Is your body telling you when you are most fertile?

Cervical mucus is a remarkable fluid produced by your cervix as a result of hormonal changes during your cycle. By tuning in to your body, you can observe changes in colour, texture, and amount of this fluid throughout your cycle. It serves as a reliable indicator of your fertile window, which can guide you in achieving or avoiding conception according to your goals.

As you progress through your cycle, the quality of your cervical mucus changes in both appearance and consistency. Consistency in tracking is crucial. Here's how it works: As estrogen production ramps up before ovulation, the cervix produces more mucus. You may initially feel a sensation of slight wetness. During the 1-2 days before ovulation, when estrogen is at its peak, and during and just after ovulation, the cervix produces abundant, clear, slippery, wet, stretchy, and elastic cervical secretions, often described as egg-whites. This peak fertile mucus signals the best time for conception (or contraception). Within just a few days, under the influence of progesterone, the mucus becomes less abundant and closer to your period, it may become pasty, tacky, and you may feel noticeably drier.

How do you track your cervical mucus? Simply notice and record your bleeding days, dry days, wet days, sticky days, cloudy days, and slippery days every morning.

There are several ways to check your cervical mucus, depending on your comfort level: Observe the colour and texture of the discharge on your underwear every day. Wipe your vaginal opening with white toilet paper or tissue before urinating, and observe the colour and feel of the mucus with your fingers. Insert a clean index finger just inside your vaginal opening and observe the colour and texture of the mucus between your index finger and thumb.

I firmly believe in connecting with your cycle, not just to achieve or avoid pregnancy, but also to harness the power of this influential marker of your hormonal health and energy system. Different energies are present during various phases of your cycle, and understanding these can be incredibly empowering.