Cervical discharge when trying to conceive
Bear with me on this one - I know it might seem a gross topic!
Understanding your cycle is helpful because it can help you to pick up when things are not quite right. The timing written here may vary from person to person, but in general the findings will be consistent. Your body may differ, so keep a close eye over several cycles so you get to know what is normal for you!
Here are the phases, and what your discharge will look like
1. Beginning of your cycle: menstruation
On day one of the cycle levels of both estrogen and progesterone are low and you will see your period blood. It will last 4-7 days for most people, and then just after your period stops you won’t see much discharge at all until oestrogen builds up.
2. Leading up to ovulation: sticky, white, creamy, lotion-y
As estrogen levels rise, the cervix produces more fluid. At first, it might be thick and sticky or tacky, and become more wet and creamy, like a lotion. It may look whitish and cloudy, or even yellowish (especially if it’s dry on your underwear). In a 28-day menstrual cycle, you may first notice this fluid around day 9 or 10.
3. Around ovulation: eggy, wet, slippery, clear, stretchy (egg white)
As ovulation approaches, fluid becomes stretchier and clearer. As estrogen peaks, 1-2 days before ovulation, cervical fluid often resembles a raw eggwhite that you can stretch for inches between your thumb and finger.
The presence of fertile cervical fluid can’t confirm ovulation definitely takes place, and some people ovulate without any egg-white discharge at all
4. Luteal phase: sticky, dry
In the day or two after ovulation (the beginning of the luteal phase), the amount of fluid decreases quickly because of high progesterone. Fluid again may become sticky or tacky, or just dry and absent.
This leads us back to menstruation, and the cycle begins again.
Every body is unique-these changes may show up differently for you, or you may experience or interpret them in a different way.
Any questions?👇🏼
Ref: Bigelow JL, et al. Mucus observations in the fertile window: a better predictor of conception than timing of intercourse. Human Reproduction. 2004