Don’t get me wrong, I love apps.
But when you’re trying to get pregnant, you need to listen to your body over the app. An app to help track your body’s changes during your menstrual cycle can be helpful – but only if you use it with information from your body to help pinpoint ovulation.
What is ovulation?
If you weren’t sure, ovulation is when an egg gets released from your ovary, which means it has a chance to be fertilized by sperm. This fertilized egg then has a chance to implant in the uterus, and result in pregnancy. The days leading up to your ovulation are called your fertile window, indicating when you are most fertile. This is when you want to try to conceive to optimize your chances of getting pregnant – more to the point, this is when you want to have sexual intercourse.
A helpful sign that ovulation is about to occur – that doesn’t cost anything – is paying attention to a change in your cervical mucus – which I prefer to call cervical fluid. (FUN FACT: The cervix is the entrance to the uterus, found at the bottom of the uterus. Cervical fluid (or mucus if you prefer that term – but, I don’t really know anyone who does!) is fluid that is made and secreted in the cervix.
Fertile cervical fluid is typically clear, colourless, transparent, stretchy, and slippery. It is very similar to the consistency of raw egg whites! I know that sounds weird, but it’s true. If you pay attention to it, you’ll notice it more.
This fertile cervical fluid is slippery which makes it easier for sperm to enter the uterus. When you notice it, it means ovulation is likely going to occur in the upcoming days.
What is the purpose of fertile cervical mucus?
In order to get pregnant, sperm needs to fertilize the egg. The sperm need to swim from the vaginal canal through the cervix and all the way to the top of the uterus, and pick the correct fallopian tube to find the egg that was ovulated! It’s a pretty far swim for that tiny sperm, so having a healthy amount of this fertile cervical fluid helps them slide up the cervix and into the uterus easily. It can also help to keep the sperm alive until ovulation.
What if you don’t notice fertile cervical mucus?
It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not ovulating, but it can mean that the hormonal and body changes that make this cervical mucus are insufficient. This may be part of the reason you haven’t gotten pregnant yet. I work with people to help balance hormones and optimize their reproductive and overall health which helps improve the quality and amount of cervical fluid. We also work on determining if you are ovulating and if not, we can often use nutrition, supplements, herbs, and acupuncture to help improve ovulation rates.
Take home message
Get to know your body & listen to it – this will be invaluable on your fertility journey.
Ready for a personalized naturopathic fertility care to support you as you TTC (trying to conceive)?
Click here to learn how Dr. Odette can help enhance your chances of getting pregnant whether you’re just starting to try to get pregnant this year or you are further along on your TTC (trying to conceive) journey.
If you’re ready for one-on-one naturopathic care backed by 15 years of experience helping people start and expand their families, click here or on the button below to get started.
You can also use the above button to book a complimentary no-obligation 15-minute Optimal Health Meet & Greet Visit so you can ask me questions about my approach to helping you feel your best through perimenopause & beyond – before committing to an initial naturopathic visit.
