Fertile cervical mucus how many days

By Jeannette Moninger. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Save Pin More. Egg white? Here's what your cervical mucus looks like before your period, after ovulation, and every day in between so you can predict the days you're most likely to conceive.

Start Slideshow. Credit: Peter Ardito. Cervical Mucus Type 1: Least fertile You produce the least amount of cervical mucus immediately after your period.

Cervical Mucus Type 3: High fertility As your egg starts to ripen, your body produces type 3 cervical mucus. Some women find it difficult to track their menstrual cycle. Yet, monitoring your discharge can provide clues about your most fertile days. In most cases, your discharge will become egg white in appearance about 2 to 3 days before ovulation.

You might be able to detect ovulation by simply observing the consistency of your cervical mucus. After washing your hands, gently place one finger inside of your vagina and gently remove a sample.

Or, use toilet paper to retrieve a sample — wiping from front to back. Along with checking for egg white cervical mucus, other factors can help track ovulation, too. One of the easiest ways is to track your menstrual cycle , which will be easier if you have regular periods. So you may notice egg white cervical mucus between days 11 and 15 of your cycle. These kits are designed to detect the luteinizing hormone which your body releases 24 to 48 hours before ovulation. You can also use these test kits if you have an irregular period.

You can also track ovulation by monitoring your basal body temperature. Body temperature increases by a few degrees right before ovulation.

Keep in mind that some medications and conditions can affect the quality of your cervical mucus. Egg white cervical mucus differs from other types of vaginal discharge. Normal discharge is usually clear to white and watery to thick. On the other hand, discharge accompanied by itching or irritation could indicate a yeast infection.

Cottage-cheese discharge can also signal a yeast infection. As a person approaches menopause , they may ovulate less frequently. Some people run out of eggs early, which a doctor would diagnose as a decreased ovarian reserve. This can cause a person to ovulate irregularly, if at all. Keeping track of the appearance and consistency of cervical fluid can help a person determine when they are fertile.

This method is most reliable when a person has monitored changes in fluid for several cycles. Many people also use other methods of tracking fertility, such as basal body temperature monitoring and ovulation testing. A combination of approaches can provide more certainty about ovulation. The body may release high levels of estrogen, even though a person does not ovulate.

However, in general, if a person does not ovulate, they are much less likely to have fertile cervical fluid. While home methods of monitoring ovulation may help, the only way to verify ovulation is to see a doctor or midwife.

Read the article in Spanish. PCOS is a disorder where small fluid-filled cysts form in the ovaries, leading to an imbalance in female sex hormones. Symptoms can include…. Females are most fertile within a day or two of ovulation, which is known as the fertile window. Being able to calculate when the fertile window will…. Symptoms may include bleeding between periods, pain inside the vagina, or unusual…. Vaginal discharge varies according to the menstrual cycle, and it often changes color and consistency.

Clear, watery discharge is common and not…. What to know about cervical mucus and fertile discharge. If you notice egg white vaginal discharge, you are likely about to ovulate. Egg white cervical mucus is the most fertile kind of cervical mucus, and it is frequently abbreviated as EWCM on fertility charts and in trying to conceive forums. While cervical mucus changes throughout a woman's cycle, EWCM is the most fertile and signals the best time to have sex for pregnancy.

This stage of mucus is the ideal viscosity and pH for sperm. Some consider vaginal discharge a nuisance or a "cleanliness" problem. They may even douche to "clean" things up. However, anyone who is trying to conceive knows that when you see egg white discharge, it's time to have sex.

Or, as they say on the fertility forums, BD! BD stands for the horizontal baby dance. The reason fertile cervical mucus is called "egg white cervical mucus" is because it looks a lot like raw egg whites. EWCM provides the ideal environment for sperm. It helps the sperm swim up from the vaginal canal and cervix into the uterus. Egg white discharge also helps the sperm survive the usually more acidic environment of the vagina.

If you don't have fertile quality cervical mucus, the sperm can't swim or survive as well. This may lead to trouble getting pregnant. A lack of fertile quality cervical mucus can also indicate a hormonal imbalance or problems with ovulation.

It's sometimes referred to as hostile cervical mucus. Vaginal discharge isn't always friendly to sperm. Your cervical mucus changes throughout your menstrual cycle.

Starting after your period, your cervical mucus transitions from a sticky consistency to a more creamy, then watery, and finally, raw egg white like consistency. Once ovulation passes, cervical mucus will dry up and return to a more sticky consistency. Usually, you should get fertile egg white discharge for one or two days before you ovulate.

These are your most fertile days, and if you want to conceive, have sex when you see it. It's also possible to have EWCM for up to five days before ovulation. Or, you might get it for only one day. That said, two or three days is more typical. Some women get fertile looking cervical mucus again just before their period comes.

It may become watery or even egg-white like. This isn't a sign of ovulation and having sex during this time will not help you get pregnant. Usually, you should only notice egg white cervical mucus for a few days just before ovulation. But some women get multiple patches of egg white cervical mucus. These days of EWCM may alternate with days of less fertile cervical mucus. This is common in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome PCOS. Since it's not possible to know which patch of egg white cervical mucus is the one preceding ovulation, in this case, you should treat each appearance of EWCM as potentially the "right" day to have sex to get pregnant.

Excess vaginal discharge can also signal an infection. If the discharge is accompanied by other symptoms such as burning, itching, or a bad smell, or if the discharge is an odd color, talk to your doctor. Whatever the situation is, if you're unsure if your vaginal discharge is normal , see your doctor.

A vaginal infection can make conception more difficult.