Cervical Mucus: How it changes through different stages

Ever wondered whether what is that sticky discharge and whether it's normal? That sticky discharge is cervical mucus and its secretion is a healthy bodily function. You may notice the cervical fluid either changes or disappears at times. We will look at the different stages of cervical mucus and the changes it goes through during the menstrual cycle.

• What is cervical mucus?
• Changes to cervical mucus during menstrual cycle
• Cervical mucus in early pregnancy
• How to check cervical mucus?
• Tips to manage cervical mucus

The cervix secretes a fluid known as cervical mucus or cervical fluid into the vagina. The primary function of this secretion is to keep the vagina lubricated and to prevent it from getting infections. You would have noticed that cervical mucus is not the same throughout your menstrual cycle. At times it's sticky, or creamy or similar to raw egg whites. Your cervical mucus before periods is different than the mucus during ovulation.

To make things simpler to understand, here's a brief explanation of what your cervical mucus looks like over the course of your menstrual cycle.

The first four to six days of your menstrual cycle are when you have your periods, and when you typically bleed. Your mucus will be covered with blood and the cervical mucus can't be distinguished.

In the day following your period, you may notice significantly little or no mucus at all.

Before an egg is released, just before ovulation occurs, your body produces mucus that may be yellow or white in colour or cloudy in texture. During this time, the mucus may feel sticky or stretchy too. As ovulation nears, immediately before it, your level of estrogen will see a rise. Clear, stretchy, watery, and slippery mucus is typically the consistency to expect at this time. The cervical mucus at this stage may be similar that that of raw egg whites and is popularly known as the fertile period when you can have intercourse to conceive.

Read more about 5 ways to track your ovulation cycle .

The kind of clear, stretchy cervical mucus that you may have noticed right before ovulation will stay consistent even during ovulation. The reason for its slippery texture and pH is to enable the sperm to swim up and protect it. Read more about signs of ovulation here.

Once ovulation has occurred, the amount of mucus too will begin to decline. Some find it getting thicker, cloudy, or gluey again, while others experience dry days during this time.

The consistency of cervical mucus of a woman largely depends on ovulation. If someone does not ovulate, there are fewer changes that they may notice in their mucus. Whereas for someone who ovulates earlier or later in the menstrual cycle, the above timeline may not be their typical cervical mucus stages. Read more about the 5 signs that indicate ovulation is over .

The consistency of cervical mucus sees distinct changes after conception. It is one of the very early signs of pregnancy. The mucus may turn thick, gummy, and clear in colour. Some women also experience implantation bleeding, which is a light spotting that happens when the fertilised egg attaches itself to the uterus. The bleeding usually lasts no more than a day or two.

In early pregnancy the mucus tends to become stickier, white, or yellow. The colour and consistency of your discharge will change over the course of your pregnancy. Once you've given birth, your periods after delivery and vaginal discharge will also see changes and take time to get back to its usual functioning.

In order to keep a check on your mucus, you must check its appearance every day from the first day after your periods. Maintain a diary to note the changes. Here's how you can check your cervical mucus.

1. After you've used the bathroom, wipe the vaginal area to get rid of any excess urine as it can change the appearance of cervical fluid. Pat the area dry with toilet paper. Check for any visible fluid.

2. Thoroughly wash your hands before gently inserting your finger into the vagina, about half an inch.

3. Once you remove your finger, note the colour, texture, and general appearance of the fluid. Record what you've observed in your diary.

The secretion of cervical mucus may be a normal and healthy bodily function but it can surely be uncomfortable to feel wet down there. Manage vaginal discharge by using Always panty liners . Stay fresh with ALWAYS Daily Liners Multiform Panty Liners which are designed for everyday comfort and relief. Their 1mm thinness and breathable design ensures that you feel dry and great, at all times. They are mildly scented and are an ideal fit for protection from vaginal discharge. These liners are also dermatologically tested to be gentle on delicate skin.

It is important to keep a check on your discharge or cervical mucus to raise a flag if you notice anything unusual. Watch out for the below signs:

• Unusual colour of mucus such as yellow, green, or grey mucus
• Burning sensation or feeling of itchiness
• If your mucus has a strong smell or odour
• Any redness or swelling in your vaginal area
• Bleeding outside of your period.

Typically, cervical mucus is nothing to be concerned about as it is a healthy part of a woman's menstrual cycle. However, be mindful and keep an eye out for anything that seems to be unusual and get it checked by your doctor immediately.

Keep a track of your ovulation period with Always Ovulation Calendar and Period Calculator.

From bleeding during period days, to a dry spell after it and sticky, slippery discharge during ovulation, cervical mucus changes in colour and consistency over the course of a menstrual cycle due to hormonal changes.

Once ovulation has occurred the amount of mucus too will begin to decline. Some find it getting thicker, cloudy, or gluey again, while others experience dry days during this time.

The consistency of cervical mucus sees distinct changes after conception. It is one of the very early signs of pregnancy. The mucus may turn thick, gummy, and clear in colour.

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