Infertility- What cervical mucus looks like: photos

What is cervical mucus?

Cervical mucus is fluid or gel-like discharge from the cervix. Throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle, the thickness and amount of cervical mucus changes. This is because of hormone levels fluctuating throughout your cycle. Hormones stimulate glands in the cervix to produce mucus.

Cervical mucus can help you predict ovulation, so you can track the mucus to help achieve or avoid pregnancy. This is known as fertility awareness, or cervical monitoring. You should use a backup method of birth control if you’re trying to avoid pregnancy.

Read on to learn about cervical mucus and how it changes throughout your menstrual cycle.

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Changes to cervical mucus

The amount, color, and consistency of cervical mucus each cycle is different for everyone. General changes to expect might include the following:

During your menstrual period. Blood will cover the mucus, so you likely won’t notice it during these days.
After period. Immediately following your period, you may have dry days. On these days, you might not notice any discharge.
Before ovulation. Your body produces mucus before an egg is released, or before ovulation occurs. It may be yellow, white, or cloudy. The mucus may feel gluey or stretchy in consistency.

Immediately before ovulation. Just prior to ovulation, your estrogen levels are rising. You may see more clear, stretchy, watery, and slippery mucus. This mucus may remind you of the consistency of egg whites.
During ovulation. The clear, stretchy mucus that’s the consistency of egg whites will be present during ovulation. The texture and pH of this mucus are protective for sperm. For this reason, if you’re trying to conceive, have sex on ovulating days.
After ovulation. There’ll be less discharge after ovulation. It may turn thicker, cloudy, or gluey again. Some women experience dry days during this time.

Cervical mucus after conception

After conception, changes to cervical mucus may be a very early sign of pregnancy. 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.

Cervical mucus in early pregnancy

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.

Does birth control (pills or IUD) affect cervical mucus?

Birth control pills thicken cervical mucus so sperm can’t reach the egg. If you’re on birth control pills, your cervical mucus may have a different consistency than when you’re not on birth control pills.

Checking cervical mucus

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.

Manually

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.

Toilet paper

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.

Check underwear or a panty liner

Look for changes in discharge on your underwear daily. Or, use a panty liner to track changes. Depending on the color of your underwear and the amount of time that’s passed, this method may be less reliable than other methods.

How does the cervix change in early pregnancy?

In early pregnancy, changes take place in the position and texture of the cervix and the consistency and color of cervical discharge. Tracking changes in the cervix can help a woman detect whether she is pregnant.

The cervix is a circular band of muscle that separates the uterus from the vagina. The cervix changes at different points in the menstrual cycle and throughout the stages of pregnancy.

In this article, we look at how the cervix and cervical discharge change in the early stages of pregnancy. We also discuss how women can check their cervix for changes.

How does the cervix change?

The cervix undergoes various changes throughout the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy, which we discuss in the following sections.

Position

During the early stages of pregnancy, the cervix undergoes many changes.

When a woman is not pregnant, the position of her cervix changes throughout the stages of the menstrual cycle:

During ovulation, the cervix is higher in the vagina.
After ovulation and before menstruation, if the woman has not become pregnant, the cervix drops lower in the vagina.

If a woman has conceived, the cervix will remain higher in the vagina, with its position being similar to that during ovulation.

Not sure what cervical mucus (CM) looks like as you go through your menstrual cycle? These photos will give you an idea of what to check for as you track your most fertile days.

You can check your CM by looking at the toilet paper after you wipe or inserting a clean finger into your vagina and reaching toward your cervix. You’re likely to find more CM if you check after a bowel movement.

Everybody is different, and you may not see these variations in your own CM. The main thing to look for is some kind of change mid-cycle. Find out about other ways to tell when you’re ovulating.

Cervical discharge

The consistency and color of cervical discharge change in different stages of the menstrual cycle. Some women use the consistency of their discharge, or cervical fluid, to track the stages of their menstrual cycle. This technique is one component of natural family planning.

Understanding the typical cervical mucus changes throughout the menstrual cycle can help women identify early pregnancy:

Immediately after a period, women may notice reduced discharge or mild vaginal dryness.
A few days after this but well before ovulation, discharge becomes sticky and may appear white or yellow.
In the fertile window in the days before ovulation, discharge will increase and become creamy and opaque.
At ovulation and a day or so before, the cervical mucus will be stretchy and resemble egg white.
After ovulation, cervical mucus will begin to dry up and thicken if the woman is not pregnant.

A woman who has conceived during her cycle may notice cervical mucus increasing instead of drying up after ovulation.

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, light bleeding or spotting may occur around the time of implantation, which is generally 1–2 weeks after conception.

Woman wearing a bath robe

Using cervical mucus to help predict peak fertility

Over the course of your menstrual cycle, the amount, colour, and texture of your cervical mucus (CM) will change, due to fluctuating hormone levels. The consistency of your CM can help you work out when you are at your most fertile.

Cervical mucus

Egg white cervical mucus: fertile

After your period you may notice an increase in CM which becomes wetter and more slippery after a few days. Egg white CM is the most fertile of all CM types. This stretchy mucus allows sperm to swim easily into the cervix. It looks and feels like raw egg whites and it can stretch about 5cm without breaking in the middle.

Cervical mucus

Watery cervical mucus: fertile

CM becomes wetter and more watery close to ovulation. This CM allows sperm to move rapidly into the cervix. When you have watery CM, you may feel as though you’ve leaked wee in your underwear. Watery CM is clear and drips or runs off your fingers.

Cervical mucus

Creamy cervical mucus: non-fertile

After ovulation CM is no longer wet or slippery. This creamy CM is considered non-fertile because it greatly restricts the movement of sperm. Creamy CM can be a pearly white or creamy yellow. It’s thick and feels like lotion when rubbed between your fingers.

Cervical mucus

Sticky cervical mucus: non-fertile

In the run up to your period CM becomes sticky or tacky. This is the least fertile CM. It’s thick and chunky and feels like gluey paste. It’s hard for sperm to swim through it.

Smiling woman

Understanding your menstrual cycle

You could try noting the changes in your CM for a few months in a row. You may see a pattern which helps you work out when you will be at your most fertile during your menstrual cycle.

Other early signs of pregnancy

Cervical changes are among the many changes that the body undergoes during early pregnancy. Other symptoms of early pregnancy include:

breast tenderness
nausea
food aversions
food cravings
headaches
constipation
slight cramping
mood swings
fatigue
frequent urination
bloating
nasal congestion

These symptoms are not unique to a pregnancy and may be reasonably mild initially. The same symptoms can also appear just before a menstrual period. It is not possible to tell whether a woman is pregnant without her taking a pregnancy test.

When to see a doctor

Women who think that they might be pregnant should make an appointment with a doctor. They should also talk to a doctor if they miss their period for several months and are not pregnant or if they experience vaginal bleeding during pregnancy.

During early pregnancy, it is best to talk to a doctor if cervical discharge is:

foul smelling
green
bloody due to a cause other than menstruation

Additionally, a person should let their doctor know if they are experiencing vaginal itching or pain. These symptoms can indicate other infections that may affect the cervix.

Summary

Women can expect their cervix to change throughout pregnancy. During early pregnancy, the cervix will change slightly in position and in how it feels to the touch. Cervical discharge will also change in consistency and color.

During pregnancy, a woman should see her doctor if she has any doubts, questions, or concerns.

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