Short on time? Poosh here for the summary.
This article is for vagina-owners. If you’re not a vagina-owner, keep on scrolling—although, there is something to be said about a man who likes to educate himself on female anatomy!
Okay, come one, come all, and join us for a riveting conversation about cervical mucus.
Actually, it is pretty d*mn interesting, if you ask us. Who knew that something we had either felt ashamed of or totally disregarded could have so much meaning?
We asked none other than Vienna Farlow, Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner, Justisse Method Fertility Awareness Educator, and founder of The Cuntsultant (who has, by the way, completely de-vilified that often triggering C-word on this page of her site), to break it all down:
What is cervical mucus and its function?
“Cervical mucus is a fluid produced by the cervix under the influence of estrogen as you get closer to ovulation. Specifically, it’s made in these little channels in the cervix called the cervical crypts,” Vienna tells us.
This already sounds mystical.
“Its purpose is to keep sperm alive and give them a transport mechanism through the vagina into the rest of the reproductive tract. During most of the menstrual cycle, the vagina has an acidic pH that is very inhospitable to sperm, and they die pretty quickly. But cervical mucus is the same alkaline pH as semen and allows the sperm to quickly move along to the cervix. Once there, sperm can live three to five days waiting for ovulation to happen, and those little cervical crypts turn into a temporary sperm hotel.”
Wow. Seriously? The more you know. (insert rainbow emoji)
How does it differ throughout the month? (Think: different textures and colors.)
Vienna explains, “You’ll only see cervical mucus near ovulation, which happens about two weeks before your period starts. It can look a bit like snot—hence the name—or like raw egg whites. It can also appear like creamy white stuff in your underwear or feel super slippery when you wipe across the vulva. Sometimes it stretches several inches, sometimes just a little bit of stretch. Sometimes it’s white, and sometimes it’s totally clear. But it’s all capable of keeping little sperms alive.
“Usually, the clear, slippery, stretching-over-an-inch stuff (aka egg-white-quality cervical mucus or peak mucus) means you’re very close to ovulation, or ovulation is happening. Even if it just feels slippery (or lubricative) when you wipe, that’s a sign of being closer to ovulation.”
Important to note for all those girlies practicing natural methods of contraception.
Vienna goes on to tell us, “The white, less stretchy, or creamy/pasty cervical mucus occurs a little further away from ovulation, but it means that estrogen levels are rising and you’re likely getting closer to ovulation. You can also see this kind of cervical mucus (also called non-peak) for a couple days after ovulation.
“You may also notice that your cervical mucus is a little yellow or it’s even accompanied by a bit of bleeding or spotting. Some people do notice spotting around ovulation.”
Vienna generally recommends checking just by wiping front to back across the opening of the vagina, before and after going to the bathroom.
She tells us, “Notice what the toilet paper feels like first (remember, just a slippery feeling means it’s cervical mucus) and then look and see if there is anything on there that you can pick up and stretch.
“You can also check by inserting fingers into the vagina near the cervix and seeing if there is anything there. However, the vagina is normally a moist space, which can be confusing, so I don’t recommend it to start. If you track your cervical mucus for a cycle and never see it, then checking internally may be a good idea (I’d also recommend checking in with a fertility awareness educator). But generally, you’ll find that cervical mucus makes its way out.”
TL;DR
What we used to think of as just simply “discharge” is not something to be ashamed of or grossed out by. In fact, it serves a very important reproductive role, and understanding what it looks like at different stages of your cycle may help you understand your body better, predict symptoms, and prevent (or obtain) pregnancy. Get to know your fluids, ladies.
