How Do You Check Your Cervical Mucus To See If You're Ovulating?

You've definitely heard the phrase "listen to your body" before—and it applies to more than simply hard workouts. Your body provides several signals about what's going on within, including whether or not you're ovulating. Changes in your cervical mucus might be an important sign to monitor if you're attempting to conceive (or just prefer natural birth control).

What is cervical mucus?

Cervical mucus is a gel-like substance released by glands located in and around the cervix. To be more exact, it is made up of 90- 95 percent water and a mixture of muco glycoproteins. The consistency and colour of cervical mucus alter during a woman's menstrual cycle as hormone levels increase and decrease.

Types of cervical mucus:

There are four types of cervical mucus that aid in tracking ovulation and fertility phases.

Type 1: This kind of cervical mucus appears just after your period and is when you produce the least amount of cervical mucus. You can feel dry and have no discharge at all.
Type 2: It emerges around one week following your period and is described as a thin discharge with a light, white colour.
Type 3: This kind of cervical mucus is thicker and has a creamy look, feeling sticky or tacky between your fingers. Type 3 is connected with increased fertility.
Type 4: Your body creates the most cervical mucus as it prepares to ovulate. It looks transparent and has a stretchy consistency similar to raw egg whites, known as EWCM (egg white cervical mucus).

What is the cervical mucus method?

The cervical mucus technique examines the properties of your cervical mucus to determine when you are ovulating and hence most fertile. From there, you may plan when to have sex to enhance your chances of becoming pregnant (or avoid unprotected sex if having a kid is not in your plans). You're looking for Type 4 cervical mucus, which is "stretchy/elastic and egg white-like in colour." "This consistency is most likely associated with ovulation."Keep in mind, however, that the cervical mucus approach is not often regarded as a particularly effective type of birth prevention. According to reports, up to 23 out of every 100 women who use the cervical mucus technique for birth control will get pregnant during the first year of usage, making it around 77% effective. With "perfect use," the pregnancy rate might be as low as 3 out of 100 women each year.

How to check cervical mucus?

Checking your cervical mucus is a rather straightforward operation. The ideal time to check is in a private situation, preferably when you are not sexually aroused. Why? During masturbation and intercourse, the urethra expels fluid, which should not be confused with cervical mucus. You should also avoid inspecting your cervical mucus after intercourse, since it might be mistaken for semen. Here's a step-by-step guide for checking your cervical mucus:

Step 1: Wash your hands with antibacterial soap and dry thoroughly with a clean towel
Step 2: Find a comfortable posture that suits you. This may include crouching, sitting on the toilet, or standing with one leg up on the edge of the bathtub.
Step 3: Insert your index or middle finger into your vagina to collect a sample of mucus as near to the cervix as feasible.
Step 4: Check the consistency of the mucus sample. Roll it between your thumb and index finger, then gently draw your fingers apart to see whether it's dry and sticky (not fertile), creamy (close to ovulation), or moist, stretchy egg-white cervical mucus (fertile).

Signs of abnormal discharge:

If you see any odd changes in your cervical mucus, consult your doctor since these might be signs of an infection. According to specialists, you should watch out for:

Cervical mucus may be green, brown, or yellow.
Thick, cottage cheese-like substance
A fishy, metallic, or otherwise disagreeable smell
Itching or burning

If you have any worries, don't hesitate to contact your doctor.

External factors' effects on cervical mucus:

Diet and water: A healthy diet and sufficient water may affect the amount and consistency of cervical mucus. Thick mucus may result from malnutrition or dehydration.
Stress: Excessive stress may interfere with hormonal balance, which can change the amount and quality of cervical mucus.
Medication: The quantity and consistency of cervical mucus may be affected by some drugs, such as hormonal contraceptives or antihistamines.

The role of hormonal changes:

Oestrogen: Elevated oestrogen levels cause more plentiful and thinner cervical mucus, which promotes sperm movement and fertility.
Progesterone levels increase after ovulation, thickening and decreasing the abundance of cervical mucus, making it less sperm-friendly.

Post-ovulation changes:

Mucus Consistency: As progesterone levels rise after ovulation, cervical mucus thickens, becomes stickier, and become less plentiful.
Dry Period: During the luteal phase, mucus may become thin or dry, indicating the end of the fertile window.

Variations in cervical mucus:

Cycle phases: Mucus levels fluctuate during the menstrual cycle, from dry or negligible before ovulation to profuse and slippery during ovulation, and thicker and scantier thereafter.
Individual differences: Variations may vary greatly across people depending on characteristics such as age, hormonal health, and lifestyle.

Medically approved by Dr Sreeja Rani, Sr. Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kinder Women’s Hospital and Fertility Centre, Bangalore.

FAQs on How to Check Your Cervical Mucus to See if You’re Ovulating?

How can you examine your cervix for ovulation?During ovulation, the cervix is soft (like your earlobe), somewhat open, and may be located high in your belly. Sometimes it's stiffer (like the tip of your nose), firmly closed, and located lower in your belly (2- 5).
Can you ovulate without getting a period?It is possible to have monthly bleeding without ovulation. However, this bleeding is not a regular period and is caused by an anovulatory cycle.