What is Cervical Mucus and What It Indicates

Cervical mucus is a liquid secretion produced by the cervix that prevents bacteria from the woman's intimate region from getting into the uterus and keeping it healthy. This secretion can be expelled through the vagina, appearing in the undergarment as a transparent, white or slightly yellowish discharge, without odor, being a natural reaction of the body.

In addition, the cervical mucus also aims to help the sperm to reach the uterus during the woman's fertile period, so it becomes thicker and more elastic as ovulation approaches, as shown in the photo, as this is the period fertile, with hormonal and uterine changes to facilitate pregnancy.

Cervical mucus method

As the thickening of the cervical mucus indicates that the woman is ovulating, the analysis of the characteristics of this mucus is widely used to indicate that the woman is in the fertile period. This analysis is called the cervical mucus method, or Billings method, and is considered a natural contraceptive, since the woman can avoid having intercourse in this period to avoid getting pregnant.

Thus, in the cervical mucus method, the woman should observe daily the presence or absence of mucus, as well as its characteristics. Normally, the ovulation period occurs about 4 days after the thick, sticky, whitish cervical mucus becomes a clear, elastic liquid.

Despite the advantages of being an inexpensive, easy to do and non-detrimental method to health, it has many disadvantages and does not guarantee that the woman will not become pregnant because the evolution of mucus characteristics may undergo minor variations over the course of the cycle, making its exact evaluation difficult. Check out other contraceptive methods that may be safer and more effective.

Cervical mucus in pregnancy

The cervical mucus in pregnancy becomes thicker and whitish due to the normal hormonal changes of this period. Thus, it starts to create a stopper that prevents bacteria from developing inside the uterus and creating complications during pregnancy. Check out other changes that occur in the pregnant woman's body, to adapt to the arrival of the baby.

Some women who are difficult to conceive may have very thick cervical mucus throughout the cycle, which prevents the movement of sperm and therefore should seek a gynecologist to initiate appropriate treatment.