregnancy for couples.
Tracking the cervical mucus also helps to know whether there is any infection or there is any need for infertility treatment. If found any issues, you can visit your nearest IVF clinics and get them solved with the best IVF doctors.
Following are the Ways of Tracking:
Keeping a check daily.
It is important to check daily and even better to check it at the same time of each day. Use a clean finger to collect the mucus and observe mucus before urination or bowel movement to avoid any contamination.
Keep a detailed record of the texture of the mucus you observed while collecting the sample with your fingers or with the help of toilet paper.
Creating a cervical mucus chart.
Creating a cervical chart can be valuable for visualising the changes in the mucus and it can also help in predicting ovulation.
You can create the columns in the chart for each day and can add the type of texture based upon factors such as “sticky”, “creamy” etc.
Identify pattern
Identifying your pattern is crucial when it comes to planning your pregnancy. After a few cycles, you will understand your pattern and the time of max or min fertility.
It is important to keep a regular check on as it will not only help in planning your pregnancy but it will also help in detecting the infection in the woman’s body, if any.
What can affect Cervical Mucus?
This is subjected to various hormonal changes and can be affected by various underlying issues:
1. Medications
There are certain medications that may affect the cervical mucus, regardless of what they are for!
2. Birth control:
Some hormonal birth control pills prevent sperm from entering by thickening the cervical mucus. This can affect the consistency of the mucus.
3. Infections:
If there is any infection in your cervix, it can also affect your mucus in terms of change in colour, odour, visibility etc.
4. Dehydration:
Your fluids will be flowy in texture if you will keep yourself hydrated.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
1. What is your cervical mucus telling you?
Right before or during the ovulation, you usually have the most mucus. It is clear and it feels slippery, these slippery days are your fertile days, when you are most likely to get pregnant.
2. What is poor cervical mucus?
If there is no or less cervical mucus, then the sperm will not be able to swim to the uterus.
3. What does unhealthy cervical mucus look like?
If you suddenly have an abnormal discharge of bright yellow or green colour then it may be a concern of unhealthy mucus.
4. When does pregnancy discharge start?
Almost immediately after conception, your vagina walls start to thicken, which can cause a white, milky discharge that may continue throughout your pregnancy.
5. What can I drink to clear my discharge?
Drink Guava tea, garlic tea, and tea tree oil.
Why choose us?
Choosing Imprimis IVF in tracking your cervical mucus will ensure you receive insightful, accurate and tailored guidance in your reproductive health journey. We ensure detailed daily observations and comprehensive reports with the support of our advanced approach towards the matter. Imprimis IVF also guide you in your journey of understanding your menstrual cycle dynamics, identifying fertile windows and planning accordingly. We ensure to be your trusted partner in this journey!
