No cm can i still get pregnant

Throughout the menstrual cycle, cervical mucus changes. This type of discharge is healthy and a sign of regular ovulation. One method of fertility monitoring uses changes in cervical mucus to predict ovulation. When a person is fertile, the cervical fluid is watery, thin, and slippery, and it may appear similar to an egg white. Cervical mucus is fluid that the cervix releases into the vagina.

It has several functions, including keeping the vagina lubricated and preventing infection. Throughout the menstrual cycle, hormonal shifts influence the amount, texture, and appearance of cervical mucus. There may be enough mucus for a person to notice it in their underwear. Although the cervix always produces some mucus, it makes more right before and after ovulation. So, if a person notices an increase in vaginal discharge, they may be seeing fertile cervical mucus.

Fertile discharge is thin, clear or white, and slippery, much the same as an egg white. This type of discharge signals that ovulation is approaching. Fertile cervical fluid helps sperm move up the cervix to fertilize an egg. It also keeps the sperm healthy during the journey. People usually notice fertile discharge a few days before ovulation.

The discharge may become wetter and more slippery over several days. After ovulation, the amount of discharge usually decreases. A ripening egg grows inside an enclosure, called a follicle, in the uterus. The follicle grows and produces estrogen. When the follicle ruptures, the body ovulates, releasing an egg. The estrogen that the follicle produces softens the cervix and opens it slightly. Estrogen also changes the texture of cervical fluid, making it more able to support fertility.

So, to detect fertile discharge, a person should monitor their cycle for several months. The days that discharge changes vary from person to person. Those who ovulate later in their cycle, for example, should expect fertile discharge after day In general, the cycle of discharge follows this pattern :. This will tell you if your body is producing the surge in luteinising hormone LH needed for ovulation to occur. There are many reasons why ovulation may not happen. Most women need a minimum of about 22 per cent body fat to ovulate.

Having too much oestrogen may prevent ovulation by disrupting the hormonal feedback system that tells the egg follicles to mature. So achieving a healthy weight may be all you need to boost your chances of conception. Lack of cervical mucus may be caused by:.

Enter your due date or child's birthday dd 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 mm Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec yyyy Trying to conceive? We use your health information to make our site even more helpful. By clicking the button, you agree to our policies and to get emails from us. Join BabyCentre. Sign up to receive free emails and track your baby's development. Using the cervical mucus method for birth control requires motivation and diligence.

If you don't want to conceive, you and your partner must avoid having sex or use a barrier method of contraception during your fertile days each month.

The cervical mucus method is a way to identify fertile times to help you gauge the best days to have or avoid unprotected sex. Tracking your cervical mucus for either fertility or contraception is inexpensive and doesn't have any side effects. Some women choose to use the cervical mucus method for religious reasons. The cervical mucus method is sometimes combined with another fertility awareness method, such as tracking basal body temperature.

You might also use an electronic fertility monitor to measure hormone levels in your urine, which can tell you which days you're fertile. This combination of approaches is sometimes referred to as the symptothermal or symptohormonal method.

Likewise, using the cervical mucus method for birth control doesn't pose any direct risks, but it doesn't offer protection from sexually transmitted infections. In addition, the risk of unintended pregnancy with the cervical mucus method is somewhat higher than with other methods of birth control. It's estimated that as many as 23 out of women practicing the cervical mucus method for birth control will get pregnant in the first year of typical use.

With perfect use, the pregnancy rate may be as low as 3 out of women a year. Formal training is usually needed to master the cervical mucus method. You'll also need to make sure you check cervical secretions every day and keep track of changes. In addition, abstinence — or use of another type of contraception — is typically needed for 14 to 17 days each cycle.

To use the cervical mucus method, it's important to understand how cervical secretions change during a typical menstrual cycle. Generally, you'll have:. Although the specific length of these phases may vary, contact your health care provider if your cervical secretions don't follow this general pattern.

You may have an infection that requires medical attention. If you want to use the cervical mucus method for birth control, consult your health care provider first if:. Your health care provider may discourage use of the cervical mucus method if you have persistent reproductive tract infections. You can use the cervical mucus method no matter how many days long your menstrual cycles are. To use this method:.