What is Cervical Mucous and Why is it Important? The cervix - TopicsExpress



          

What is Cervical Mucous and Why is it Important? The cervix produces different types of mucous depending on where a woman is at in her menstrual cycle. Just after menstruation, the cervix produces a fluid that is thick and acidic which is designed to prevent sperm from entering the vagina. This is known as infertile mucous. Fertile cervical mucous (CM), also known as cervical fluid (CF) is produced by your cervix as ovulation approaches. Cervical mucous is necessary for allowing the sperm to swim freely through the cervix. You can see it come from the vagina, or as wetness on your underwear or feel it inside of the vagina. Changes in CM can be charted and may be used to detect your most fertile time. When a woman is about to ovulate there should be an increase in cervical mucous, as well as a change in the mucous texture, from “wet” to a more pliable, stretchy, egg white like mucous. This is possible through an increase in both water and electrolyte content, and a reduction in acidity. This higher electrolyte content can be seen with an ovulation microscope as a ferning pattern. Healthy fertile cervical mucus nourishes the sperm, protects them from the natural acidity of the vagina, and guides them toward the ovum. Charting cervical mucous changes is known as the Ovulation Method. In a comparative study of 15 different methods of fertility charting, including the most common methods used to determine ovulation signs, cervical mucous charting alone proved to be the most accurate way to detect a woman’s most fertile time. Low to No Cervical Mucous You may have noticed that you have vaginal dryness at times, but if this is becoming a regular occurrence, it may be a sign something is not functioning properly. If you have continual vaginal dryness and cannot detect cervical mucous at all, you may need to support your body in producing cervical mucous once again. For women that have low or no cervical fluid, it is harder for the sperm to reach the vagina and beyond for conception. In some cases there may not be a friendly environment for the sperm to sustain themselves. A woman may have developed antisperm antibodies, have some type of infection (yeast or bacterial infection, STD), or may eat a diet high in acidic foods which may cause Cervical Hostility . Causes of Low Cervical Mucous Not enough water intake each day. Poor circulation to the reproductive organs; sedentary lifestyle. Hormonal imbalance may cause changes to the entire menstrual cycle, which may inhibit production of fertile cervical mucous. Both low progesterone and estrogen levels may cause low cervical mucous production. Fertility medications containing hormones can alter fertile cervical mucous production. Cervical fibroid (very rare). Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) and cryosurgery damage for cervical dysplasia or HPV. These procedures can in some cases cause cervical scar tissue damage which may close off the ducts that secrete the cervical mucous. This is very rare.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 08:10:20 +0000

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