Our bodies are imbued with exquisite intelligence. They have a thousand wise ways to communicate vital information about our health & functioning, and the amount, colour, and consistency of our cervical mucus is a particularly fascinating and empowering one.

Monitoring changes in cervical mucus is a key component of many Fertility Awareness Based Methods (FABMs). These methods teach how to identify the approach, presence and passing of ovulation/peak fertility in each cycle. This information can then be reliably used to prevent pregnancy by avoiding unprotected sex in the fertile window (1), OR help couples identify the best time to conceive (2).

It’s a widely held myth that ovulation always occurs around day 14. By starting to monitor your own cervical mucus changes throughout the month, you can come into deeper relationship and appreciation of your own unique cycle, and the physical changes associated with your ovulation and menstruation.

The Rising Tide of Cervical Mucus

There is a basic pattern that cervical mucus (CM) follows throughout the cycle, as it responds to changing levels of estrogen and progesterone. It can be summed up in this beautiful illustration by Cindy Chung from VeryWellFamily(3):

Cervical Mucus Chart

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dry

Directly following menstruation, you are likely to notice several days without any apparent mucus, and a relatively dry sensation at the vulva.

Cervical mucus dry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dry day – Any moisture evaporates in the air
Image source: The Cervical Mucus Project(4)

Sticky/Crumbly

As estrogen is released from the follicles developing in your ovaries, special cells in the cervix start to secrete cervical mucus – at this point in the cycle, the water content of the CM is quite low, and the consistency can be a bit like craft glue – sticky, pasty, clumpy or crumbly.

Cervical Mucus Sticky

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sticky, pasty consistency
Image source: The Cervical Mucus Project(4)

Milky/Creamy

As estrogen continues to rise, it increases the water content of CM, which can take on a milky, creamy or lotiony consistency and appearance. You might notice this in your underwear or if you run a clean finger along your vulva throughout the day. The sensation at the vulva starts to feel more moist.

Cervical Mucus Milky

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

White, milky lotion type consistency
Image source: The Cervical Mucus Project(4)

Egg White/Watery

As you approach ovulation, and estrogen levels are very high, the water content of your cervical mucus rises. You may notice the clear, stretchy, ‘egg-white’ type CM that represents peak fertility. Very watery, thin fluid is also considered highly fertile, and both of these types provide the perfect pH-matched, swimmable and highly nutritious environment for sperm to swim through in order to reach the uterus and fallopian tubes in their search for the holy ovum. At this point in your cycle, you may have moments of feeling very wet and slippery at your vulva, perhaps when you’re walking or wiping after going to the loo.

Cervical Mucus fertile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fertility magic! Clearish/cloudy, stretchy egg-white CM
Image source: The Cervical Mucus Project(4)

Sperm can survive for up to 5 days in highly fertile quality cervical mucus (though more common is 1-3), so the presence of this type of CM is the signal to get busy if conception is the goal. If you’re interested in using Fertility Awareness to avoid pregnancy, it’s essential to learn a Fertility Awareness Based Method in depth with a trained educator (hi!). I work with the Symptothermal Method of Fertility Awareness, which uses basal body temperature as another key ovulatory indicator, and is as effective as the pill in preventing pregnancy when used correctly (1).

How to Check Cervical Mucus

At least three times over the day, or every time you use the toilet:

  • Wipe your vulva from front to back with toilet paper
  • Notice the sensations as you wipe – dry, moist or wet?
  • Observe the TP for cervical mucus – rub it between your finger and thumb to discern its quality. (Note: it’s often most obvious after bearing down after a bowel motion)
    • Consistency – eg. tacky, pasty, crumbly, milky, creamy, slippery, egg white
    • Colour – white, yellowish, cloudy, clear
    • Amount – scant, moderate, a lot
  • If you don’t notice much CM, you may like to do internal checks – insert your clean middle finger into the vaginal canal and feel around the cervix, then examine your finger for cervical fluid
  • Record the most fertile type of mucus you noticed that day on a chart or in an app (even if you were dry apart from one check!)

Charts / Apps for Cycle Tracking

For paper charts, check out my teacher organisation:

Charts and Apps

My favourite app for cycle tracking is Kindara – it’s free!

Note

Monitoring your cervical mucus also allows you to quickly notice changes that might indicate an infection or pathogen overgrowth.

Signs that you may have an infection include:

  • Discharge that is chunkier/ more cottage cheesy in nature, especially if combined with a red, itchy or irritated vulva or yeasty smell (indicative of candida overgrowth)
  • Homogenous grey-white watery discharge throughout the cycle, esp. if combined with a ‘fishy’ smell (indicative of bacterial vaginosis)
  • Thick yellow/green tinged discharge throughout the cycle
  • Burning sensation when urinating
  • Any foul smell
  • Get in touch with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis, and seek holistic support with a naturopath or TCM practitioner.

If you’d like to learn more about how to track your cycle for conception or contraception, have concerns about your vulvovaginal health, or just want to learn an incredible tool for monitoring your reproductive health, get in touch to book a session with me at Kundalini House today.

Tulsi

Tulsi Naturopath

xo

Tulsi Manjari is a Naturopath at Kundalini House and has a special interest in educating her clients in really knowing and feeling empowered by their bodies.
Learn more about Naturopathy and Tulsi here.

 

References

  1. Frank-Herrmann, P., Heil, J., Gnoth, C., Toledo, E., Baur, S., Pyper, C., … & Freundl, G. (2007). The effectiveness of a fertility awareness based method to avoid pregnancy in relation to a couples sexual behaviour during the fertile time: a prospective longitudinal study. Human Reproduction, 22(5).
  2. Stanford, J. B., Willis, S. K., Hatch, E. E., Rothman, K. J., & Wise, L. A. (2019). Fecundability in relation to use of fertility awareness indicators in a North American preconception cohort study. Fertility and sterility, 112(5), 892-899.
  3. https://www.verywellfamily.com/what-is-egg-white-cervical-mucus-ewcm-1960232
  4. https://cervicalmucus.org/images/dry-2/