Monitoring Cervical Mucus

Determining when you're ovulating will help you time sexual intercourse during your most fertile times to increase your chances of getting pregnant. There are a variety of ways to figure out your most fertile times. Some involve the use of aids like ovulation predictor kits. Others involve monitoring your temperature. One of the easiest ways to discover when you're at your most fertile time is to simply watch the changes going on in your body. Cervical mucus very obviously changes as you near ovulation and you don't need any special equipment to monitor it.

What is Cervical Mucus?

Cervical mucus is discharge from the vagina. And just as a man's semen is meant to transport sperm, so is the purpose of cervical mucus. It helps sperm move more quickly and freely through a woman's uterus and ultimately to the fallopian tube where it can fertilize a waiting egg. Cervical mucus can also provide enough lubrication during sexual intercourse to make the act comfortable and pleasurable. The amount and consistency of cervical mucus is determined by hormone levels.

Collecting a Sample

To monitor cervical mucus, it's important to collect a sample daily. You don't need any special equipment to collect a sample. All you need is some privacy and clean hands. Clean hands are crucial since they prevent the passage of infection-causing germs. The first indication of an infection is the color and odor of the mucus. It should not smell. Do not monitor cervical mucus if you have an infection.

Insert a clean finger as far into the vaginal canal as possible. Circle the cervix. Remove the finger and examine it. Collecting a sample can also be done by wiping toilet paper over the entrance of the vagina.

Analyzing the Mucus

Gently rub the secretions between two fingers in a well-lit area or under a light. Or press your fingers together and slowly separate them to watch cervical mucus. When you're not fertile, the mucus is generally thick, dry and sticky. Sperm can't easily travel through mucus with this consistency. After menstruation the vulva area is typically dry. Any discharge is very dry and extremely sticky. As ovulation approaches your body will produce more cervical mucus. There will be more secretions and the mucus will be slightly less thick than before. It'll be creamy and white. When the mucus is wet and watery and a little bit stretchy, it's likely ovulation is very close. This is the time to start scheduling baby-making sex. Secretions that resemble raw egg white and stretch and inch or more between your fingers indicate ovulation is either happening at that moment or will be soon. This is your most fertile time. After ovulation occurs, secretions will start to dry and become sticky again.