What is cervical mucus?

Cervical mucus is produced by the cervix and changes consistency throughout your menstrual cycle based on hormones associated with ovulation. Checking your cervical mucus can be a great indication of fertility when trying to conceive (TTC) or preventing pregnancy using the fertility awareness method (FAM). For example, egg white cervical mucus (EWCM) is a type of cervical fluid that is produced right before ovulation, a time when you are most fertile. The physical properties of the cervical mucus change during the menstrual cycle. The cervical mucus is produced by the cervix and changes consistency throughout your menstrual cycle based on hormones associated with fertility, egg development, and ovulation.

Shortly after the menstrual period ends, the cervical mucus is dry and prevents sperm from penetrating the cervix but around the time of ovulation it becomes thin, has egg-white consistency, and is penetrable by sperm. Cervical mucus (CM) is produced by glands in the cervix, the entrance to the uterus. It accepts, filters, prepares, and releases sperm for successful transport to the inside of the uterus, then, on to the fallopian tubes and the egg for fertilization. Cervical mucus changes are common throughout the natural menstrual cycle that women experience each month. For women who are trying to conceive, the changes in cervical mucus can play a factor in choosing just the right time for trying to get pregnant. About a week before ovulation, under the influence of estrogen, cervical mucus becomes abundant, sticky, and thick.

Stretchy Mucus - Always Ovulation

Does stretchy mucus always mean that I am ovulating? ... read more »

Can Changes in Your Cervix Diagnose Pregnancy?

For women who track their cervical position in order to determine fertility, many wonder if there is a correlation between the position of the cervix and early pregnancy symptoms and diagnosis. ... read more »

Abnormal Semen Analysis - Which Other Tests Can be Done?

For the man with a poor semen sample, additional tests which may be recommended include specialized sperm tests, blood tests, and testis biopsy. ... read more »

Tea And Pregnancy

Your guide to drinking tea in pregnancy ... read more »

Questions About Your Chances of Getting Pregnant

When women are trying to conceive, they often have questions regarding their chances of getting pregnant. There are several factors that come into play when it comes to getting pregnant. ... read more »

How Long Does Sperm Survive?

Knowing just how long sperm lives is important whether you want to know how to get pregnant or avoid pregnancy. The answer changes depending on where the sperm is and the environment. ... read more »

Important Ovulation Symptoms

Many women look for ovulation symptoms to predict when they are most fertile either to try to get pregnant or to prevent pregnancy. Did you know that the most common physical ovulation symptoms are probably ones you notice, and don’t necessarily correlate with ovulation? ... read more »

How to Check Your Cervical Mucus

If you want to get pregnant, checking your cervical mucus can help in determining when you are fertile. Here's how to do it! ... read more »

Timed Intercourse

How should we time sex? ... read more »

Fertility Awareness and Charting

Natural Fertility Planning (NFP) ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 33

Lower backache on day 33. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 32

The cervix is low and open. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 31

Feeling pretty bloated on day 31. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 30

Breasts are feeling heavy now. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 29

The cervix feels dry on day 29. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 28

See what's happening on day 28. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 27

Cervical fluid is tacky on day 27. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 26

Breasts are swelling today. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 25

See what's happening on day 25. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 24

Cervix is high again. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 23

Breast are tender on day 23. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 22

Basal body temperature is starting to rise. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 21

The cervical fluid is dry. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 20

Is mittelschmerz starting? ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 19

Egg-white fluid is now gone. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 18

The cervical fluid looks egg-white. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 17

Certain changes taking place in the cervix now. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 16

There is egg-white consistency now. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 15

The cervix is now open and high. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 14

Cervical fluid is watery on day 14. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 13

The cervix is starting to soften up. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 12

Cervical fluid is white and milky. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 11

See what's happening on Day 11. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 9

There is a dry sensation on day 9. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle: Day 8

Cervical fluid is sticky on day 8. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 7

Cervix is low and closed today. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 6

How is cervical mucus on day 6? ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 5

There is very low flow today. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 4

Here's what's happening on day 4. ... read more »

Cervix Cycle Day 3

See up close what the cervix looks like on day 3. ... read more »

Capacitation

Capacitation is an important part of fertility, and is partially responsible for the sperm entering the egg. ... read more »

EWCM and Fertility

Are there any studies on Egg-White Cervical Mucus and fertility? ... read more »

Robitussin and Fertility

Does Robitussin help fertility? ... read more »

Myth: Women Are Fertile Throughout Cycle

Myth: Women are fertile and can get pregnant at any time during their cycle. ... read more »

What Does it Mean if I Can't Reach My Cervix?

It is often completely normal if you cannot reach or feel the cervix. ... read more »

What is the Post-Coital Test?

The Post-Coital Test assesses the interaction of the sperm and cervical mucus. It is often part of the evaluation when you have difficulty conceiving. ... read more »

Natural Family Planning (NFP)

What is Nautral Family Planning (NFP)? ... read more »

Menstrual Period After Miscarriage

After a miscarriage, it can take up to six to eight weeks for your ovulation to return to normal. And then it takes another two weeks for your period to come. ... read more »

Cervical Fluid

What is normal cervical fluid like? ... read more »

Cervical Fluid and Intercourse Timing

When is the best time to try to conceive (TTC)? ... read more »

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