Cervical secretion is a naturally- occurring process in a woman. The reproductive hormones, progesterone, and estrogen influence cervical mucus production throughout the menstrual cycle.
However, cervical mucus is not the same throughout the cycle; it is bound to change color, consistency, and amount.
What is cervical mucus?
This is a discharge from the cervix through the vagina occurring on a daily basis in women of reproductive age. All women do not have the same amount of cervical mucus.
The amount of cervical mucus a woman produces depends on the level of estrogen in her body.
Normal changes throughout menstrual cycle
It is normal for the cervical mucus to change now and then. Charting these changes should signal you where you are in the fertility cycle. Here is how the cervical mucus changes:
After period
Immediately after your period, you will notice that your vagina will be dry or will have some mucus. After 4-5days, some mucus will show up and will be sticky-white for a period of about 8 days.
Just before ovulation
As you get closer to ovulation, your body produces a lot of cervical mucus. The mucus is usually white or creamy.
A day or two before the egg is released from the ovary, the cervical mucus becomes stretchy and increases in amount. It will look like the egg white, a sign you are approaching fertility
During ovulation
During ovulation, cervical production is at peak. The color of the discharge usually resembles an egg white. It increases and becomes more watery.
This mucus is necessary for conception to occur. It mainly protects the sperm in the acidic environment of the vagina and propels it towards the fallopian tube for fertilization.
In case fertilization occurs
Majority of women notice a creamy-white discharge after implantation which occurs 6-12 days after ovulation. It may or not be mixed with some blood as a result of implantation bleeding.
If no bleeding occurs you could still be pregnant, not all women experience implantation bleeding.
After ovulation
In case no fertilization took place, the cervical mucus returns to its dry state, and gets sticky until the beginning of another cycle.
Changes in cervical mucus after conception
What does cervical mucus look like after conception? Just like in your menstrual cycle, your cervical mucus will keep on changing after conception until you give birth.
Here are the changes in cervical mucus after conception:
1. Color
Before pregnancy, the cervical mucus produced by the cervical glands is whitish or clear and jelly-like. The discharge is also odorless. The mucus production is regulated by the menstrual cycle hormones, progesterone, and estrogen.
Immediately after conception, the egg white discharge is seen for some time because the levels of estrogen are quite high at this time.
Three days after conception, estrogen levels decrease, and progesterone levels increase. With the influence of progesterone, the cervical mucus begins to thicken.
During the first week of pregnancy, even before a missed period, spotting could occur. Bleeding or spotting is due to egg embedment into the uterine wall which results in injury to small vessels hence bleeding.
So do not be worried when you notice a bloody discharge, it usually lasts for about 1-2 days.
- After conception, a woman body is bound to undergo several changes that are hormonal-influenced.
- Implantation occurs when the fertilized egg attached itself to the inner uterine wall for growth and development.
The hormone progesterone is also known as the pregnancy hormone is produced in high levels after conception and successful implantation. Progesterone enhances vascular supply hence swelling of the uterus and cervical glands.
2. Thickness
The cervix enlarges within the first 2 weeks after conception leading to thickening of the cervical mucus plug. The mucus layer is made thick to provide both pathological and mechanical protection to the growing fetus.
- By the end of the second trimester, the cervical opening is completely covered by dry mucus plug.
3. Amount
Because of the increased hormonal activity after conception, there is increased cervical fluid production. The hormone progesterone leads to continuous secretion of cervical mucus to clean and maintain the wetness of the vagina.
4. Consistency
For a majority of women, the mucus discharge stops some weeks after conception. The discharge dries up because a mucus plug forms at the cervical opening to offer the growing fetus protection.
You may have some cervical mucus depending on the hormonal activity in your body.
Other signs of conception
There are other several symptoms and signs of conception other than changes in cervical mucus. Even though the best way to truly know that conception has occurred is by having a pregnancy test, you could also look out for the following symptoms of pregnancy:
1. Spotting
Spotting may occur a few days before missed period. It is often one of the early pregnancy signs that majority of women relate to. It usually occurs 10-12 days post ovulation, and for this reason, most women confuse it with their period.
2. Breast tenderness
The breasts become tender as a result of estrogen effects. Estrogen leads to slow movement of water in the soft tissues hence retention.
As a result, the breasts become tingling, full and warm due to the pressure of the fluids in the tissues.
3. Fatigue
The hormonal changes in the body might make you feel a bit sluggish and lazier than you normally are. There are a lot of activities going on in the body during the first weeks of pregnancy. This should explain the tiredness.
4. Abdominal cramping
You are likely to experience cramping when the egg burrows into the endometrium for implantation. The process lasts less than 2 days but could result in bloating, cramping and pain in the lower back segment
5. Morning sickness
Nausea and vomiting are one of the most reported pregnancies symptoms of early pregnancy. Nausea is normal after 3 weeks of conception.
It might then fade away after 8 weeks and return in the third trimester. However, not all women experience nausea and vomiting in the third trimester, but a few do.
6. Frequent urination
You might notice that you are visiting the toilet more often than before. During pregnancy, the hormone progesterone causes smooth muscle relaxation. It is because of this effect that your urge to urinate is increased.
7. Mood swings
Research claims that mood swings during pregnancy is a result of hormonal changes that highly affect the neurotransmitters in the brain.
Mood swings vary, some women may feel depressed and anxious, while others may feel happy and elevated.
8. Missed period
A missed period happens to be the most common pregnancy sign provoking the need for a pregnancy test. After successful implantation, ovulation seizes and you do not expect to have your period again until after birth.
REFERENCES
- Vaginal discharge during pregnancy (May 2014): http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/vaginal-discharge-pregnant.aspx
- Implantation bleeding, normal in early pregnancy?(June 2016): https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/implantation-bleeding/faq-20058257
- Charting your fertility cycle (April 2015): https://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/fertility-tests-for-women#1