What is cervical mucus?
Cervical mucus is a whitish substance secreted by the cervix under the action of estrogen. Its texture is viscous and stringy and changes during the menstrual cycle. Apart from ovulation it protects the uterus from bacteria and blocks the passage of sperm. During ovulation, its role is very important because it will become fluid to facilitate the passage of sperm.
Changes in cervical mucus during the menstrual cycle
It is easy to observe changes in cervical mucus during the menstrual cycle.
- Outside of ovulation: the mucus is viscous and thick
- Before menstruation: mucus becomes pasty
- During ovulation: the mucus thins, it becomes more transparent and sticky. They say it looks like egg white
- During peak fertility: the mucus is liquid, the woman may have the impression of being “wet” or of having urinary leakage
During pregnancy, women continue to have vaginal discharge. The cervical mucus is then opaque and sticky. It will little by little constitute the mucous plug which will protect baby from infections.
The Billings method: when cervical mucus indicates the fertile period
Invented in Australia in the 1970s the Billings method consists of a careful (and daily!) examination of the cervical mucus in order to determine the fertile period. Porous, it allows sperm to pass through; thicker, on the contrary, it prevents their passage outside the fertile period. You must therefore insert your fingers into the vagina in order to observe the consistency of the mucus.
It is a method which requires very good knowledge of one’s body and whose effectiveness nevertheless remains uncertain, the consistency of the mucus being able to be modified by external elements: vaginal infection, sexual arousal, use of a antihistamine.
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