TTC tips: cervical mucus

The importance of cervical mucus for TTC women

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About kegg

kegg is a medical device that lets you easily track your fertility with the insightful app and even do optional kegel exercises.

You can learn more here.

About kegg

kegg is a medical device that lets you easily track your fertility with the insightful app and even do optional kegel exercises.

You can learn more here.

If you are currently trying to conceive (TTC), cervical mucus (or fluid) tracking is one of the most powerful tools for increasing awareness of your fertility. In fact, it is estimated that abnormalities in cervical fluid may account for 3-8% of subfertility in women[i]. Fortunately, this is information our bodies are already giving us every day!

kegg is a 2-in-1 fertility tracking device which senses the electrolytes in the cervical mucus to help predict the fertile window and it doubles as a kegel ball for pelvic floor exercises.

By practicing body awareness and using your kegg, you are empowered to zone in on your fertile window and gain invaluable insight into your hormonal and reproductive health.

Understanding your cervical mucus can be used to predict when you are fertile in your cycle and increased likelihood of chances to conceive.

What is cervical mucus?

You’ve probably noticed vaginal discharge in your underwear before, and if you’ve ever wondered what exactly it is and why it’s there. The discharge you see is actually cervical mucus and it can give you a glimpse into the complex orchestration of your reproductive hormones that fluctuate throughout your cycle, specifically around your fertile window. Many women learn to track their cervical mucus to predict when they will be fertile in their cycle and when they will likely have more chances to conceive.

Cervical fluid is a mucus produced by the cervix, and is made up of mucus molecules, protein chains, minerals, and water. Cervical fluid has a unique electrolyte structure that changes throughout the menstrual cycle as a result of hormonal shifts. The consistency, quantity, and color can vary greatly throughout the cycle, and among women. However, in general, cervical mucus follows a trend that reflects what is happening hormonally in the body. There are many different methods for manually tracking cervical mucus, but it can take several months of practice.

Understanding your cervical mucus can be used to predict when you are fertile in your cycle and increased likelihood of chances to conceive.

Cervical fluid protects sperm from an acidic vaginal environment, prolonging the life of sperm in the vaginal canal, filters abnormal sperm, keeps sperm “biochemically nurtured” (AKA: acts as sperm food!), stores the sperm until an egg is nearby, and maintains the opening of the cervical canal.

Why is fertile cervical mucus important?

Without fertile cervical mucus, conception would be really challenging, as the egg needs to be fertilized within 12 to 24 hours after it is released. With fertile cervical mucus, sperm can survive for up to five days. This means intercourse that takes place in the days preceding ovulation can result in pregnancy, all thanks to the nourishing and sustaining qualities of fertile cervical mucus.

In addition, cervical mucus can help prevent abnormal sperm, or those with curved or otherwise atypical movement patterns, from effectively swimming to this prized egg. Not only does fertile cervical mucus aid in the survival of sperm, but it also helps to filter out those that will not serve the egg well.

Cervical fluid protects sperm from an acidic vaginal environment, prolonging the life of sperm in the vaginal canal, filters abnormal sperm, keeps sperm “biochemically nurtured” (AKA: acts as sperm food!), stores the sperm until an egg is nearby, and maintains the opening of the cervical canal.

The unique composition of fertile cervical mucus is able to sustain sperm, while other cervical mucus cannot.

If I can see cervical mucus, does that mean I'm in my "fertile window"?

No. In fact, a woman is only fertile for approximately six days during the cycle, even though she may notice cervical mucus throughout the cycle. The unique composition of fertile cervical mucus is able to sustain sperm, while other cervical mucus cannot. By learning your cervical mucus patterns, you can learn to predict when you are fertile and when you are not, empowering you to make fertility decisions for yourself.

The unique composition of fertile cervical mucus is able to sustain sperm, while other cervical mucus cannot.

Unlike temperature tracking methods and LH testing, kegg predicts these fertile days in advance, empowering women to identify when they are potentially fertile.

What are the hormones that play a role in fertility?

When it comes to fertility, two main hormones take center stage: estrogen and progesterone. As a woman’s body prepares for ovulation and enters the fertile window, estrogen levels begin to rise.

This surge in estrogen triggers the cervix to secrete cervical mucus (sometimes referred to as cervical fluid). Cervical mucus plays a vital role in conception, as the survival of sperm is dependent on the presence of fertile cervical mucus. Sperm can be nourished for up to 5 days with the help of cervical fluid. Women typically have the most fertile cervical fluid 2–3 days before ovulation, when a woman has the best chance of conception. (1)

kegg senses the electrolyte levels which correlate to the hormonal fluctuations throughout the cycle. There is a shift to progesterone production once the egg is released, which results in a change in the electrolytes in the cervical mucus.

There are several days in which mucus is more fertile in quality leading up to ovulation. Unlike temperature tracking methods and LH testing, kegg predicts these fertile days in advance, empowering women to identify when they are potentially fertile.

kegg

Unlike temperature tracking methods and LH testing, kegg predicts these fertile days in advance, empowering women to identify when they are potentially fertile.

kegg “reads” the cervical mucus to determine which electrolytes are present, and uses the trends of your cycle to make its educated predictions.

How do I learn to track my cervical mucus?

There are several methods for learning how to track your cervical mucus. On average, it takes up to 6 months to confidently begin to chart your cervical mucus. Confounding variables, such as hormonal imbalances and limited cervical mucus make it even more challenging. Tracking cervical mucus requires careful multiple daily monitoring.

To help with this process, kegg is a 2-in-1 fertility tracking device which senses the electrolytes in the cervical mucus to help predict the fertile window and it doubles as a kegel ball for pelvic floor exercises. Instead of analyzing the quantity and consistency of the cervical mucus, kegg is able to predict the fertile window based on the unique trends of your cycle, associated with the hormonal shifts from estrogen dominance before ovulation to progesterone production post ovulation. kegg allows women to know their fertile window in advance without having to observe and track their cervical mucus on their own. In a sense, kegg “reads” the cervical mucus to determine which electrolytes are present, and uses the trends of your cycle to make its educated predictions.

kegg “reads” the cervical mucus to determine which electrolytes are present, and uses the trends of your cycle to make its educated predictions.

If you're struggling with UTIs while TTC, be sure to read our article, The 3 components everyone should know about recurrent UTIs.

How do UTIs impact cervical mucus and fertility?

Recent studies have shown that there is no certainty about recurrent UTIs being the leading cause of infertility. What what our friends at @kegg_tech have noticed thanks to empirical observations is that this type of infections:

  • Cause mental and physical distress that can potentially impact cervical fluid and delay cycles, making timing intercourses properly very hard.
  • Affect the vaginal environment with potential consequences on electrolytes in the cervical mucus.
  • Can lead to a production of a vaginal discharge not related to fertility.
  • Are often easy to treat but the effects of medications on cervical fluid are to be explored.

Keeping your cervical mucus healthy and your body healthy is key if you are trying to conceive.

Discover how kegg can help pinpoint your fertile window by tracking cervical fluid. Enjoy your $55 OFF and $30 in FREE goodies by using the code uqora55 on www.kegg.tech

If you're struggling with UTIs while TTC, be sure to read our article, The 3 components everyone should know about recurrent UTIs.

Sources:

  1. [i] Martyn F, McAuliffe FM, Wingfield M. The role of the cervix in fertility: is it time for a reappraisal? Hum Reprod. 2014 Oct 10;29(10):2092-8. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deu195. Epub 2014 Jul 27.

  2. 1 Jamie L. et al., Mucus observations in the fertile window: a better predictor of conception than timing of intercourse, Human Reproduction, Volume 19, Issue 4, April 2004