Cervical Mucus
Cervical mucus changes throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle give us so many clues to our overall fertile health.
It is an efficient, free, and easy way to detect whether you are fertile (the ability to conceive) each month. This may seem one of those rather awkward, cringe worthy aspects of fertility health, but I can’t say enough how important it is to be aware of what is going on down there! Once you become in tune with your mucus symptom it gives you such power to succeed in your journey to conceive.
Throughout the month the cervical crypts located in the cervix secrete (under the influence of the hormones estrogen and progesterone) different types of mucus. Just after menstruation, this fluid is thick, impenetrable, and acidic and referred to as infertile cervical mucus that is designed to prevent sperm and bacteria from entering the vagina. This incredible design is the female body preparing for pregnancy each and every month.
When a woman is about to ovulate, estrogen levels rise, and the cervical mucus increases in volume and the texture goes from wet to a more stretchy, egg-white like mucus. This fertile cervical mucus is higher in water and electrolytes and has a lower acidity than infertile cervical mucus. Fertile cervical mucus is necessary for nourishing sperm and protecting them as they travel to fertilize an egg. Think of this mucus as a fast super highway to meet an egg!
Women who have hormonal imbalance may have limited cervical mucus or cervical mucus that is too thick for sperm to travel through. Don’t panic as there are plenty of ways you can help promote healthy cervical mucus production each cycle are:
- Promoting healthy estrogen levels and overall hormonal balance ( through nutrition, herbs and supplements)
- Increasing essential fatty acid (EFA) consumption
- Increase water consumption (90% of cervical mucus is water)
Other than basal body temperature tracking your cervical mucus is the most accurate way of determining whether you are fertile. If you track alongside the basal body temperature method it is a great double check method to determine your own unique fertile window (the number of days per cycle you are able to fall pregnant). At The Natural Fertility Clinic we carry out Charting Consultations to help you understand your own unique ovulation symptoms as well as a knowledgeable nutritionist and herbalist who can give advice on a wide variety of herbs and supplements specific for your needs. Don’t delay get in touch today.
Katy Flello
The Natural Fertility Clinic