What is Cervical Fluid/Cervical Mucus?

Cervical mucus or cervical fluid is an aqueous or gel mixture of ­proteins and mucopolysaccharids, ions and ­compounds, and cells, primarily produced by the endocervical epithelium. It is not only completely normal, but it is also a vital sign of health!

Cervical mucus can indicate the opening and closing of the fertile window by identifying the approximate day of ovulation. And remember ovulation is how women make some hormones.

Cervical mucus is so important for fertility as sperm can survive for up to 5 days in Estrogenic type cervical mucus! Without cervical mucus sperm would only live from minutes to hours! One of the main jobs of cervical mucus for fertility is to transport, feed and nourish sperm.

Cervical mucus is produced by the cervix in response to estrogen and progesterone levels. Depending on which hormone is dominant, you will note different observations. In FEMM we categorise the different types of cervical mucus as G, EL and ES.

Just after menstruation, in the ovaries estrogen and progesterone are low, this is known as a time when the ovaries are 'quiet'. At this time there may be no visible cervical mucus, this is because, even though hormonal activity is low, residual progesterone from the previous cycle stimulates the cervix to produce a thick, dense type of mucus knows as G mucus which generally stays in the cervix and can be noted when you do not observe any cervical mucus in one day or if you observe a rough, dry sensation when wiping with toilet paper. 

As the follicles in the ovaries begin to grow, they secrete estrogen. Estrogen takes over as the dominant hormone and stimulates the cervix to produce a type of estrogenic mucus called EL Mucus. This non-peak mucus and can be recorded when you observe mucus that is cream or white, lotion like, glue like, and may stretch to less than half an inch, it can also be noted when you note a moist sensation when wiping with toilet paper.

When you notice a change from G to EL cervical mucus is called 'point of change'.

As estrogen reaches peak levels it stimulates the cervix to produce another type of estrogenic mucus called ES mucus. This is also known as peak type or fertile mucus and is about 97% water. This mucus can be recorded when you observe mucus that has any of the following qualities: clear, slippery/lubricative or if it stretches to over an inch. It can also be noted if you observe a slippery sensation at the vulva. The last day of peak type cervical mucus indicates the approximate time of ovulation, research has show ovulation occurs 3 days either side of peak day.

It is also important to keep in mind, seminal fluid and arousal fluid can be confused with ES mucus! But there are ways to tell them apart!

If you observe mucus that you can't quite categorise or a sticky, pasty, prolonged pattern of unchanging mucus, you can chart this as yellow, initially, this does not mean the mucus is yellow in colour, it is simply the colour used to record any observation that is confusing to you. Confusing observations may be a 'point of change mucus' when EL mucus is breaking down G mucus, or something like an infection. The longer you chart the more familiar you will become with your cervical mucus patterns. After all, your pattern is unique to you!

A little note on cell slough!

The lining of your vagina sheds as the rest of your skin does, this is called cell slough. This is not the same as cervical mucus and it is not influenced by hormonal activity. Here are some ways you can differentiate cell slough from cervical mucus:

• If you rub cell slough between your fingers it will have no "staying power" and it will quickly dry up or dissipate when you rub it between your fingers.

• If you put it in a glass of water it will dissolve.