Zita West - Zita West’s Guide to Getting Pregnant

• Over the next couple of weeks, leading up to the next period, cervical secretions become minimal again, producing just enough to keep the vaginal canal moist and protected.

When you first attempt to identify and interpret your own cervical secretion changes, it’s worth being aware of the factors that can make this difficult. Wash as normal, using soap and water and rinsing well, but avoid the use of vaginal deodorants, talcum powder or lubricating jellies. Wear all – cotton underwear, and avoid absorbent pads, thongs, G – strings or nylon tights – stockings are better!

Television adverts for panty – liners have broached the subject of cervical secretions, although not overtly, preferring to refer to those ‘in-between days’ when you need some protection. Certainly, for some women, the secretion of cervical mucus can be copious and very watery at times. However, I don’t recommend the use of panty liners, as they can be very drying and too absorbent, so many women miss their fertile secretions. Better to bring a spare pair of pants to change into during the day if necessary.

In summary, the general pattern is for cervical secretions to change throughout the menstrual cycle, increasing in quantity and becoming more clear (transparent) and stretchy as you get closer to ovulation. Noticing and recording these changes for a few months will help you recognize your individual fertility pattern. In the most common pattern, as mentioned, cervical secretions start out dry (just after your period) and then get sticky, then creamy, then wet and watery, becoming most like raw egg white as you get closer to ovulation. You may, though, get different types of cervical secretions on the same day. Always record your most fertile cervical secretions to make sure that you do not miss a potentially fertile day.

Avoid checking your cervical secretions just before or after intercourse, as arousal and seminal fluids will skew your observations. The best way to check your cervical secretions is to make observations whenever you go to the bathroom. After you wipe, note what, if anything, you find on the bathroom tissue. This will soon become second nature and you will find yourself noticing your cervical secretions every time you use the toilet. You can also use clean fingers to check for cervical secretions, and you may also notice some in your underwear.

What to Look For

• Does your vagina feel wet or dry?

• Are there any secretions on the bathroom tissue?

• How do they look?

• What colour are they?

• What consistency are they?

• How much is there?

• How do they feel when you touch them?

• Can you stretch them between your thumb and index finger?

Exercise, and having a bowel movement, will push cervical secretions to the vaginal opening, making observation easier. You may even find that the best time to check is after a bowel movement.

Just a quick word about this: Women are stressed enough trying to conceive without trying to find out what position their cervix is in – and trying to check this might also interfere with or obscure any cervical secretions you have got! I don’t believe that the position of your cervix is a useful enough indicator for women trying to have a baby.

Always record your most fertile type of cervical secretions, even if you notice more than one type on any given day or even if it is scant. This is so that you won’t miss a potentially fertile day and so that you have a consistent record of your cervical secretions from cycle to cycle.

Immediately after a period you may notice one or more dry days – when no secretions can be seen or felt (these days are not likely to be fertile). As soon as the secretions start, this means that the cervix is preparing to accept sperm and you are into the start of your fertile time. At first the secretions will feel slightly sticky and be white or creamy in colour, then they’ll gradually change to become cloudy and wetter, then more transparent and sometimes quite slippery and stretchy – the highly fertile sperm – friendly secretions. After ovulation the secretions change back to being thicker, more sticky and white again, then back to dry again in the run – up to your next period. As a quick ‘rule of thumb’, if you feel wet – have lots of sex!

Some factors that can influence the quality and quantity of cervical secretions that you produce may be a result of hormonal factors, while others may be related to lifestyle or medications you are taking. If any of these applies to your case, make a note. If you are using a fertility-awareness chart there is usually a special section where you can do this. This way you can see at a glance if there were any special circumstances that may have had a bearing on your cervical secretions.

Factors that can have an impact on cervical secretion patterns include:

• medications such as antihistamines and diuretics

• fertility medication such as Clomid (ask your doctor)

• tranquillizers

• antibiotics

• expectorants – as found in cough medicines

• herbs (ask your doctor before taking herbs while trying to conceive)

• vitamins such as vitamin C (over 1,000mg a day), as this may have an anti – histamine effect, reducing cervical secretions and making them more acidic

• vaginal or sexually – transmitted infection (ask your doctor if you think this is a possibility)

• delayed ovulation (can cause an interrupted pattern of secretions)

• vaginal douching (not recommended)

• being overweight

• arousal fluid (can be mistaken for raw egg white cervical secretions)

• semen residue (can be mistaken for raw egg white cervical secretions)

• lubricants (not recommended when trying to conceive, as they can be hostile to sperm)

• breastfeeding – high levels of prolactin suppress oestrogen secretion

• decreased ovarian function – for example in the years approaching the menopause

• after you’ve stopped taking the Pill – a normal cycle may not have had a chance to re – establish itself. (Remember, though, that it’s still a good idea to have regular sex even if you’ve just come off the Pill!)

If you notice anything that concerns you about your cervical secretions, for example if they are smelly or causing you discomfort or itchiness, or if you are bleeding or spotting, see your doctor. Any infection must be treated (for more about routine tests for infections, see the Fertility Work – up chapter).

If you have questions about how to observe and interpret your cervical secretions, or if you have specific concerns about your own experience, then it’s well worth finding a fertility awareness teacher (see Useful Contacts, page 358).

If you do not see any cervical secretions that resemble raw egg white, the first thing to do is to check out how you are observing this, especially if you are new to it (see page 21). If you are sure you are checking properly, but your cycles are irregular, you may not be ovulating every time. If your cycles are regular, then your secretions may have been affected by one of the factors outlined above. As long as you are having sex every other day or so, then the absence of an obvious indication of imminent ovulation is not something you should worry about too much.