How to Check Cervical Mucus

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Women who use natural family planning (NFP) as a birth control method often use the characteristics of their cervical mucus to indicate where they are in their menstrual cycle. Since the quantity and consistency of cervical mucus present at a given time provides significant clues to when a woman is ovulating, it is also monitored by women who are trying to become pregnant. Cervical mucus that is wet, slippery, clear and stretchy is a sign that ovulation is likely to occur (usually within 24 hours for most women). Here are some tips on how to check your cervical mucus.

Steps

1. Begin tracking the characteristics of your cervical mucus on the date your period stops. Check every day, at about the same time of day, and record the results so that you can see patterns of change over time.
2. Wipe your entire genital area, front to back, with toilet paper.
3. Write down the characteristics of the cervical mucus that is transferred to the toilet paper.
   • Record the color (white or yellow), and whether it is clear or cloudy.
   • Note the consistency. It may be thick, thin, sticky or stretchy.
   • Record whether your vulva feels wet, moist or dry.
4. Urinate, then repeat the process.
5. Evaluate the cervical mucus based on the observations you've made.
   • Look for periods during which your cervical mucus has been clear and white. This is an indication that ovulation is near.
   • Note the times when your mucus is stretchy and slippery, like an egg white. This is another indication that ovulation will occur within a day or so.
   • Look for times when your vulva felt wetter than normal. This also indicates that you are approaching ovulation.

Tips

• Check your cervical mucus after a bowel movement if possible. This will typically provide a greater quantity of mucus to analyze.
• Have sex on the days during and up to 4 days after ovulation if you are trying to become pregnant. If you are trying to avoid pregnancy, do not have sex on these dates.
• Be patient. Most women find that it takes a few cycles to become familiar with the unique characteristics of their own cervical secretions.
• Consider basal body temperature monitoring in conjunction with your cervical mucus tracking. This method, which involves taking your temperature every morning before you get up, can help provide additional insight into your fertility cycle, especially when used along with cervical mucus monitoring.

Warnings

• Contact your doctor if you notice a significant, unexpected change in the appearance, consistency or smell of your cervical mucus. These changes can be a sign of infection.
• Understand the risks related to using cervical mucus monitoring alone as a method of birth control. This method does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Approximately 22% of women who use this means of birth control alone become pregnant over the course of 1 year. Breastfeeding, recent childbirth and recent use of birth control pills also can affect the accuracy of cervical mucus monitoring as a method of predicting ovulation.
• Do not use douches or spermicide, and avoid intercourse on the days when you are evaluating your cervical mucus for signs of fertility. These activities will leave behind substances that will affect the characteristics of your cervical secretions, and may lead you to false conclusions about your state of fertility.

Sources and Citations

• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cervical-mucus-method/MY01004/DSECTION=what-you-can-expect
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cervical-mucus-method/MY01004/DSECTION=why-its-done
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cervical-mucus-method/MY01004/DSECTION=risks
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cervical-mucus-method/MY01004/DSECTION=how-you-prepare

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