Cervical mucus and its role in the menstrual cycle
Cervical mucus is a secretion produced in small glands (the crypts) in the cervix and performs various functions throughout the menstrual cycle. It consists of 90 per cent water, along with sugars and amino acids. Unlike abnormal discharge, cervical mucus changes its consistency throughout the menstrual cycle and is odourless.
What are the functions of cervical mucus?
Cervical mucus has four important functions:
- It prevents germs and pathogens from entering the uterus.
- It neutralises the pH level in the vagina. This is essential for sperm to survive there.
- It acts as a source of nourishment and a transport medium for sperm, enabling them to travel into the womb and reach the egg.
- It filters out inferior or malformed sperm.
Of course, cervical mucus does not perform all these functions at the same time during the cycle. Whilst it keeps the uterus sterile during the infertile phase at the start of the cycle, during the fertile phase it helps sperm to survive in the vagina and reach the egg.
How does cervical mucus change throughout the cycle?
At the start of the cycle, cervical mucus acts like a plug, sealing the cervix. During this time, you won’t notice any cervical mucus on your vulva. The vaginal environment is acidic, which protects us from bacteria and germs.
During the follicular phase, oestrogen levels rise and we produce increasingly fluid cervical mucus. Even just a moist sensation on your vulva means that sperm can enter the uterus and survive there!
You’ll notice that your cervical mucus visibly changes during your fertile window:
- At the start: whitish, creamy or clumpy
- Gradually: thinner and more transparent
- Around the time of ovulation: stretchy, like egg white or even like water
Once ovulation has taken place, the body releases the hormone progesterone. The cervical mucus becomes thicker again and forms a dense plug in the cervix.
How do I monitor my cervical mucus?
There are three ways to monitor your cervical mucus:
Feeling: How does the entrance to your vulva feel? Does it feel dry, moist or wet?
Touch: If you wipe the entrance to your vulva with your finger or toilet paper, you’ll notice on some days that your finger or the paper glides over it more easily than on others.
Look: On some days, the cervical mucus is visible. The best time to make this observation is when you need to go to the toilet anyway. Before you go for a wee, wipe your finger or a piece of toilet paper over the vulval opening and see if any cervical mucus sticks to it.
Tracking cervical mucus with the ovolution app
In the ovolution app, you can record your cervical mucus every day. The app analyses your observations according to the Sensiplan® rules and shows you your fertile days.