Cervical mucus & fertility - everything you need to know

Cervical mucus helps you determine your fertility. The consistency of the mucus during the cycle lets you know if ovulation is still imminent or has already passed. Observation of cervical mucus is very simple and is an important part of the symptothermal method. Here you will learn what stages cervical mucus goes through, what it looks like and how you can gather clues about your fertility.

  • What is cervical mucus?

    Cervical mucus is a secretion produced by glands in the cervix. It protects against pathogens and prepares the climate in the vagina optimally for fertilization. Cervical mucus changes consistency during the cycle and thus tells you when you are most fertile.

  • How do I know if I am fertile by looking at cervical mucus?

    Cervical mucus changes during the cycle. At first it may not appear at all, then it becomes rather whitish, creamy - and the closer you get to ovulation, the more fluid and stringy the mucus becomes. So you can see that ovulation is getting closer. And you're only fertile around ovulation.

  • What does cervical mucus look like during ovulation?

    The more fluid and spongy the cervical mucus, the closer you are to ovulation. After ovulation, the appearance of the mucus changes markedly - it becomes more creamy, sometimes lumpy, or completely disappears.

  • How to correctly observe the cervical mucus?

    It is best to observe the cervical mucus every day - between your fingers or on the toilet paper. Most women can easily classify their observation into one of the symptothermal family planning categories.

What is cervical mucus?

What you perceive as white discharge is actually a secretion produced by glands in the cervix. It has several functions: for example, it protects you by "blocking" the cervix and thus preventing bacteria from entering it.

Cervical mucus exists independently of excitation mucus and discharge.

Observation and documentation of cervical mucus is part of some methods of natural family planning.

  • How does cervical mucus change during the cycle?

    During your cycle, the cervical mucus changes under the influence of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. It is therefore an important sign of the current state of your cycle. It can tell you at what precise moment of the cycle you are.

    The hormone estrogen is produced by maturing ovarian follicles before ovulation. The greater the production of estrogens, the more the cervical mucus liquefies: it becomes more transparent and stringy. The pH of cervical mucus rich in estrogen is basic and can thus protect the spermatozoa which penetrate it from the acidity of the vaginal environment.

    The hormone progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum (corpus luteum) after l'ovulation. The greater the production of progesterone, the more the cervical mucus becomes viscous and drier. It also no longer flows down the vagina and seals the cervix. The body is thus protected against the penetration of pathogens.

  • FSH LH Phase folliculaire Ovulation Hormone Progestérone Oestrogène Dans l‘ovaire Phase lutéale

Take a good look at the cervical mucus!

Cervical mucus can be observed in different ways: By feeling, touch and sight. As the concentration of hormones varies throughout the day, it is important to observe the cervical mucus throughout the day. To observe the cervical mucus, simply wipe the entrance to the vagina with your finger or toilet paper (preferably before going to the toilet so as not to be disturbed by urine) and think about the following:

What is the sensation at the entrance of the vagina?
Is it dry, damp or maybe even wet? What does cervical mucus feel like? Is it slippery or slippery to the touch? What does cervical mucus look like? Do you at least see her? What is her color ?

Phase 1: almost no cervical mucus

After menstruation, the entrance to the vagina is often dry and the cervical mucus increases again. You can then feel it as a sensation of humidity without you seeing it.

Phase 2: creamy cervical mucus

As the follicle grows and prepares to l'ovulation, you can also recognize it by your cervical mucus. It is cloudy, whitish or yellowish and is thick, creamy, lumpy, sticky or viscous and does not stretch.

  • whitish, creamy

  • grumeleuse, hard,

    whitish or yellowish

  • whitish and sticky

Phase 3: transparent cervical mucus

When l’ovulation approach, you become more and more fertile. The appearance of the cervical mucus will then be of better quality. It becomes clear, glassy and transparent. In some women, the cervical mucus may have a slightly yellow color and contain white streaks. It is stretchy and liquid. The sperm cell feels particularly good in this environment.

  • vitreous, elastic, stringy

  • glassy, interspersed with whitish streaks, like raw egg white

  • vitreous, stringy

Stage 4: cervical mucus after ovulation

After l'ovulation, the cervical mucus becomes cloudy and lumpy or even non-existent. You feel like the entrance to your vagina is completely dry again.

  • Dryness, little or no cervical mucus

The role of cervical mucus in natural family planning

Observing the cervical mucus can help you observe your cycle. Its appearance changes during your cycle by the influence of hormones. Cervical mucus is a bodily sign that helps you know if you can get pregnant or not.

However, research has shown that when it comes to safety, it is best to monitor two body signs: cervical mucus AND core body temperature. This is why the sympothermic method is the safest way to control conception without hormones. It gives you criteria to properly monitor and assess your cervical mucus and body temperature. The symptothermal method helps you know if you are fertile or not.

central body. The symptothermal method helps you recognize if you are fertile or not.

What do the abbreviations for cervical mucus mean?

t ("lowest" quality)

Sensation : dry, rough dry, itchy, unpleasant feeling AND

Appearance : nothing seen, no cervical mucus at the entrance to the vagina

⌀

Sensation : nothing felt, no moisture, no sensation at the entrance to the vagina AND

Appearance : nothing seen, no cervical mucus at the entrance to the vagina

f

Sensation : wet BUT

Appearance : nothing seen, no cervical mucus at the entrance to the vagina

S

Sensations : wet or nothing felt AND

Appearance : thick, whitish, cloudy, creamy, lumpy, yellowish, sticky, milky, non-stretchable or viscous

S+ ("superior" quality)

Sensation : damp, wet, slippery or oily, smooth AND

Appearance : glassy, transparent, translucent, like raw egg white (glassy dotted with white filaments), stretchy or spinnable, stringy, liquid, so fluid that it "flows like water", reddish, reddish-brown , yellowish-reddish

Cervical mucus is one of two body characteristics by which trackle determines your cycle:
The core body temperature is measured by the vaginal sensor overnight, you don't need to worry about it.
You determine the nature of your cervical mucus yourself by observing it and save the results in the app. There are standardized buttons that help you classify your observations correctly.

From these two factors, trackle calculates your fertility according to the rules of the symptothermal method.