How to Use Cevical Mucus to Track Ovulation Good Luck Posted: 01-20-04 20:15pm
Cervical fluid is the mucus that is
secreted from the cervix. It is produced
by the hormone estrogen in the first phase
of a monthly cycle. Cervical fluid is an
essential element to conception due to its
ability to keep sperm alive for up to five
days (in fertile quality fluid), protects
it from the acidity in the vagina and
transports the sperm to the outer third
wall of the fallopian tube where
fertilization takes place.
What does cervical fluid look like?
Cervical fluid will range in abundance,
consistency, color and fertile quality due
to the increasing level of estrogen within
the first phase of your cycle. Typically
the changes in fluid will fall into the
following pattern.
Dry or light moisture - infertile
after menstruation for a period of 3 - 5
days you may experience no fluid at all or
a small amount of moisture. Color of any
existing fluid is clear or slightly white
but will dry immediately on your
fingertips. Overall sensation is not wet
at this time.
Sticky or gummy - infertile
cervical fluid then changes to feeling
sticky for a period of 2 - 3 days. When
rubbed between your fingertips it may give
a small amount of resistance, feels
slightly gummy or may even crumble. The
color will range from clear to white and
although you may feel a small amount of
moisture the fluid is still dry and does
not feel wet at this time.
Creamy, milky, lotion like - fertile
cervical fluid now becomes much more
abundant and will feel wet from 2 - 4
days. It can appear either thick and
creamy or like hand lotion and will form
peaks in your fingertips when pulled apart
or can be thinner and look milky. Color
of the fluid is white or yellow and the
overall vaginal sensation is wet.
Eggwhite cervical fluid - very fertile
cervical fluid now reaches its most
fertile stage for 1 - 5 days. The fluid
will look and have the consistency of
eggwhites. It is slippery to the touch
and if pulled between the fingertips will
stretch 1 - 10 inches! The color can be
clear or iridescent and the overall
sensation is extremely wet.
Dry, moist or sticky - infertile
cervical fluid will now change drastically
due to the drop in estrogen and the surge
of progesterone following ovulation. It
can be dry, watery, moist or sticky and
will remain in that stage until the end of
your monthly cycle - which is the day
before your menstrual period begins. Any
fluid at all will dry up quickly upon your
fingertips, can range from no color to
white and your overall vaginal sensation
will be dry at this time.
