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Charting Your Fertility Signs: Cervical Fluid

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Cervical fluid (CF), the second primary fertility sign, is probably the best day to day indicator of fertility. Sperm need CF to survive. High-quality CF feeds the sperm, allows the sperm to travel, and provides an alkaline substance in an acidic environment. By observing and recording your CF, in conjunction with your basal body temperature, you will know better when to time intercourse to avoid or achieve pregnancy.

Almost all women have an observable pattern of changes in CF which can be recorded on the basal body temperature chart. The classic pattern goes like this:

Dry: early in your cycle, you have no CF. You may feel a slight dampness, but it dries immediately when exposed to the air.

Sticky: as its name suggests, this CF is pasty, sticky, gummy, or rubbery, but it lacks true wetness.

Creamy: like hand lotion, this CF is creamy and wet.

Egg white: like raw egg white, this CF is slippery, very wet, and can stretch between your fingers from 1 inch to an unbelievable 10 inches. This is the most fertile-quality CF.

For photos of the different types of CF, click here http://www.familyplanning.net/ and scroll down the page. Or, check out the photos in the center of Tony Weschler's Taking Charge of Your Fertility (between pages 144 and 145).

In reality, we don't all follow this classic pattern. I have my own unique pattern, and I've developed my own CF symbols to record on my chart. Whatever your personal pattern, keep in mind that the "wetter" the CF, the more fertile-quality it is, with egg white being the MOST fertile. Sperm can survive for up to 5 days in egg-white CF.

Observe your CF throughout the day by swiping yourself with a tissue or finger. A particularly good time to check your CF is after a bowel movement since CF tends to flow out during this activity. You may also check your CF by pinching it from your cervix with your first two fingers, but, of course, be sure your hands are clean.

Record your most fertile-quality CF on your chart for that day. If you are trying to get pregnant, take advantage of every "wet" day you have, with special attention to those "egg white" days. If you are trying to avoid pregnancy, have intercourse only on dry days, and avoid all "wet" days. Generally, women have the most egg white CF the day before, or the day of, ovulation.

Try to tell the difference between CF and semen. Supposedly semen breaks more easily and dries more quickly than egg white CF. Some people suggest doing Kegels exercises after intercourse to eliminate the semen, so you can chart more easily. If you're at all confused, put a question mark on your chart and don't take chances.

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