We’re not talking discharge here people. We’re talking about cervical fluid. They’re different? Hell yeah!

Cervical fluid is fascinating when you really start learning about it.

It’s not discharge - that’s just the general slough and such from your vagina being a self-cleaning baddie. Its purpose is to keep you healthy and those PH levels in check. Very important.

Cervical fluid comes from our cervix and is all about fertility and sperm management.

Sperm? Yeah, we’ll get into it.

Our body creates different cervical fluids throughout our cycle based on where we are in our cycle. It’s actually part of many FAM methods.

Let’s start with the start of our cycle, our period. Our body is busy shedding the lining of our uterus. After the end of our period usually there’s no cervical fluid present. And in charting terms, this is referred to as “DRY” cervical fluid. If you have a shorter cycle you might not have any dry days.

The next type of cervical fluid is “STICKY” and a great descriptor of this is rubber cement, but that’s not a common thing used anymore so think of rubbery, sticky, gummy, rolls into a ball between your fingers. There’s no stretch and it will snap or gum up if you try to stretch it between your fingers. It’s also a cloudy, white, milky color.

Oh, did I mention you check your cervical fluid with your fingers? Yup. Stay with me. An easy time to do this is when you sit down to go to the bathroom. Just make a habit of it. Just a quick swipe of your finger(s) over your vaginal opening between your labia. This then allows you to visually take a look at any cervical fluid present as well as get a feel for it.

If you’re super grossed out by touching your CF, you shouldn’t be, but you can start off checking by just taking a clean piece of toilet paper and swiping that across to collect any cervical fluid.

Ok back to the descriptors. So, we’ve gone over “DRY” and “STICKY”. Next, we move into “CREAMY”. Think lotion and what that feels like between your fingers. Easy. This will be a creamy, white color as well.

And then finally is the magical baby-making stuff — “EGG WHITE” cervical fluid. Yup. It’s more liquid, watery, and very very stretchy. If you’re stretching it between your fingers it won’t break. It is like raw egg whites and that’s why it’s such a good descriptor of this type of cervical fluid. It will also be more clear in color (like raw egg whites).

So those are the potential cervical fluids you’ll see throughout a cycle. And they tell you how fertile you are. Dry and sticky - you’re not fertile. Lotiony/creamy - getting closer to ovulation. Eggwhite - very very fertile.

You might not experience all of these. But especially if you are TTC you want that eggwhite cervical fluid. And there are ways of boosting it, which I’ve written about in older blog posts.

Now, the fascinating thing about cervical fluid is its purpose. The non-fertile fluids act as a spider web or maze to trap any sperm. There’s no egg yet so there’s no need for sperm to be swimming up into your uterus and beyond.

As for egg white cervical fluid, it’s a slip n' slide for sperm straight to where your egg is waiting to be fertilized up in your fallopian tube. Fertile fluid also nourishes and keeps sperm alive when ovulation is imminent.

I hope this has piqued your interest when it comes to cervical fluid. So get to swiping and checking it out next time you head to the toilet.