I have read that you can predict when you are ovulating by your cervical mucus. What is cervical mucus, how do I "read" it to tell when I am ovulating, and at what point should one try to conceive?

Gabby

Cervical mucus is a fluid produced in your cervix; you may see it as part of your normal vaginal discharge. Normally the cervix is plugged with thick, pasty, white mucus. As the egg develops each month and ovulation approaches, estrogen levels rise. This rise in estrogen causes the amount of mucus to increase as well. In addition to an increase in quantity, there is also a change in the character of the mucus; it becomes clear, slimy and stretchable. This thinning of the mucus makes it easier for the sperm to enter the uterine cavity. After ovulation, progesterone levels rise, and the mucus becomes thick and sticky again.

However, many other factors can influence mucus quantity and character, including infection and previous surgical treatments involving the cervix. That means the practical use of mucus to predict impending ovulation or confirm that ovulation has occurred is limited to women with regular, predictable menstrual cycle lengths. There is little benefit to be gained by checking for cervical mucus as a sign of fertility, as its presence or absence is a poor predictor.

For those patients who do have regular cycles who choose to use cervical mucus checks to pinpoint ovulation, I suggest that they have intercourse every other day when they note the increase in mucus, and they can stop "baby-making sex" when the mucus thickens. (Hopefully they will not be worn out and can resume "love-making" sex.) For people who find it stressful to time intercourse in this way, a urinary-LH test kit can pinpoint the day of ovulation, thereby reducing "baby-making sex" to once or twice, leaving the rest of the month for "love-making" as you wish.