- Author: Melanie Dell’Oro
Oh, oops, white or milky, sometimes thick, sometimes runny discharge in your underwear? What is it and where does it come from? And can I even use it to draw conclusions about my cycle?
Yes, you can! Because what you saw is mostly so-called cervical mucus. It is produced by glands located on the cervix, the cervix. Cervical mucus is intended, on the one hand, to prevent pathogens from entering the genital tract and, on the other hand, to make it easier for sperm to make their way into the fallopian tubes. Depending on the phase of the cycle, the consistency of the mucus changes under the influence of estrogen and progesterone.
Dry, little mucus: After menstruation
Shortly after menstruation, relatively little mucus is produced, you might not even notice it and it might even feel dry. In this phase of the cycle, the risk of fertilization is very low, as sperm can move poorly in the genital tract.
Increase in mucus, looser consistency and clear appearance: In the follicular phase
During the follicular phase, the amount of mucus increases continuously. At the beginning, its consistency is rather thick, sticky and cloudy or creamy, maybe even clumpy.
The closer we get to ovulation in the cycle, the thinner and clearer the mucus becomes. The chance of fertilization now increases, especially since sperm can survive up to 5 days in the genital tract. So, if you had unprotected sex before your actual ovulation, the sperm can still make their way to the fallopian tube thanks to the increasingly runny mucus and wait there for the egg to be fertilized.
Lots of mucus, wet, transparent and stretchy: Ovulation
Around ovulation, the secretion is stretchy: if you pull the mucus between your fingers, threads form. Through this mucus, sperm can move particularly quickly and in unprotected sex, fertilization is very likely. The consistency and appearance are compared to raw egg white, possibly the transparent mucus is streaked with white streaks. The amount of mucus that can be formed around ovulation is also very impressive. Some women* feel downright wet.
Less mucus, thick and cloudy: Luteal phase to menstruation
As soon as ovulation has occurred, the mucus becomes thick and cloudy. Fertilization is now unlikely again, especially since the egg is no longer fertilizable just one day after ovulation. The closer the cycle gets to menstruation, the more likely it is that traces of blood are already mixed into the mucus.
My mucus smells strange, which cycle phase is this?
Many women notice that the smell of the mucus changes over the cycle. The smell is often compared to that of bread - slightly sour to yeasty. You should become critical if you notice a fishy smell, which may even be accompanied by itching. Here, the vaginal flora may be disrupted and an infection may be present. Generally, slight color variations from brownish to yellowish are not worrying, as long as you have no other symptoms such as itching, burning or even fever.
Natural family planning - NFP
In addition to body temperature, cervical mucus observation is one of the characteristics by which the fertile window in the cycle is determined in the NFP. Here, it is carefully documented what amount of mucus is present, what the viscosity is (i.e., whether the mucus is rather thick or runny) and - very important, since it is the fertile phase - whether the mucus is stretchy. If you would like to learn more about NFP as a contraceptive method, read more here.
How can I examine my cervical mucus?
The best way to start is by cleaning your hands thoroughly. You can then pick up the mucus with your fingers at the vaginal opening before going to the toilet and test the stretchiness and consistency between your thumb and index finger. If that is unpleasant for you, a piece of toilet paper will also do, with which you wipe over the vaginal opening and test the consistency and the formation of threads by opening and closing it. It is best to do this several times a day and write down the consistency of the mucus. Assess your cervical mucus by vaginal feeling (Do you feel rather dry or moist, maybe even almost wet?), by appearance (Is the mucus transparent, milky, yellowish or whitish?) and consistency (Is the mucus creamy or clumpy or runny? Does it form threads between the fingers and how long do these threads become before they break?).
And now all that is left is to wish you a lot of fun exploring your cervical mucus!
