Cervical mucus and your fertility

Cervical mucus is a natural secretion produced by the cervical glands to moisten and protect the cervix. Cervical mucus helps in determining when one is fertile. Combined with changes in basal body temperature, the mucus can help determine whether one is ovulating or not. During this time, one’s sex drive is at its peak. The mucus is transported through glandular ducts into the cervical canal, where it provides the functional effects of lubrication, and aids in sperm transportation. The cervical canal is also maintained at the right pH.

Natural change of cervical mucus in the menstrual cycle
The type of cervical mucus discharge varies, depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle. In mid cycle or around the time of ovulation, it becomes moist and stretchy like egg-white. Fertility potential is at its peak then. At this time there is ease of passage of sperms into the uterus. Soon after ovulation the mucus dries up and looks like lotion. This continues when a woman is pregnant, causing a cervical ‘plug’ that prevents infection from traveling up into the uterus.

Effects of hormonal contraceptives on cervical mucus
Combined pills or progesterone-only pills have the effect of drying up the cervical mucus. In addition to causing anovular cycles, it makes it difficult for sperms to travel upwards from the cervix and into the uterus. This makes fertility even more difficult and adds to the effectiveness of the contraceptives.

Cervical mucus and conception
Fertile cervical mucus at ovulation time creates ease of passage of sperms to reach the uterus. This secretion is thus vital for fertility. Occasionally, there may also be anti-sperm antibody in it, a reason that causes infertility when both couples are apparently otherwise normal.

Infertile cervical mucus
Cervical mucus may be fertile or of an abnormal quality. Infertile mucus is produced when the following happens:

o Chronic infection of cervix
o Use of some medications such as clomiphene,paradoxically used to treat some cases of infertility o Inexplicable thick mucus that does not undergo the transformation expected during ovulation

Improvement of cervical mucus
This can be made possible by:
o Treating infection if present
o Use oestrogen in some cases

The quality of cervical mucus can determine your overall health and level of fertility.

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