For some reason, women are often embarrassed about their bodies. I don’t consider myself a feminist, but it does amaze me when I see the difference in how men and women view their most intimate parts. Men usually have no problem discussing size, use, and bodily exploration, but women many times even have difficulty just calling theirs by name – vagina. This has me thinking of a scene from the movie 500 Days of Summer – Summer starts screaming “penis” in a crowded place, laughing at others’ embarrassment. I wonder how different the scene would have been if she were screaming “vagina.”
With this all in mind, we’ll be talking about the next part of charting: assessing cervical fluid. Some women are uncomfortable and embarrassed by this, but I don’t believe they should be. No man is embarrassed by his semen.
Cervical fluid (sometimes called cervical mucus, a term I find offensive because it sounds like the stuff I have in my nose during an awful cold. As a side note, why is it that so many terms relating to female reproduction are so offensive – incompetent cervix, spontaneous abortion, habitual abortion, etc. Nasty nasty.). Cervical fluid is a really beautiful thing. It helps protect the vagina from bacteria, lubricates it in preparation and fulfillment of lovemaking, and serves as a carrier and assistant to sperm. It changes throughout the cycle in response to hormones, sometimes fairly quickly. Cervical fluid tells so much about the cycle that it can be used without BBT for charting – though it is very helpful to know both.
During infertile points in the cycle (remember that women, unlike men, are fertile only a few days of their cycle), cervical fluid is usually minimal. Some may describe feeling dry, or “sticky.” When checking cervical fluid at this point, many women describe infertile cervical fluid as yellowish and the consistency of dried rubber cement – remember in elementary school art class how it balls up when rolled between your fingers? This is a very accurate description.
As a woman begins to approach her fertile period, the cervical fluid usually changes. At this point it may be white or clear. The consistency is thin, and it may stretch a little between the fingers. Some women describe feeling “a little wet” all day. (This probably contributes to the increased sex drive many experience before ovulation.)
In the days right before ovulation, the cervical fluid goes through another change. It becomes very slippery. It can be described as looking and feeling just like egg whites (many even call it egg white cervical fluid or EWCF). It stretches a good bit between the fingers without breaking. Many women say they feel “very wet” or “slippery” throughout the day. Sometimes this kind of cervical fluid even slips out when you use the toilet, causing you to not notice it.
Knowing your cervical fluid is very valuable whether or not you’re trying to conceive. Many women go to the doctor or take unnecessary treatments, believing they have an infection because something is coming out of the vagina. Knowing the normal appearance of your cervical fluid can help prevent this; it can also help you find something early on.
Charting cervical fluid is valuable as well for trying to conceive. While temperature doesn’t change until after you ovulate, cervical fluid changes as you approach ovulation. This is why I look to chart both. The cervical fluid lets me know I’m approaching ovulation; the temperature shift confirms ovulation occurred. Also, you can have cervical fluid changes without ovulating – your body geared up and got ready to ovulate, but something happened and it didn’t actually release an egg.
Knowing that you are approaching your fertile period allows you to know when to use barrier methods of birth control, abstain from sex, or try try try for that baby! Cervical fluid dries up after ovulation (or in the event you don’t ovulate, after the hormones drop off before you have break-through bleeding).
There are two ways of checking cervical fluid: outside and inside. Checking outside entails using toilet paper or your fingers to check cervical fluid on the lips of the vagina. Roll it around between your fingers to get the feel of it before you look at it. Check the appearance of your fluid; see if it stretches. Note the color. Record your findings. The advantage of outside checking is that many women feel more comfortable with it and it seems simpler. The disadvantage is that you may miss fertile quality fluid near the cervix and misinterpret your point in your cycle.
Checking inside involves putting two fingers into the vagina as far as the cervix. Draw a bit of fluid from the cervix and check it in the same way as you would check outside. I believe it is valuable to note both inner and outer checks. Be aware of your body, and learn what it can teach you.
Some guidelines and tips for checking cervical fluid:
Check the same way each time. Just like checking temperature, consistency is key. Don’t check outside one day and inside the next. If you are going to check both ways, do so at the same time every day.
Try to check at the same general time of day each day. It doesn’t have to be exact like when you check your BBT. However, you should try to pick a general time – say afternoon – so you can be consistent and remember to do it. Many women check as part of their toilet routine. This allows you to check throughout the day and around the same general times of day.
Don’t check when aroused or right after lovemaking. Arousal fluid and semen can obscure your assessment. You can also note that your fluid was “semen obscured” if you are unsure.
A great website for seeing cervical changes is this one: My beautiful cervix. Look at it and appreciate the beauty in how your body was designed.
Next post: putting it all into practice and some general tips.
With this all in mind, we’ll be talking about the next part of charting: assessing cervical fluid. Some women are uncomfortable and embarrassed by this, but I don’t believe they should be. No man is embarrassed by his semen.
Cervical fluid (sometimes called cervical mucus, a term I find offensive because it sounds like the stuff I have in my nose during an awful cold. As a side note, why is it that so many terms relating to female reproduction are so offensive – incompetent cervix, spontaneous abortion, habitual abortion, etc. Nasty nasty.). Cervical fluid is a really beautiful thing. It helps protect the vagina from bacteria, lubricates it in preparation and fulfillment of lovemaking, and serves as a carrier and assistant to sperm. It changes throughout the cycle in response to hormones, sometimes fairly quickly. Cervical fluid tells so much about the cycle that it can be used without BBT for charting – though it is very helpful to know both.
During infertile points in the cycle (remember that women, unlike men, are fertile only a few days of their cycle), cervical fluid is usually minimal. Some may describe feeling dry, or “sticky.” When checking cervical fluid at this point, many women describe infertile cervical fluid as yellowish and the consistency of dried rubber cement – remember in elementary school art class how it balls up when rolled between your fingers? This is a very accurate description.
As a woman begins to approach her fertile period, the cervical fluid usually changes. At this point it may be white or clear. The consistency is thin, and it may stretch a little between the fingers. Some women describe feeling “a little wet” all day. (This probably contributes to the increased sex drive many experience before ovulation.)
In the days right before ovulation, the cervical fluid goes through another change. It becomes very slippery. It can be described as looking and feeling just like egg whites (many even call it egg white cervical fluid or EWCF). It stretches a good bit between the fingers without breaking. Many women say they feel “very wet” or “slippery” throughout the day. Sometimes this kind of cervical fluid even slips out when you use the toilet, causing you to not notice it.
Knowing your cervical fluid is very valuable whether or not you’re trying to conceive. Many women go to the doctor or take unnecessary treatments, believing they have an infection because something is coming out of the vagina. Knowing the normal appearance of your cervical fluid can help prevent this; it can also help you find something early on.
Charting cervical fluid is valuable as well for trying to conceive. While temperature doesn’t change until after you ovulate, cervical fluid changes as you approach ovulation. This is why I look to chart both. The cervical fluid lets me know I’m approaching ovulation; the temperature shift confirms ovulation occurred. Also, you can have cervical fluid changes without ovulating – your body geared up and got ready to ovulate, but something happened and it didn’t actually release an egg.
Knowing that you are approaching your fertile period allows you to know when to use barrier methods of birth control, abstain from sex, or try try try for that baby! Cervical fluid dries up after ovulation (or in the event you don’t ovulate, after the hormones drop off before you have break-through bleeding).
There are two ways of checking cervical fluid: outside and inside. Checking outside entails using toilet paper or your fingers to check cervical fluid on the lips of the vagina. Roll it around between your fingers to get the feel of it before you look at it. Check the appearance of your fluid; see if it stretches. Note the color. Record your findings. The advantage of outside checking is that many women feel more comfortable with it and it seems simpler. The disadvantage is that you may miss fertile quality fluid near the cervix and misinterpret your point in your cycle.
Checking inside involves putting two fingers into the vagina as far as the cervix. Draw a bit of fluid from the cervix and check it in the same way as you would check outside. I believe it is valuable to note both inner and outer checks. Be aware of your body, and learn what it can teach you.
Some guidelines and tips for checking cervical fluid:
Check the same way each time. Just like checking temperature, consistency is key. Don’t check outside one day and inside the next. If you are going to check both ways, do so at the same time every day.
Try to check at the same general time of day each day. It doesn’t have to be exact like when you check your BBT. However, you should try to pick a general time – say afternoon – so you can be consistent and remember to do it. Many women check as part of their toilet routine. This allows you to check throughout the day and around the same general times of day.
Don’t check when aroused or right after lovemaking. Arousal fluid and semen can obscure your assessment. You can also note that your fluid was “semen obscured” if you are unsure.
A great website for seeing cervical changes is this one: My beautiful cervix. Look at it and appreciate the beauty in how your body was designed.
Next post: putting it all into practice and some general tips.
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