Observing cervical mucus is one method of natural contraception. It can support other methods and thus increase their effectiveness, or be the only fertility indicator on which the natural methods of family planning are based. Learn how to monitor vaginal mucus to identify your fertile and infertile days.

By observing the cervical (vaginal) mucusregularly for several months, you can learn to accurately determine the infertile, intermediate and very fertile days.

Mucus observation methods - how does the mucus change during the cycle?

Cervical mucus differs in particular phases of the cycle, among others. density, viscosity and abundance. The cervical glands produce the most abundant mucus around the area of ​​ovulation. Although mucus is 93% water, at that time it is "watery" by as much as 98%. By following the hormonal changes occurring during the cycle, changes in the consistency of the cervical mucus can also be observed. At the very beginning of the cycle, when a woman's body shows low levels of estrogen, the mucus is thin, thick and quite sticky. Thanks to this form, it seals the cervix well, protecting access to it against sperm. The same type of mucus also appears at the beginning of pregnancy. Then its task is to protect the zygote from the action of microorganisms.

Returning to the cycle, however, after a few days from the beginning of the cycle, the level of estrogen begins to increase, and then the properties of the mucus also change. It becomes increasingly thinner, less sticky and more abundant. The highest level of these features is achieved during the ovulation phase, i.e. the maximum fertility of a woman. The purpose of this mucus is to help the sperm survive and get to the egg as quickly as possible for fertilization. After ovulation has subsided and estrogen levels have fallen, the mucus undergoes the opposite transformation. It becomes thicker and sticky until it disappears completely around the menstrual period.

Mucus observation methods - what are the features of fertile and infertile mucus?

Fertile cervical mucushas the following properties:

  • causes the vagina to feel wet or very moist,
  • is transparent and sparse,
  • is slippery and stretchy.

Infertile cervical mucushas the following characteristics:

  • causes discomfort and a feeling of dryness in the vagina,
  • is cloudy - white or yellowish,
  • is thick and sticky.

The mucus during the cycle can also take intermediate forms, therefore, to clarify its description, it is divided into five types:

  • dry mucus- no or minimal amounts of mucus - hard to spot on underwear;
  • sticky mucus- small amounts of mucus, but quite thick and sticky (it tears between the fingers);
  • cream slime- smooth and cloudy, looks like a lotion;
  • watery mucus- very rare, practically transparent, abundant, fertile;
  • stretchy mucus- the most fertile mucus, very flexible, looks like chicken protein.
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What role does cervical mucus play in the monthly cycle?

Cervical mucus is a secretion made by glands located in the cervix. The activity of these glands depends on the hormonal balance, and the mucus is a reaction to the increased levels of estrogen and progesterone in the body, which play the most important role in a woman's fertility. Mucus, depending on its consistency, is either an obstacle to fertilization or a support for procreation.

Amazing facts about contraception

Mucus observation methods - what affects the quality of mucus?

In addition to neutral hormonal factors, external conditions can also affect mucus and its consistency and abundance. The cleanliness of the vagina, and exactly the right pH environment, is of great importance. Any inflammation or bacteria caused by abnormal vaginal biocenosis can cause the mucus to change texture and color. Then the interpretation of its properties may be wrong. Another factor that can affect mucus quality is diet. For example, linseed or evening primrose oil can increase the amount of mucus, and some medications even completely change its nature. Mucus production can also be disrupted after long-term use of hormonal contraception. It is therefore necessary to wait a few cycles before deciding to test the properties of the mucus. Accordingly, examination of the mucus immediately after intercourse should also be avoided, as the texture changes its consistency when aroused. Sperm can also interfere with its properties.

Mucus observation methods - how to observe mucus?

Checking the mucus should be done in two ways: by observation and by touch. Usually, even without seeing the mucus, a woman who knows her body well can sense when the mucus is thin and thick (vaginal dryness) and whenvery thin and profuse (feeling of moisture, good hydration and slippage during sexual intercourse). Of course, the described type of mucus during the cycle is a book example, so do not worry if, for example, the mucus appears immediately after the menstruation or it is quite thick throughout the cycle.

If mucus monitoring is to be a determinant of fertility, it should be carried out daily, several times a day - preferably when we go to the toilet. This will minimize the risk of confusion or misreading of the mucus properties. It is important to keep records of your observations on an ongoing basis. It is best to set up a special notebook for this and draw the interpretation and conclusions from the observation only after a few cycles.

And how to check the thickness and consistency of mucus? This is best done simply by touching the vaginal opening with your hand or rubbing yourself with toilet paper on which the mucus should remain. For a better analysis of the mucus, e.g. its stickiness, take a little mucus between the thumb and forefinger and check its extensibility.

Mucus observation methods

Observing cervical mucus is the cornerstone of natural family planning. There are several methods where the mucus test is the only or one of several determinants of fertility.

  • The Rötzer method (symptothermal).Among all the natural methods of family planning, this one is one of the most accurate. All because, in addition to observing the cervical mucus, other processes that occur during the cycle are analyzed. Thanks to this, the determination of fertility is very accurate and can be done with almost 100% certainty. In addition to the mucus examination method, body temperature measurement (daily recording) is also added to the analysis, the condition of the cervix is ​​examined (whether it is fluffed and open or closed and hard), and other symptoms characteristic for different stages of the menstrual cycle are also observed, e.g. worse well-being, pain in the breasts and lower abdomen. The effect of such a detailed analysis is a fairly high level of guarantee of the reliability of this method as a method of contraception. The Pearl Index is in this case a maximum of 0.9.
  • The Billings method (slime).This is another method of natural family planning, but with a slightly lower reliability guarantee. All because it is based only on the observation of one fertility factor - cervical mucus. By observing the mucus throughout the days of the cycle, it is possible to determine when ovulation is occurring. Due to the difficulty of observing the mucus and the high risk of misinterpretation of the result, it is not an effective method of contraception. The mucus method scored 15-32 according to Pearl Index.However, the more experience in examining cervical mucus and the more meticulous the analyzes, the lower the risk of making a mistake.
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Support by computer method.The examination of the mucus can be authenticated by additional fertility measurements, which are facilitated by, among other things, special cycle computers. Such a computer has a built-in very accurate thermometer that collects and records the results and then analyzes it, informing at the end whether a given day is fertile or not. Since the use of a cycle computer has a high reliability, adding to it your own observation of the cervical mucus may increase its effectiveness to the maximum.

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Pregnancy