It is important to pay attention to cervical mucus, especially if you are planning to become pregnant. The reason is, the color and texture of cervical mucus during the fertile period is different from usual. This can be an "alarm" when it's best to have sexual intercourse, because the chances of getting pregnant tend to be greater.
Cervical mucus is mucus that comes out of the cervix and is triggered by the hormone estrogen. Cervical mucus production generally increases during the fertile period. Cervical mucus in women not only serves to prevent the entry of foreign objects into the uterus, but also helps the movement of sperm into the uterus.
The condition of cervical mucus is influenced by hormonal changes, including during the fertile period, where the egg is released from the ovary and is ready to be fertilized. This is the reason why there is a link between the chances of pregnancy and the condition of a woman's cervical mucus.
Characteristics of Cervical Mucus in Fertile Period
Cervical mucus or fluid is produced by glands in and around the cervix. The amount and thickness of cervical mucus can vary from time to time according to changes in hormone levels in the body.
During the fertile period, cervical mucus will be clear like raw egg white or also known as egg white cervical mucus (EWCM). At this time, cervical mucus has a more elastic texture and the right pH for sperm.
The elastic texture of this mucus helps protect the sperm from reaching the egg safely. So, it can be said that this is the best time to have sex if you want to get pregnant.
How to Check Cervical Mucus
Given that there is a relationship between the chances of pregnancy and the color and texture of cervical mucus, you can check the condition of your cervical fluid, especially before having sex. You can perform cervical mucus examination with the following steps:
1. Squat or stand in a comfortable position
Take a comfortable position, either sitting or squatting on the toilet, or standing by lifting and placing one foot on the toilet seat.
2. Take cervical mucus
If the cervical mucus sticks to the underwear directly with your finger or use toilet paper to wipe the vagina.
You can also insert your index or middle finger into the vagina, as close as possible to the cervix, after washing and drying your hands thoroughly.
3. Check the thickness of cervical mucus
After getting cervical mucus, check its consistency using your thumb and forefinger:
- If it is dry, thick, and feels sticky, it could be that your fertile period has not yet arrived.
- If it feels like a cream, maybe your fertile window is coming soon.
- If it feels wet, watery, and begins to stretch, chances are that your fertile window is near.
- If it feels very wet, watery, very stretchable, and clear like raw egg white, then it's a good time to have sex, if you want to get pregnant.
Avoid checking cervical mucus during or after sexual intercourse. At this time, cervical mucus will be difficult to distinguish from seminal fluid. So that the consistency of cervical mucus becomes thin and elastic around the fertile period, you are advised to drink enough water and not clean the vagina with vaginal cleansers.
That's how to check cervical mucus to find out the chance of pregnancy. The examination is actually not difficult, but if you are still unsure about the color and consistency of cervical mucus during the fertile period, it is better to consult a gynecologist.
Your obstetrician will tell you when is the best time to have sex, so you can get pregnant as soon as possible.