Preconception 101

Lesson 2: Charting Basics

Cervical Fluid

The next best fertility sign is cervical fluid. Cervical fluid is produced at the cervix throughout the entire cycle. Examination of this fluid can fairly well tell you what point you are in your cycle.

The best way to examine the cervical fluid is by swiping toilet paper or your fingers across the opening of your vagina. Or you can insert a finger or two and “draw” it from the opening of the cervix itself. If you choose the latter, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly beforehand and make sure to have your nails trimmed. Long nails can nick the cervix and cause it to bleed. You then take the fluid and put it between your finger and thumb and check to see what type of consistency it is.

During the first part of the cycle, the uterine lining is being shed. This can mask the cervical fluid making it tough to determine if the fluid is actually fertile or not. And yes, a woman can be fertile during her menstruation, though it is rare.

Once menstruation has stopped, the cervical fluid usually dries up. As it gets closer to ovulation the cervical fluid becomes creamy and white, like lotion, for a few days. It can also have a sticky feeling to it at this time. The fluid becomes more wet and more stretchy and clear as ovulation approaches. This type is known as egg-white cervical mucus (EWCM) and is the most fertile. This happens as a result of estrogen surging through the body, getting ready to release the egg(s). When you see the stretchy, clear fluid, it’s the best time to have intercourse. There is usually an abundance of this type of fluid. On the average a woman will have a couple of days of this EWCM. There may also be some spotting around the time of ovulation. Again, in the past this was a cause of concern, but now if there’s blood in the clear stretchy fluid it’s an excellent fertility sign. The spotting is a result in the sudden drop of estrogen just before the egg is released. Some women won’t produce a lot of EWCM, in this case go by the wet feeling or sensation in the vagina. The peak fertile day is the last day of wet vaginal sensation or the presence of egg-white like cervical fluid.

Be aware that semen can mask true cervical fluid. Semen at a glance looks a lot like the EWCM - it's fairly clear and it stretches. However semen will "break" and evaporate much quicker than cervical fluid. Be sure to mark on your chart when you have intercourse to help in determining the type of cervical fluid you find.

After ovulation, the cervical fluid will dry up or become creamy. This is due to the progesterone which warms the body. As the body gets ready to start another menstrual cycle the fluid usually becomes wet again, almost mimicking the EWCM. However, if you are pregnant, the cervical fluid becomes creamy – either white or yellow in color. Pregnant women produce a lot of cervical fluid. But the presence or absence of fluid does not determine pregnancy.

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