Everything You Need to Know About Cervical Fluid

If you’ve never heard of cervical fluid, you’re not alone. It doesn’t get a lot of attention, despite playing a really important role in your cycle. 

Sometimes referred to as cervical mucus, this fluid is produced by the glands in and around the cervix. It’s the “stuff” you sometimes see in your underwear, often inaccurately called “discharge.” 

It’s natural and normal to produce it, and throughout the cycle it’ll change in quality, amount and texture.

So why should we learn about it?

Cervical fluid can tell us so much about our health, our hormonal functioning and fertility. Whether you’re looking to get pregnant, wanting to avoid pregnancy, or just interested in learning more about your body, tracking your cervical fluid is a great place to start. 

What does it look like?

There are 2 main types of cervical fluid: fertile and non-fertile. Fertile fluid will be white, creamy, lotion-like, or stretchy clear and slippery. Non-fertile fluid, on the other hand, will be dry and sticky. Remember: the vagina is a mucus membrane so it’ll never be dry-dry, but you can tell cervical fluid is non-fertile when it’s scant or less noticeable. 

What does it do?

Fertile and non-fertile cervical fluid serve different purposes.

Fertile cervical fluid is produced mainly around ovulation because estrogen is high. It has one job, and one job only – and it does it well. It finds and feeds sperm and can keep them alive in a menstruator’s body for up to 5 days (eek!). Its goal is to preserve the sperm until ovulation, at which point it could theoretically fertilize the released egg.

“Whether we want to or not, our bodies are primed for pregnancy. ”

As the name suggests, non-fertile cervical fluid doesn’t promote fertility. Rather, it creates a protective coating around the vagina and cervix that helps protect the reproductive organs from infection, sperm, and bacteria. Unlike estrogen-dominant fertile cervical fluid, sperm can’t survive for more than minutes or hours in non-fertile cervical fluid.

Why should you care?

Healthy cervical fluid patterns tell us that our hormones are balanced and that our cycle is functioning optimally. It also indicates that the body is on or near ovulation – a key part of the menstrual cycle.  

When tracked consistently, you can monitor your fertility, know when you’re ovulating and when you can get pregnant. This is vital for those looking to conceive, as well as those who aren’t. 

How do I start tracking?

First, familiarize yourself with what to look for. Check out some reference photos, here.

Wash your hands, take two clean fingers and wipe front to back. You'll want to do this multiple times a day, especially at the beginning. Always check before you use the washroom – pee can flush away your cervical fluid and confuse your observations. 

Make note of what you feel as you wipe and then look at your fingers to see what’s there. Is it dry? Creamy? Does it have the consistency of raw egg whites?

Next, record what you see in a trust app; our favourite is Read Your Body (get three months free when you join the R&R Membership!). Here you can easily track your cervical fluid patterns daily. It can take some time to get in the habit of checking, so put a post-it note on your bathroom wall or set reminders on your phone.

This process can sound daunting, and for some, maybe even a bit gross. But know that there is no shame! Cervical fluid is an essential part of your cycle and learning your patterns is a great way to better understand your body.