Fertility Finder

There are several ways to examine the cervical fluid:

• Insert a finger or two and "draw" it from the opening of the cervix
• Swipe toilet paper across the opening of your vagina

Be sure to wash your hands before checking the cervical fluid. If you choose to check it at the cervix make sure your nails are trimmed. Long nails can nick the cervix and cause it to bleed.

Once you have the cervical fluid on your fingers, put it between your thumb and finger and check to see what consistency it is.

Fertility Finder: Types of cervical fluid

• Creamy - can be seen several days to a week before ovulation and after ovulation.
• Egg-white like - or EWCM (egg while cervical mucus) - indicative that ovulation is imminent, can be seen a couple days before and right after ovulation.
• Sticky - normally you see this several days after ovulation - or a few days past the bleeding period.
• Watery - Also a strong indication that ovulation is imminent. Also can be seen at the end of a cycle, just prior to the bleeding.

During the first part of the cycle the uterine lining is being shed. This is what appears to be the "bleeding". Cervical fluid at this point is masked by the "blood". It's hard to determine whether or not the fluid is "fertile" at this time. It is remotely possible to be fertile on the last days of the bleeding.

Once the bleeding stops, the cervix normally dries up. The closer to ovulation the cervical fluid becomes creamy and white in color, like lotion. This can last a couple of days. At this point it can also appear sticky. The closer ovulation gets the more wet and slippery - or stretchy and clear, the fluid becomes. This is the EWCM and is the most fertile.

Estrogen is responsible for the production of fertile quality cervical fluid. Several days before ovulation the body starts to release more estrogen, thus the presence of the fertile quality cervical fluid appears. When you see this stretchy clear fluid, this is the best time to have sexual intercourse in order to conceive.

Fertility Finder Fact: Once upon a time doctors thought that the presence of any fluid coming out of the vagina was an infection. Now we know that the presence of this clear egg-white like fluid is the most healthy and fertile cervical fluid.

On average you can expect to see this type of fluid for a couple of days. Although it may be normal to only see it for one day.

Fertility Finder Fact: Presence of blood in mid-cycle cervical fluid is a high indication that ovulation is occurring or has just occurred. Spotting can happen from either a bit of bleeding when the egg burst forth from it's follicle - or as a result of the surge of estrogen (which is present when ovulation occurs).

Once in a while a woman may not seem to produce any cervical fluid. In this case go by the sensation in the vagina. A wet vagina sensation is indicative of ovulation too.

Fertility Finder Fact: Semen can mask true fertile quality cervical fluid. At a glance, semen looks a lot like the EWCM because it's fairly clear and stretchy. But the true test is that semen will break apart easier when stretched and it evaporates quicker.

Mark on your chart when you have intercourse to help in determining the type of cervical fluid you find.

Once ovulation has occurred the cervical fluid will dry up or become creamy. This is due to the production of progesterone which warms the body.

If you do not fall pregnant and the cycle nears the end preparing for menstruation, the fluid becomes "wet" again, almost mimicking the EWCM you saw at ovulation. If you do become pregnant the fluid will either become creamy (whitish or yellowish in color) or dry up. Normally pregnant women produce a lot of cervical fluid while producing the plug at the cervix.

Fertility Finder Fact: The presence or absence of fluid at the cervix does not determine a pregnancy. Only a positive pregnancy test and the absence of menstrual bleeding will be positive proof of pregnancy.

While charting the cervical fluid may seem "gross" at first, it's really not. Good healthy cervical fluid is an excellent fertility finder and can help you to better pinpoint where you are in your cycle. You'll get use to charting it just like the other fertility signs.