While
tracking your cervical mucus, you should also track your cervix itself. The
lower part of the uterus, the “neck” where the uterus and the vagina come
together, moves up and down a bit and changes texture under the influence of
shifting hormones through the menstrual cycle.
Getting Started
If
you want to know where your cervix is, what it’s up to, and what it can tell
you about your fertility, you’re going to have to stick a finger up into your
vagina to find out. For some of you, that’s no big deal. But if you have a less
relaxed relationship with the unseen portions of your anatomy, promise us
you’ll give it a try. We think you’ll find it is no big deal, and you’ll soon get the hang of it, even if it is
a bit awkward at first.
To
get useful information from your cervix, you’ll have to check it regularly.
Every day, in fact, except while menstruating, for at least for a few cycles.
You’re looking for changes than can be subtle and signs that are relative.
You’ll need a clear idea of what it was like yesterday to understand what you
are observing today.
Here
again, you may want to jot down what you observe, at least at first while you
are becoming familiar with your own pattern. You can do that on a BBT chart if
you are keeping one, on your calendar, or in a notebook or diary.
How to Check It
So
once your period is done, here’s what you do. First, wash your hands. (Do not check your cervix if you have
vaginal sores, a herpes outbreak, or a yeast infection.) Choose a time to check
when you do not have a full bowel, which can make the cervix feel as if it is
positioned lower than it really is. Figure out a comfortable and accessible way
to position your body—we recommend squatting or standing with one leg up on the
toilet lid. Find what works for you, then stick with it. You need to use the
same position consistently.
Slide
a finger into your vagina until you touch your cervix. Use your finger to gauge
how far up it is (low, midway, or high in the vaginal canal). Press gently to
see how the cervix feels (firm, soft, or medium). Feel for the opening to get
an idea of its size (open, partially open, or closed). If you haven’t already,
note the quality of the mucus you feel (wet or dry; sticky, creamy, or
slippery). That’s it! You’re done.
Are You Ready to Ovulate?
Right
after your period ends, your cervix will be hard, like the tip of your nose,
and low. The opening will be closed and feel something like a dimple. (There
will be little or no cervical mucus.) In the one to three days before
ovulation, the cervix will move higher in the vaginal canal, as estrogen
tightens the ligaments that hold it in place. It will start to feel soft,
almost like your lips. By ovulation, the cervix will be open, to allow the
sperm to swim into the uterus on their way to the fallopian tubes, and with
practice you’ll be able to feel that, too. And of course the texture of the
mucus you feel will be changing during this time frame, as described in the
previous section. At ovulation, you should experience wetness coming from the
cervix.
After
ovulation, in the luteal phase, the cervix will again be low, hard, and closed.
Toni
Weschler provides a handy acronym in her book to help you remember what to look
for at ovulation: SHOW, for soft, high, open, and wet. If you let it, your
cervix will SHOW you when you are most likely to conceive.
Thank you for reading the article about Making Baby Series - Part 10 : Cervical Position in blog Get Natural Pregnant and if you found this article useful please bookmark this page in your web browser, by pressing Ctrl D on your keyboard.