How To Detect Fertility Period With Cervical Mucus?

The cervix undergoes changes, throughout your menstrual cycle. The cervix produces cervical mucus – a fluid, which also changes throughout the menstrual cycle.

Cervical mucus is a good indicator of your ovulatory phase and fertile window (1).

What is the Function of Cervical Mucus?

The main function of the cervical mucus involves the sperm (2). 

• During the fertile part of your menstrual cycle, the main function of the cervical mucus is to help the sperm move smoothly through the cervix and reach the egg for fertilization.
• During the non-fertile part, the main function of the mucus is to prevent sperm and other substances from entering the cervix.
• If you get pregnant, this cervical mucus will form a mucus plug, which will seal the cervix and keep it that way until it’s time for delivery. It keeps the fetus safe inside by preventing various substances from entering the cervix.

How to Detect Fertility Period With Cervical Mucus – The Cervical Mucus Method?

The cervical mucus method of detecting fertility involves tracking the cervical mucus to identify your ovulation period (3).

Also known as the Billings Ovulation method (4), the cervical mucus method is a method women use to determine their fertile period and their safe period too.

The cervical mucus changes along with your menstrual cycle. Ovulation is the most fertile period for a woman to try conceiving.

Combining the cervical mucus method with other methods such as ovulation prediction kits can help yield the best results when monitoring your ovulation and fertile period.

[Read : Best Ovulation Period For Pregnancy]

What Are the Types of Cervical Mucus?

The cervical mucus looks and feels different on different days of your menstrual cycle. You can broadly classify your cervical mucus into 4 types (5)

1. Dry and sticky
2. Creamy
3. Wet and clear
4. Egg white or slippery – this is your fertile period.

How Does Cervical Mucus Look at Different Stages of Menstrual Cycle?

Your cervical mucus will constantly change along with your menstrual cycle (6). As the hormones change at different stages of the menstrual cycle, the mucus will too.

You can split it into 5 stages, as follows

Stage 1 – Menstruation

Despite the blood, your body will produce cervical mucus. However, it won’t be visible as the blood will cover it.

Stage 2 – After Menstruation

From around the 3rd or 4th day of your period, your vagina may start feeling dry. If you are not actively bleeding, you may experience dryness. This is because there may not be much mucus and whatever the body is producing will be thick and dry.

Stage 3 – Before Ovulation

After the dry days, your cervix will start secreting the mucus, getting ready for ovulation. During this time, the mucus will be sticky and white or yellow in color. You are not in your fertile period yet.

Stage 4 – During Ovulation

Around the 14th day of your menstrual cycle is your ovulation time. So from around day 10 or 11, your cervical mucus will become more slippery. For a day or two it can be transparent and then become white like raw egg white. During this time, the mucus is ready to help the sperm slip in and reach the egg. This is your fertile window.

Stage 5 – After Ovulation

After ovulation, the mucus will slowly return to its previous consistency of thick white. It will slowly get cloudy and dry. Your fertile period for the current menstrual cycle is over and chances of getting pregnant during this period are very low.

How to Check Cervical Mucus?

You can check your cervical mucus in different ways. The intention here is to see and feel the mucus to know the consistency. Here are a few ways to do it.

1. Use Tissues

Use a tissue and wipe off the vaginal discharge before you urinate or use the toilet. The cervical mucus will come away on the tissue and give you a chance to feel its texture and observe the color.

2. Check Underwear

Cervical mucus is sticky and can stick to your underwear. You can check the texture and color of the mucus left on your underwear.

3. Use Fingers

Wash your hands thoroughly and use your fingers to wipe away the cervical mucus. You can check the color and the texture of the mucus sticking to your fingers.

When is the Best Time to Check Cervical Mucus?

There is no best time to check your cervical mucus. Morning or night does not impact the mucus, only the hormonal changes during your menstrual cycle will impact it. So, you can check your cervical mucus at any time. If you want to use your cervical mucus to detect your fertility period, then you should check it every day.

How Can I Detect My Fertility Window With Cervical Mucus?

Check your cervical mucus using your fingers or a clean white tissue. If you notice the mucus to be a little thick, slippery, and slightly white like raw egg whites, then you are in your fertile period. Having unprotected sex during this time can increase your chances of getting pregnant.

What if I Still Do Not Get Pregnant?

The cervical mucus method can only help you understand your fertile window. Having unprotected sex, frequently, during this period can increase your chances of getting pregnant. It does not guarantee pregnancy.

If you and your partner are unsuccessful at conceiving even after trying for over a year, you should consult a fertility specialist (7). They can help you identify the issue and also provide a suitable solution for the same.

You can detect fertility period with cervical mucus. It gives an idea of when you are ovulating so you can plan accordingly. However, successful conception and pregnancy depend on more factors than just cervical mucus. If you are unable to conceive despite tracking your cervical mucus, you can always try other methods to identify the fertility period. Do not lose hope or jump to conclusions without consulting a fertility specialist.

[Read : BBT (Basal Body Temperature) Chart- Everything You Need To Know]

FAQ’s

1. How Does Cervical Mucus Help Detect Fertility?

The cervical mucus will change along with your menstrual cycle. It will become slippery and white in color just before and during your ovulation – which is your peak fertility period.

2. What Factors Cause Changes in Cervical Mucus?

The cervical mucus will change throughout the menstrual cycle. Stress, hormonal changes, health issues, birth control, and medications are some of the other factors that can cause changes in your cervical mucus.

3. How Can I Detect my Fertility With Cervical Mucus?

If your cervical mucus becomes wet and slippery like raw egg white, then it indicates you are in your fertile period.

4. How Does Cervical Mucus Indicate Fertility?

Cervical mucus will change along with your menstrual cycle to facilitate conception. When you are in your fertile window, the cervical mucus will become slippery, to help the sperm travel faster to the egg.

References

1. Cervical mucus patterns and the fertile window in women without known subfertility: A pooled analysis of three cohorts –[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8487651]
2. Human cervical mucus: research update – [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1755453/]
3. Cervical mucus monitoring prevalence and associated fecundability in women trying to conceive –  [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3787999/]
4. Efficacy of cervical mucus observations plus electronic hormonal fertility monitoring as a method of natural family planning – [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17371516/]
5. Morphological characterization of different human cervical mucus types using light and scanning electron microscopy – [https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/18/9/1782/708302?login=false]
6. Light Microscopy and Proteomic Patterns of Ovulation in Cervical Mucus – [https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/12/11/1815]
7. Diagnosis and Management of Infertility – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9302705/]

Read Also: Ways to Increase Cervical Mucus