In this blog post, I'd like to reveal 3 secrets about cervical fluid you deserve to know. Especially if you are trying to conceive. Especially..well..always, actually.
There is one absolutely super obvious fertility sign you cannot miss. Ever! It's called CERVICAL FLUID*.
If you don't know what cervical fluid is: "Cervical fluid is to the woman what seminal fluid is to the man. [...] In essence, the fertile cervical fluid functions exactly like the seminal fluid. It provides an alkaline medium to protect the sperm from an otherwise acidic vagina." (Werschler, 2006: 57). It is secreted by your CERVIX.
A little side note here: every cycle is different. So it's really a joke that ovulation occurs on day 14 of your cycle. In a perfect fairy tale 28-day cycle-world, this would be pretty accurate - maybe. But in the real world, cycles vary. Some women cycle 25 days, some women cycle 35 days, and everything in between or even longer. So the idea that we all happily ovulate on day 14 is not exactly how it goes. Luckily, we have some tools we can use that can help us to at least reveal when we are fertile, and thus are close to ovulation. One of these tools is cervical fluid.
Now let me reveal those secrets!
Cervical fluid reveals whether you are fertile or not
Unlike men, women do not produce fertile mucus every single day. Instead, they are only fertile a couple of days during their cycle, more specifically around ovulation. Therefore, it is only during this time, a substance necessary for sperm nourishment and mobility is produced. So: generally this means that you are only fertile around ovulation.
Cervical fluid decides whether sperm survives or not
I'm sorry to tell you, but most of the time, our cervix secretes a potion that's deadly for sperm. Yea, when I first heard that my cervix is most of the time a serial sperm killer, I felt quite sad as well... But hey.. otherwise we would be popping babies all year round...So thank you Mother Nature for designing us so well!
The length of time sperm can survive inside a woman's body, is connected to where the woman is in her cycle. When you are nowhere near ovulation, for example, there is no way sperm survives for more than a couple of hours. If you are close to ovulation, however, cervical fluid is in the most beneficial consistency for sperm to survive in (pssst: that's the perfect combo for conception!). Please note that every form of cervical fluid can potentially be fertile, however, there are types that are definitely more optimal for effectively getting pregnant.
The Big Flood - and what it tells you
When you arrive in your fertile window but you are not really sure whether you are there already, your cervical fluid will absolutely help you to confirm this. Do you know that moment you are sitting somewhere (studying, working, or something else) and you are sure you are not aroused, nor it is time for your period to commence, yet you have a feeling a sudden flood is happening down there? Yes? Congratulations. You have most likely experienced your peak day. Yay! Peak day is the day in your cycle your cervical fluid is like a Big Flood. It's a lot. It's usually white-ish and watery. It's SUPER healthy! And pssst: THIS kind of cervical fluid shows you that you are absolutely good to go to conceive a little bub. This type of cervical fluid makes sperm happy (because it helps to facilitate a more alkaline environment in your va-jay-jay), nourishes it, and helps it move all the way up to the egg.
Now I hear you thinking: but it always looks SO different! Yes. You are right. And it takes some studying to really identify your cervical fluid. But hey, no worries, I'll help you. There is one general 'rule' here: usually, the more watery the fluid gets, the closer you are to your Very Fertile Window.
You can divide cervical fluid into different categories: none, sticky, creamy, egg white, and watery. I will shortly describe what it feels like in your vagina, how it looks, how it feels on your fingers and what it looks like in your underwear - just to give you the most accurate idea. And remember: when you thought you were weird because of the fluids coming out of you, guess what: you are not weird but SUPER healthy! Yay!
You can divide cervical fluid into different categories: none, sticky, creamy, egg white, and watery. I will shortly describe what it feels like in your vagina, how it looks, how it feels on your fingers and what it looks like in your underwear - just to give you the most accurate idea. And remember: when you thought you were weird because of the fluids coming out of you, guess what: you are not weird but SUPER healthy! Yay!
So.. are you ready? Here we go:
NONE
➧The feel: dry
➧The look: nothing
➧On your fingers: slight dampness that evaporates quickly
➧In your undies: nothing, clean!
STICKY
➧The feel: dry, sticky, or like nothing's really going on
➧The look: a little bit whitish or yellowish, gummy, a little bit like dried up glue
➧On your fingers: sticky, crumbly, pasty, dry
➧In your undies: white or yellow lines that stay on top of the fabric instead of soaking in - might be harder to wash out
CREAMY (higher water content than sticky, yet similar)
➧The feel: cool, slightly damp
➧The look: yogurt, milky, cloudy, like cream
➧On your fingers: smooth, creamy
➧In your undies: white or yellow lines that stay on top of the fabric instead of soaking in - might be harder to wash out
EGGWHITE
➧The look: yogurt, milky, cloudy, like cream
➧On your fingers: smooth, creamy
➧In your undies: white or yellow lines that stay on top of the fabric instead of soaking in - might be harder to wash out
EGGWHITE
➧The feel: lubricative, slippery
➧The look: clear, stretchy, raw egg white
➧On your fingers: slippery or lubricative, it stretches an inch or more between your thumb and index finger
➧In your undies: wet, slippery, sometimes sit on the fabric, sometimes soaks in slightly
WATERY [***alarm bells ringing: very fertile!***]
➧The feel: water rushing, dripping out; cold or wet sensation
➧The look: waterish or like skimmed milk
➧On your fingers: slippery, wet
➧In your undies: leaves round patches that soak in
If you want to learn more about cervical fluid and your cycle in general, I highly recommend reading "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Werschler. It is kind of a big book, my holy scripture for knowing my body, and it has helped me tremendously in understanding what is happening during my cycle.
*note that reading accurate cervical fluid is only possible when you are not taking any form of hormonal or chemical birth control or have a copper IUD.*