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Charting Basics Part 2:
Cervical Fluid
The next best fertility sign is cervical fluid.
Cervical fluid is produced at the cervix throughout the entire cycle.
Examination of this fluid can fairly well tell you what point you are in your
cycle.
The best way to examine the cervical fluid is by swiping toilet
paper or your fingers across the opening of your vagina. Or you can insert a
finger or two and “draw” it from the opening of the cervix itself. If you choose
the latter, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly beforehand and make sure to
have your nails trimmed. Long nails can nick the cervix and cause it to bleed.
You then take the fluid and put it between your finger and thumb and check to
see what type of consistency it is.
During the first part of the cycle, the uterine lining is being shed. This can
mask the cervical fluid making it tough to determine if the fluid is actually
fertile or not. And yes, a woman can be fertile during her menstruation, though
it is rare. I personally know a woman who conceived the 8th day of her cycle.
And remember count day one as the first day of actual bleeding.
After the menstrual bleeding has stopped, the cervix usually dries up. As it
gets closer to ovulation the cervical fluid becomes creamy and white - like
lotion for a few days. It can also have a sticky feeling to it at this time.
Then the fluid gets more wet and more stretchy and clear. This is known as
egg-white cervical fluid and is the most fertile. This happens as a result of
estrogen surging through the body, getting ready to release the egg(s). When you
see the stretchy, clear fluid - it’s the best time to have intercourse. There is
usually an abundance of this type of fluid and once upon a time, doctors and
women thought that the presence of this fluid was a sign of infection when
indeed it’s the best sign of fertility! On the average a woman will have a
couple of days of this egg-white cervical fluid and then ovulate. There may also
be some spotting around the time of ovulation. Again, in the past this was a
cause of concern, but now if there’s blood in the clear stretchy fluid - that’s
an excellent fertility sign! The spotting is a result in the sudden drop of
estrogen just before the egg is released.
After ovulation, the cervical fluid will dry up or become creamy. This is due to
the progesterone which warms the body. As the body gets ready to start another
menstrual cycle the fluid usually becomes wet again, almost mimicking the
egg-white like fluid. However, if you are pregnant, the cervical fluid becomes
creamy - I’ve even heard some women say it becomes more yellow in color too.
Pregnant women produce a lot of cervical fluid. But the presence or absence of
fluid does not determine pregnancy.
While charting cervical fluid may seem “gross” at first, it’s really a vital
role in determining where you are in your fertility cycle. After a while, you’ll
get use to it and realize that it’s a part of nature and not some disease or
“discharge” as once was thought.
Lori Ramsey
of
Stages in Pregnancy
©
2006 by Lori Ramsey,
Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
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