Cervical mucus before vs. when you’re ovulating – The ‘fertile window’ explained
Cervical mucus (or fluid) tracking is one of the most powerful tools for increasing awareness of your fertility. In fact, it is estimated that abnormalities in cervical fluid may account for 3-8% of subfertility in women. Fortunately, this is information our bodies are already giving us every day! By practising body awareness and using your kegg, you are empowered to zone in on your fertile window and gain invaluable insight into your hormonal and reproductive health. Kegg is a fertility monitor ovulation predictor that senses the electrolytes in the cervical mucus, to help predict ovulation (the fertile window) and it doubles as a kegel ball for pelvic floor exercises.
Words by kegg
What is ‘cervical mucus’?
You’ve probably noticed vaginal discharge in your underwear before? If you’ve ever wondered what exactly it is and why it’s there—don’t worry, we have you covered. The discharge you see is actually cervical mucus and it can give you a glimpse into the complex orchestration of your reproductive hormones that fluctuate throughout your menstrual cycle, specifically around your fertile window. Many women learn to track their cervical mucus to predict ovulation – when they will likely have more chance to conceive.
Cervical fluid is a mucus produced by the cervix and is made up of mucus molecules, protein chains, minerals, and water. Cervical fluid has a unique electrolyte structure that changes throughout the menstrual cycle as a result of hormonal shifts. The consistency, quantity, and color can vary greatly throughout the menstrual cycle and among women. However, in general, cervical mucus follows a trend that reflects what is happening hormonally in the body. There are many different methods for manually tracking cervical mucus, but it can take several months of practice. Don’t panic and keep reading for answers to some of your most burning cervical mucus questions.
Why is fertile cervical mucus important?
Without fertile cervical mucus, conception would be really challenging, as the egg needs to be fertilized within 12 to 24 hours after it is released. With fertile cervical mucus, sperm can survive for up to five days. This means intercourse that takes place in the days preceding ovulation can result in pregnancy, all thanks to the nourishing and sustaining qualities of fertile cervical mucus. In addition, cervical mucus can help prevent abnormal sperm, or those with curved or otherwise atypical movement patterns, from effectively swimming to this prized egg. Not only does fertile cervical mucus aid in the survival of sperm, but it also helps to filter out those that will not serve our egg well.
To recap, cervical fluid serves a number of very important roles:
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Protects sperm from an acidic vaginal environment, prolonging the life of sperm in the vaginal canal
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Filters abnormal sperm
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Keeps sperm “biochemically nurtured” (AKA: acts as sperm food!)
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Stores the sperm until an egg is nearby
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Maintains the opening of the cervical canal
Cervical mucus before & when you’re ovulating (fertile window)
A woman is only fertile for approximately six days during the menstrual cycle, even though she may notice cervical mucus throughout her cycle. The unique composition of fertile cervical mucus is able to sustain sperm, while other cervical mucus cannot. By learning your cervical mucus patterns, you can learn to predict when you are fertile and when you are not, empowering you to make fertility decisions for yourself.
In relation to the hormones that play a role in fertility, two main hormones take center stage: estrogen and progesterone. As a woman’s body prepares for ovulation and enters the fertile window, estrogen levels begin to rise, as seen in this graph below…
This surge in estrogen triggers the cervix to secrete cervical mucus (sometimes referred to as cervical fluid). What does this cervical fluid have to do with conception? Actually, a lot! Cervical mucus plays a vital role in conception, as the survival of sperm is dependent on the presence of fertile cervical mucus. Sperm can be nourished for up to 5 days with the help of cervical fluid. Women typically have the most fertile cervical mucus 2–3 days before ovulation, when a woman has the best chance of conception.
As a fertility monitor, kegg senses the electrolyte levels which correlate to the hormonal fluctuations throughout the cycle. There is a shift to progesterone production once the egg is released, which results in a change in the electrolytes in the mucus. There are several days in which cervical mucus is more fertile in quality leading up to ovulation. Unlike temperature tracking ovulation predictor methods and LH testing, kegg predicts these fertile days in advance, empowering women to identify when they are potentially fertile.
How do I learn to track my cervical mucus?
There are several methods for learning how to track your cervical mucus before / when you’re ovulating. On average, it takes up to six months to begin to chart confidently. Confounding variables, such as hormonal imbalances and limited cervical mucus make it even more challenging. Tracking cervical mucus requires careful multiple daily monitoring.
Any other options?
Yes! Instead of analyzing the quantity and consistency of the cervical mucus, kegg, as a fertility monitor and ovulation detector, is able to predict the fertile window based on the unique trends of your menstrual cycle, associated with the hormonal shifts from estrogen dominance before ovulation, to progesterone production post ovulation. kegg allows women to know their fertile window in advance, without having to observe and track their cervical mucus on their own. In a sense, kegg “reads” the cervical mucus to determine which electrolytes are present and uses the trends of your cycle to make its educated predictions.
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