Trying To Conceive? Learn To Track Your Fertility Cycle With Cervical Mucus

Whether you’re attempting to conceive a child or prevent pregnancy, understanding cervical mucus and its role in your menstrual cycle can be extremely helpful in tracking your fertility. While every person is different, the following is generally how women can track their fertility cycle with their cervical mucus. 

What is cervical mucus?

Cervical mucus refers to the fluid produced by and released from the cervix (the opening to a woman’s uterus). Shifting hormones cause your cervical mucus to change in texture, volume, and color throughout your menstrual cycle. These changes can be used to identify when you are ovulating and most fertile.

Depending on where you’re at in your menstrual cycle, cervical mucus plays different roles. The first is to help sperm move through the cervix so it can fertilize an egg during ovulation. Its secondary role is to prevent sperm or other substances from entering the cervix.

What does cervical mucus look like?

Every woman is different, but generally, your cervical mucus will resemble all or most of the following during the menstrual cycle:

• Dry or no cervical fluid.

• Sticky like paste. It can be white or yellow.

• Creamy like yogurt. Smooth in texture and usually white.

• Slippery, stretchy. Resembling raw egg whites.

• Wet, watery, and clear in color.

The type and texture of your cervical mucus are dependent on which stage of the menstrual cycle you’re in. Mucus generally begins as a dry or pasty texture before transitioning to a creamier texture. The closer you grow towards your ovulation phase in the cycle, your discharge will become wet, stretchy, and slippery (like raw egg whites). After ovulation, your cervical mucus will resort back to a thick, dry texture. 

What are the different stages in the cervical mucus cycle?

Cervical mucus changes as a result of hormonal shifts throughout the menstrual cycle. Estrogen levels increase before ovulation, which makes your cervix produce the fertile, egg white mucus. It’s your body’s way of making it easy for sperm to reach the egg that your body is about to release. Following the ovulation period, estrogen levels will drop and progesterone levels will rise. This rise in progesterone will help the fertilized egg implant itself into your uterus if you conceive. 

Every woman’s cycle is different. If you follow a 28-day menstrual cycle, your cervical mucus will likely follow this pattern:

• Days 1-4 after your period ends: Dry or tacky. It can be white or yellow-tinged.

• Days 4-6: Sticky. Slightly damp and white.

• Days 7-9: Creamy, yogurt-like consistency. Wet and cloudy.

• Days 10-14: Stretchy and resembles raw egg whites. Slippery and very wet.

• Days 14-28: Dry until menstruation occurs.

Women with a 28-day cycle tend to ovulate around day 14. However, this varies by individual.

How can you use cervical mucus as an ovulation indicator?

Because cervical mucus changes occur when your hormone levels change, it can be an excellent indicator of ovulation and pregnancy. When your mucus appears egg white in color and texture, you are likely ovulating. Following ovulation, your mucus will typically thicken or dry up. However, if you’ve conceived during ovulation you may continue to produce cervical mucus, indicating pregnancy. 

Of course, it’s important to note that every person is different and some women may not experience noticeable changes in their cervical mucus.

How can you track your cervical mucus?

Referred to as the cervical mucus method of family planning, it’s possible to chart or track your cervical mucus throughout your cycle. To chart your mucus, you’ll need to keep track of the changes you see each day - the mucus amount, texture, and color. Using a calendar or application to track these changes each day may be helpful in planning which days you’ll be ovulating. Once you see that your mucus has become slippery and wet, it’s time to have sex if conception is your goal. 

Schedule a one-on-one consultation with The Cincinnati Birth Center’s team to learn how to track your cervical mucous and fertility signs. Our fertility consultations will provide you with individualized advice and help you prepare for your family planning journey.