What Is Cervical Mucus?

Cervical mucus is a fluid produced within your cervix. It’s also one of the reliable signs of fertility. Cervical fluid changes noticeably as a woman goes through her monthly menstrual cycle. We’ll explain the signs you should look for in the fluid to indicate when you’re most fertile. 

The changes in the cervical fluid result from hormones shifting throughout the 28-day menstrual cycle. These hormones affect the consistency, color and amount of cervical fluid produced during your cycle. 

Dual Role of Cervical Fluid

Cervical fluid has two roles, depending on what phase of the menstrual cycle you’re in. The first is to make it easier for the sperm to move through the cervix and fertilize an egg during ovulation. The second is to prevent sperm or any other substances from reaching the cervix when you’re not ovulating. The fluid goes through four recognizable changes in transforming between these two roles.  

How Cervical Mucus Changes Throughout the Menstrual Cycle

You can track your fluid’s changes and use them as a reliable sign of your level of fertility. The four phases of cervical fluid include:

• Menstrual Phase: Little to no mucus present
• Follicular Phase (before ovulation): Thick, sticky and cloudy white to yellowish mucus that doesn’t stretch easily
• Ovulation Phase (fertile window): Clear, stretchy and slippery mucus that resembles raw egg whites
• Luteal Phase (after ovulation): Mucus thickens again and becomes less hospitable to sperm and foreign substances

Using Cervical Mucus to Track Fertility

Monitoring your cervical mucus’s characteristics and timing helps you accurately predict your fertile window. To successfully utilize your monthly fertility window, knowing the length and timing of each phase is essential.

Tracking the timing and duration of thick, sticky mucus increases will pinpoint the start of your fertile period. This will help you optimize your family planning window. 

Ovulation usually lasts around three to four days. If you have a 28-day cycle, you’re at your most fertile at around 10 to 14 days through your cycle.  

When to Seek Medical Advice

Tracking your cervical fluid also helps you detect any problems as early as possible. Changes in mucus smell, color, or texture may point to a hormonal imbalance or other issues, such as:

• Breastfeeding
• Hormonal birth control
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Other vaginal infections, including yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis
• Cervical surgery
• Medications
• Food 
• Stress  

If you’re under 35 and monitoring your cervical fluid to aid conception, consult a fertility specialist after a year of trying without success. Couples over 35 who have been trying unsuccessfully to conceive for six months should see a fertility specialist.

Consult V Fertility Center (VFC)

V Fertility Center (VFC) provides expert consultations and fertility treatments to couples hoping to conceive or expand their families.

With a comprehensive range of fertility programs and treatments, we offer an 88.61% success rate. Our services include:

Infertility Screening

To help couples who have been trying to conceive naturally for a year without success, infertility testing is available to determine the cause of their difficulties. The screening involves a complete medical history, physical examination, and fertility tests. 

IVF/ ICSI Treatment

In vitro fertilization (IVF) and Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are both highly effective types of assisted reproductive technology. ICSI is a more targeted approach to IVF where a single sperm is injected into an egg. It’s often used in cases where sperm quantity or quality is a concern. 

Preimplantation Genetic Testing

This groundbreaking technology can identify genetic diseases and chromosomal abnormalities in embryos before implantation into the uterus. We provide PGT-A, PGT-SR and PGT-M testing at our facility in Bangkok. 

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

IUI can increase a couple’s chances of conception by implanting specially prepared sperm into a woman’s uterus during ovulation. 

Surgical Sperm Retrieval (SSR)

SSR can be a solution to low sperm motility or blockages when couples are trying to conceive. The procedure selects the healthiest sperm for IVF treatment.

Egg Freezing

We provide embryo, egg, and sperm cryopreservation services for couples and spouses hoping to have children in the future, offering viable family planning choices.

Make an Appointment at V Fertility Center

Consider a consultation at V Fertility Center if you and your partner are experiencing difficulty conceiving after six months to a year of attempts. Our fertility specialists will explain our range of fertility options. V Fertility Center can help you succeed in starting a family.  Contact us to book an appointment today!