2021-08-31 06:56:12
White or transparent discharge is perfectly normal for women. They change depending on the menstrual cycle. Thus, as ovulation approaches, the cervical mucus will increase in quantity and become more fluid.
What is the role of cervical mucus during ovulation?
It is a white, viscous substance. This is secreted by the glands of the cervix under the influence of hormones. It comes in the form of stringy and transparent vaginal discharge before ovulation, then sticky and opaque after ovulation. These secretions are mainly composed of water and glycoproteins.
“The appearance of cervical mucus is subject to hormonal variations,” confirms Dr. Odile Bagot, gynecologist. “Under the influence of estrogen, it will be more liquid and facilitate the path of spermatozoa before ovulation. While under the influence of progesterone, in the post-ovulatory phase, it will on the contrary be more sticky – it is said to be ‘coagulated’ – and prevent the progression of spermatozoa”.
Cervical mucus plays an essential role in fertility. “In the days preceding ovulation, this will make the sperm fertilizing by facilitating their progression to the fallopian tube to reach the egg, but also by providing them with the ability to fertilize it” specifies the gynecologist. On the contrary, after ovulation, it will make it impossible for them to progress.
Observing cervical mucus before or after ovulation
The appearance of cervical mucus changes depending on the period of the menstrual cycle.
How is the cervical mucus before ovulation?
” So, in the pre-ovulatory phase, roughly four days before ovulation, these discharge will feel wet. They are slippery, transparent and stretch like filaments on the toilet paper when you wipe yourself. In short, it looks just like raw egg white,” explains Dr. Odile Bagot.
How is the cervical mucus the day after ovulation?
On the other hand, in post-ovulatory phasei.e. after ovulation the consistency is completely different: instead of being wet it is dry, instead of being slippery it is sticky, instead of being transparent it is opaque and instead of being stringy it’s elastic ».
Cervical mucus: an indicator for women to conceive…
By providing information on the different phases of a woman’s cycle, the observation of cervical mucus is a good indicator for determining her periods of fertility and promoting conception.
” In general, the woman is fertile on the day of ovulation and the four or five days before “says the gynecologist. “However, the closer you are to ovulation, the more likely you are to have a pregnancy. In a perfect 28-day cycle, ovulation occurs on day 14 of the cycle, which is 14 days after the first day of menstruation. But, contrary to what many women imagine, ovulation does not always occur two weeks after the start of the period, but two weeks before the start of the next period! In other words, the date of the first day of your period only informs you about the past ovulation date and not the one that will come! In short, it gets tougher if your cycles don’t always have the same regulatory number of days! “.
Rather than taking out her calendar and embarking on fairly random calculations, Odile Bagot advises observing the ovulatory mucus. A method to complete, if necessary, a temperature measurement – or menothermic curve – to validate a posteriori the best time to conceive a baby. “And yes, because once the temperature has risen, it means it was good…until yesterday! “.
… or on the contrary to avoid getting pregnant!
If observation of cervical mucus can help determine the most favorable periods for conception, it can also provide information on when the woman is no longer fertile.
natural method of contraception, symptothermie combines observation of cervical mucus (Billings), temperature measurement and self-observation of the cervix. Several smartphone apps like Moonly now offer women the opportunity to familiarize themselves with this method.
“But be careful, the use of the symptothermal method requires several conditions warns Odile Bagot:
- Have more or less regular cycles;
- Have a reliable partner who will use the condom as often as necessary;
- And be able to spot her fertile period.
And to add: “we can only do without local contraception when the ovulatory mucus has transformed with certainty into post-ovulatory mucus. No question of having fun with this little game if you can’t imagine being pregnant for a second! “.
Cervical mucus: abnormalities and impact on fertility
As we saw earlier, cervical mucus plays an important role in fertility. Also, some abnormalities like too acidic pH or too little mucus can cause infertility.
“This may be the case in women who have undergone extensive conization of the cervix as was done in the past. That is to say an intervention which consists of surgically removing part of the cervix. Knowing that today we only do mini-conisations with a diathermic loop and not with a scalpel,” explains the gynecologist.
“Among couples with difficulty conceiving – after a year of unsuccessful attempts, for example – one can practice a test dit d’chicken which consists in taking a sample of cervical mucus after sexual intercourse in the pre-ovulatory period in order to observe the spermatozoa under the microscope”.
This examination makes it possible to study the behavior and the capacity of the spermatozoa to penetrate the mucus. THE score d’Insler also offers the possibility of evaluating the characteristics and quality of the mucus as well as the appearance of the cervix.
How is the mucus if there has been fertilization and during pregnancy?
During pregnancy, under the effect of progesterone the cervical mucus will thicken and clot to form the famous mucous plug. This one, which comes in the form of a gelatinous mass, will “seal” the cervix and act as a protective barrier to protect the fetus from germs present in the vagina.
As childbirth approaches, during the third trimester of pregnancy, the mucous plug is expelled naturally. Its loss means that the cervix is changing, not necessarily that labor will begin in the hours that follow.
SO, do not worry unless it is accompanied by a loss of amniotic fluid and painful and close contractions. In this case, go to the maternity ward without delay because baby should soon show up!
Pink, irritating, smelly vaginal discharge: when to consult?
Be careful not to confuse vaginal discharge, also called leucorrhea, normal so-called physiological with pathological vaginal discharge. “Normal vaginal discharge is opalescent and odorless. It sometimes happens in some women that the cervical mucus is tinged with a small trickle of red blood. It happens. Don’t worry: it’s just the indicator of ovulation.
“On the other hand, if thethe losses have a bad smellare colorful (greenish/whitish) and/or irritating (itching), we consult our gynecologist”, insists Odile Bagot. “This may be a sign of a yeast infection, a sexually transmitted infection or an imbalance in the vaginal flora”.
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