The Pregnancy HelpDesk
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CM (cervical mucus) Method: |
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Main Menu | Pregnancy Information |This method involves looking at the discharge or cervical mucus during your monthly cycle. During different stages of your cycle, your CM will change in various ways.
How do you get the CM?
The CM can be retrieved by inserting a finger (index) into the vagina and bringing out the CM. Some women do have luck with simply using tissue (wiping) or just inserting their finger. The majority of women will have better results if they circle around the cervix or as deep as possible, and hook their finger while bringing the CM out. This will allow you to gather as much of the CM as possible. If you just insert your finger, you may only gather the wetness of the actual CM.
How do I test the CM for stretchability?
After you retrieve the CM, put your index (with CM) against your thumb and separate the fingers slowly. If you notice the CM just globbing to one finger, you are not ovulating. If the CM is very stretchable and clear, you are probably near or at your ovulation phase.
What does the CM look like when you are ovulating?
The CM (Cervical Mucus) will appear clear, slippery, and be very stretchable. It should resemble a raw egg white. This CM will usually stretch 1 to 2 inches between your fingers before globbing to one finger.
CM Stages: (Sample of a regular 28 day cycle)
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Day(s) of Cycle: |
CM Characteristics: |
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Days 1-5 |
Bleeding (normal period) |
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Days 6-8 |
Dry days (no CM) |
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Days 9 & 10 |
Cloudy, thick and little or no stretchability. |
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Day 11 |
Not as cloudy, thinner and more stretchability, but it still globs. |
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Day 12 |
Clearer, wetter and stretches more than previous day. |
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Day 13 |
Clear, slippery and has the consistency of a raw egg white. Stretches a lot before clinging to one finger. |
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Day 14 |
Still clear and slippery and very stretchable. |
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Day 15 |
Cloudy, thick and little or no stretchability. |
How Long will I Ovulate?
As you can see, the CM changes back to cloudy after ovulation has occurred. Some women may ovulate one to two days (CM very clear, slippery and stretchable). Other women may only ovulate a few hours in one day. These women may have problems conceiving due to the short amount of ovulation time. The CM in a woman that only ovulates a couple of hours may be clear, slippery and very stretchable in the morning or night and then change to cloudy a couple of hours later. If you are experiencing CM that only lasts a couple of hours, you may be able to conceive if you have intercourse during the "peak" hours of your ovulation phase.
What if there is no CM or it does not change?
If you are not able to retrieve or see any CM, you may not be inserting your finger deep enough, not ovulating, on a medication that changes the vaginal environment (dry), or you may be over 35.
You should first try to insert your finger deeper into the vagina to extract CM. If this does not work, you may have to use another method to try and conceive. You may consider BBT (basal body) temperature method, tes tape, or ovulation predictor kits.
You should ask your doctor about medication(s) you are on and how they may affect vaginal secretions. If possible get off of the medication before trying to conceive or change medications. You may find that another medication will not affect the vaginal environment.
If you are near the age of 35, the vaginal environment tends to become dry and with the appearance of no CM. You should try using another method to conceive. You may consider BBT (basal body) temperature method, tes tape, or ovulation predictor kits.
If the CM is not changing during your cycle, you may need to gather more of it, look closely at small changes, and check more often. The CM method does not work for all women. You may need to change to another method to help conceive. You may consider BBT (basal body) temperature method, tes tape, or ovulation predictor kits.
Related Topics:
BBT (basal body) Temperature Method
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