What Happens to Cervical Mucus During Ovulation?

Cervical mucus is a glycoprotein gel derived from the secretion of cervical mucosal gland cells, and its state is affected by various ovarian hormones. Before ovulation, cervical mucus is gradually increased by the effect of estrogen; after ovulation, it is gradually decreased by the effect of progesterone.

Cervical mucus

Cervical mucus is a glycoprotein gel derived from the secretion of cervical mucosal gland cells, and its state is affected by various ovarian hormones. Before ovulation, cervical mucus is gradually increased by the effect of estrogen; after ovulation, it is gradually decreased by the effect of progesterone.

When ovulation is near, not only the secretion of mucus increases, but it becomes thin, transparent, and elastic, such as water or raw egg white, which facilitates the passage of sperm and prolongs the survival time of sperm.

Therefore, monitoring of cervical mucus can be easily and intuitively traced to the fertile period.

Chinese name

Cervical mucus

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Normally, in

1. Appearance After the menstruation, the amount of cervical mucus is small, thick, and turbid. The closer the amount of cervical mucus secretion, the thinner and more transparent the ovulation. It returns to its original shape after ovulation.

2. The amount of cervical mucus reaches its peak one day before the body temperature rises, about 0.3ml or more, and decreases rapidly within 1-2 days after the body temperature rises.

3. Drawing test Apply the mucus on a dry slide, contact the mucus with one corner of the other slide, and then gently pull upward to observe the maximum length of the drawing. The degree of stringing gradually increases after menstruation, and can reach 10-20cm during ovulation.

4. Cervical mucus crystals: The mucus is coated on a glass slide and dried naturally. Observed under a low-power microscope, it exhibits typical fern-like or shingle-like crystals due to the high salt characteristics of the mucus, and has many branches. Atypical is dendritic and thicker fern-shaped. Generally, crystals begin to form 8 days before the temperature rises, and the crystals are more typical and obvious as they approach the ovulation period. Estrogen promotes the formation of crystals, while progesterone and androgens inhibit it.

5. Cytology The number of cells in the cervical mucus during ovulation is very small, about 0-3 leukocytes per high magnification field. In this case, the number of white blood cells is large, and inflammation of the cervical canal and above should be suspected.

6. Anti-sperm antibodies Anti-sperm antibodies can be detected in cervical mucus in some patients with immune infertility.

7. Analysis of chemical composition The pH value of cervical mucus, the content of protein, sugar, mucin, chloride, etc. also show periodic changes. ^[1]

Viewing cervical mucus is mainly based on its amount, transparency, etc.

Cervical mucus

1, too little cervical mucus secretion

If the amount of cervical mucus during ovulation is less than 0.03ml, it can be diagnosed as too little secretion. When the cervix is dysplastic, it is often accompanied by dysplasia of the cervical glands that cause normal secretory dysfunction; it can also cause a large number of cervical glands to be damaged due to acquired injuries, such as cervical cone resection. , Resulting in cervical mucus secretion during ovulation is very small and very viscous. Although some patients could not find the above-mentioned congenital or acquired factors, the secretion of cervical mucus is poor, and most scholars believe that it is the cause of estrogen receptor deficiency.

2.Excessive secretion of cervical mucus

The amount of cervical mucus measured at one time during ovulation is 0.71 ml, or the amount of colorless and transparent cervical mucus is> 0.41 ml. For more than 3 consecutive days, there is excessive secretion of mucus. The main reasons are:

The physical and chemical abnormalities of cervical mucus are usually related to endocrine imbalances, abnormal reproductive organs or immune factors, such as retroverted or retroflexed uterus, cervical stenosis, genital prolapse, cervical amputation, benign Tumors, congenital abnormalities, etc. If the physical and chemical indicators of cervical mucus in women are abnormal, this can cause pregnancy problems.

The main reasons are as follows:

1. The cervical canal is damaged: Damage to the cervical canal is one of the important reasons for abnormal infertility of cervical mucus. Generally, female friends who perform cervical resection and curettage will cause damage to the cervical canal, which will cause cervical mucus. Abnormal infertility.

2. Inflammation of the cervix: Inflammation of the cervix is one of the most common causes of cervical mucus abnormalities, because if the cervix is infected by pathogens, the epithelial cells of the cervix will lose their response to estrogen, resulting in obstacles to cervical mucus secretion, which in turn will cause Occurrence of cervical infertility.

3. Improper application of anti-estrogen drugs: Female friends' use of anti-estrogen drugs in daily life is also the cause of abnormal infertility of cervical mucus, such as the use of clomiphene ovulation-promoting drugs, which are very effective for cervical mucus. Great influence.

4. Ovarian dysfunction: If the ovary has symptoms such as anovulation, luteal dysfunction, hyperprolactinemia, etc., it will affect the secretion of cervical mucus, which will cause obstacles to the passage of sperm and cause abnormal cervical infertility. Happen ^[3]

1. Existence of anti-sperm antibodies: It is found at home and abroad that when antibodies are present on the surface of cervical mucus or sperm, the ability to penetrate the cervical mucus and movement is lost, and the phenomenon of local oscillation appears.

2, too little mucus secretion: If the amount of cervical mucus during ovulation is less than 0.03ml, it can be diagnosed as too little secretion. When the cervix is poorly developed, it is often accompanied by dysplasia of the cervical glands, resulting in normal secretory dysfunction. Although some patients cannot find the above-mentioned congenital or acquired factors, the secretion of cervical mucus is poor, and most scholars believe that it is the cause of estrogen receptor deficiency.

3. Excessive mucus secretion: The amount of cervical mucus measured once during ovulation is 0.71ml, or the amount of colorless and transparent cervical mucus is greater than 0.41ml, which lasts for more than 3 days. The main reasons are: chronic cervicitis, excessive estrogen levels, polycystic ovary syndrome and so on.

The glucose and other nutrients contained in cervical mucus have a great impact on the survival and motility of sperm as they cross the cervix. Because the sperm itself only stores a small amount of glycogen, it must rely on extracellular nutrients to meet its energy needs when it stays and crosses the female reproductive tract.

Cervical mucus secretion is regulated by ovarian hormones. Stimulation of estrogen can cause the cervix to produce a large amount of watery, alkaline, and cell-free cervical mucus, accompanied by obvious fern crystals, stringing and the nature of receiving sperm.

The physical and chemical abnormalities of cervical mucus are generally related to immune factors, endocrine imbalances or abnormal reproductive organs, such as genital prolapse, retroverted or retroflexed uterus, cervical stenosis, cervical amputation, benign Tumors, congenital abnormalities, etc.

The physical characteristics and some chemical composition of cervical mucus are changed periodically to facilitate the penetration, nutrition and survival of sperm. Therefore, if the cervical mucus is abnormal, sperm cannot penetrate the cervix and enter the uterus, and eventually infertility occurs.