The taboo of menstruation was something I sometimes talked about with my mother or friends, but never about cervical mucus. Eventually, I familiarized myself with the subject, albeit rather superficially, and accepted the marks on my panties as a natural discharge associated with a new stage of my body's physiology. Today, the presence of mucus seems obvious to me, but from my own experience I know that some unaddressed topics provoke a lot of doubts and often a lack of self-confidence.
To all of us, without exception, the body sends a lot of discreet signals that, if not ignored, can be useful in everyday life. The amount of discharge, its color, smell and type of consistency are the changes by which we categorize cervical mucus. There are quite a few types of it, so we will look at one of them. Today we free from the clutches of universal discretion the subject of pre-menstrual mucus, which is closely related to our fertility and the functioning of the entire reproductive system.
What is cervical mucus?
It is primarily a natural secretion of our body, similar to tears or saliva. It is produced by the mucous glands of the crypts of the cervix, which produce from 20 to 60 mg of mucus per day and up to 600 mg duringovulation, the period of highest fertility . Then the water content in the mucus is also the highest - it can be up to 98% of its composition (other components include calcium, sodium, potassium, glucose and protein). As I have already mentioned, the mucus can have a different volume, consistency, smell and color, which in turn change depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle , and therefore the concentration of two hormones - progesterone and estrogen.
Mucus — friend or foe of sperm?
Cervical mucus is a network of microscopic holes with a diameter even smaller than the sperm head. Therefore, only the fast-moving, strongest of them will be able to break through such an opening and reach the egg at the right time. The ease and possibility of sperm breaking through to the fallopian tube depends primarily on the presence, quality and form of vaginal discharge. In the first phase of the cycle (follicular), the level of estrogen in the body increases, and the mucus becomes watery, stretchy and clear, reaching its peak form during ovulation. Such conditions are like a highway leading straight to the fallopian tube or like a swimming pool in which they can swim freely. Generally speaking, the higher the water content of the mucus, the more fertile it is, although remember that any type of mucus that appears between menstruation and ovulation can be potentially fertile.
Vaginal discharge, occurring from ovulation to menstruation, changes and has a completely different function. And here I will also use the power of metaphorical comparisons, irreplaceable in transferring knowledge :)
When progesterone becomes the dominant hormone in the body, the thick and compact mucus before menstruation is like a roadblock for sperm or like jelly in which they get stuck forever. The second phase of the cycle is therefore associated with the impossibility of getting pregnant.
It also happens that a person expecting menstrual bleeding sees a watery, transparent discharge, typical, as I have already noted, for the first phase of the cycle. Most likely, this means delayed ovulation and, as a consequence, delayed menstruation, or, as some of you experience, cycle instability.
Fertile and infertile mucus can also be easily distinguished on the pH scale. Fertile mucus increases the pH value in the vagina, allowing sperm to survive in the crypts of the cervix until ovulation. Pre-period mucus, on the other hand, is acidic, which in the already acidic environment of the vagina, does not provide sperm with the conditions to survive, and leads to their extinction in as little as half an hour.
Types of G-slime and What They Mean
Progesterone, which thickens the mucus and changes its color, is the main representative of the group of hormones called progestogens. That is why the discharge before the period is called G-type mucus. Not only progesterone, but also factors such as diseases, climate and diet changes, or medications taken, are responsible for the appearance of the mucus in the second phase of the cycle. Then, the correct discharge, indicating infertility and gynecological health of menstruating people, should be compact, whitish, thick and odorless.
Observing the mucus before the period allows us to confront the patterns with reality and teaches us to distinguish between normal mucus and that which indicates an infection. A doctor should be consulted, for example, when the vaginal discharge has an intensely unpleasant smell . However, most often, its color is a signal. White mucus before the period, possibly yellowish, is a healthy symptom, indicating an approaching period. It is thick and sticky, and we may have a feeling of vaginal dryness caused by a decrease in the amount of mucus. This discharge tends to stick to panties and crumble, instead of being absorbed into their material. Mucus that differs in appearance from the one mentioned is probably infections or allergies, i.e. so-called vaginal discharge. The first example of them may be, for example, milky vaginal mucus with visible lumps, which may indicate vaginal mycosis, which often also manifests itself with itching or irritation. However, we usually recognize vaginal discharge by the color of the discharge:
- Green – possibility of infection with Trichomonas vaginalis, which is often accompanied by pain during intercourse
- Pink - in an unchanged bacterial flora it is a signal of approaching menstruation, but sometimes pink discharge is a symptom of uterine erosion or uterine fibroid
- Grey - vaginal discharge of this color often has an unpleasant, fishy odor and may be a symptom of bacterial vaginosis
- Brown – usually interpreted as spotting before a period. Progesterone deficiency causes a decrease in the thickness of the uterine lining, which does not resemble menstrual blood when shed, but appears as brown discharge. When discharge of this color appears in a phase other than follicular, it may indicate the presence of polyps or erosions.
Sometimes we don't feel the changes in our body, but at least these visual signals can be a clue. What the mucus looks like before the period is within the range of each of us, so it's worth watching it and consulting a doctor about any disturbing symptoms.
You can read about vaginal moisture in the article here .
First sign of pregnancy
Once we become skilled at observing mucus, we will easily detect deviations from our individual norm. When the mucus before the period differs from the one that usually occurred during this time, and we are sexually active, it may be the first sign of pregnancy. It is worth doing a pregnancy test then. But, as we usually point out, remember that each of us is different and in some people the signal of fertilization will be abundant vaginal discharge, and in others a complete lack of it.
There are also a few other symptoms before your period that may indicate pregnancy. Pain in the lower abdomen, tender breasts or swelling of the labia — when you have these sensations, pay special attention to your mucus.
How to monitor your cervical mucus before your period?
As you feel most comfortable, in the method that works best for you :) Identify the state of the discharge with your finger or toilet paper, look at it, touch your underwear. It's best to do this every time you go to the toilet. As with anything, confidence comes with experience, so give yourself time to become comfortable with what you see and feel.
I remember that once observing mucus seemed unsightly to me, but I managed to change this approach and see how many benefits come from this daily ritual. Thanks to it, it is easier for us to recognize fertile and infertile days, as well as to detect possible infections of intimate areas. But above all, consistent observation of mucus helps us to better understand our body, and as a result, increases our awareness and trust in ourselves. Invaluable values, right? :)
Created at: 05/08/2022
Updated at: 15/08/2022
