What Is the Connection between Cervical Mucus and Fertility?

Cervical mucus acts like a biological filter, preventing bacteria in the vagina from entering the uterine cavity and enhancing the viability of sperm. During the follicular phase of the menstrual period, the level of estradiol increases, stimulating and increasing the production of clear, stretchable Slime.

Cervical mucus abnormalities

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Cervical mucus acts like a biological filter, preventing bacteria in the vagina from entering the uterine cavity and enhancing the viability of sperm. During the follicular phase of the menstrual period, the level of estradiol increases, stimulating and increasing the production of clear, stretchable Slime.

In post-sexual tests, the ability of the mucus to accept sperm, its viability, and its ability to enter the upper reproductive tract is measured. Although this test is often performed, its value is problematic because some studies have found that mucus is present or absent Fertility in the future is irrelevant. At the middle of menstruation, when the estradiol level is the highest, use a polyps forceps or tuberculin syringe to obtain a specimen of cervical mucus 2 to 8 hours after sexual intercourse. Normal mucus is clear and can be pulled. Up to 10cm (drawing degree), showing fern crystals under the microscope and containing> 5 active sperm / high magnification field. Sperm agglutination can indicate the presence of sperm antibodies. Increased viscosity of cervical mucus can indicate when this test is performed Inappropriate. No sperm has been found to suggest that the semen is ejected outside the vagina or inside the penis. Treatment must be individualized, including intrauterine insemination or medication that dissolves mucus.

The cervix and cervical canal glands are important target tissues of ovarian hormones. Their anatomical morphology and cervical mucus secretion show periodic changes with the growth and decline of ovarian hormones, and are closely related to the function of conception. Just after menstruation, the level of estrogen in the body is low, and the amount of mucus secreted by the cervical canal is small. As estrogen levels continue to increase, the amount of mucus secretion gradually increases and becomes thin and transparent, like egg white. During the ovulation period, this mucus has strong ductility and can be pulled into a filament shape. If the mucus is used as a smear to check, fern-like crystals can be seen after drying. After ovulation, the amount of mucus secretion gradually decreases due to the influence of progestin, the texture becomes thick and cloudy, the ductility is poor, and it is easy to break. During the smear examination, the crystals gradually blurred, and finally replaced by ellipsoids arranged in rows.

Cervical mucus is a fluid containing glycoprotein, sodium chloride and other substances secreted by the cervical glands. Under the influence of ovarian hormone, its color and tension will change with the menstrual cycle. If the amount of cervical mucus is not more than 0.03ml during ovulation, it is too little secretion, otherwise it is too much secretion, which belongs to cervical mucus abnormality.

1.Excessive secretion of cervical mucus

What happens to cervical mucus abnormalities? 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: chronic cervicitis, excessive estrogen levels, polycystic ovary syndrome and so on.

2, 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 not well developed, it is often accompanied by dysplasia of the cervical glands, resulting in normal secretory dysfunction; it can also cause a large number of cervical glands due to acquired injuries such as cervical cone resection and other congenital injuries such as cervical cone resection. Destruction, causing the secretion of cervical mucus during ovulation is very small and very viscous.

3.The presence of antisperm antibodies

Cervical tissue can synthesize some immunoglobulins, and when the antibody in the mucus reaches a certain concentration, it can agglomerate and brake the sperm. At home and abroad, it has been found that when antibodies are present on the surface of cervical mucus or sperm, the ability to penetrate cervical mucus and movement is lost, and the phenomenon of oscillation is displayed locally. ^[1]

1. Ovarian dysfunction: ovulation of the ovary, luteal dysfunction, hyperprolactinemia, etc., because the ovary cannot ovulate normally or the estrogen peak does not appear before ovulation, so the cervical mucus secretion in the middle menstrual period cannot be increased accordingly, or cervical mucus Changes in the physicochemical properties that facilitate sperm passage.

2. Application of anti-estrogen drugs: including the use of clomiphene to promote ovulation and tamoxifen to treat breast diseases.

3, cervical canal injury: such as partial cervical resection, cervical electrocautery, curettage and so on.

4. Inflammation of the cervix: The cervix is infected by pathogens, causing the cervical epithelial cells to lose their response to estrogen. Even if the ovaries are normal, it is difficult to secrete normal cervical mucus.

5. Immune dysfunction of the uterus and cervix: In the uterine cavity and cervical canal, there are substances that inhibit sperm activity or damage sperm, such as secreted anti-sperm antibodies and tumor necrosis factor. ^[2]

1. Damage to ovarian function: Cervical mucus secretion is affected by the ovary, but if abnormal cervical mucus secretion will in turn affect ovarian function, it is likely to cause ovulation disorder, luteal dysfunction, and high prolactin. Bloodemia, etc.

2. Affect sperm vitality: If the secretion of cervical mucus is too low and the viscosity is too high, the sperm will encounter great difficulties when passing through the cervix, and the vitality of the sperm will decrease, and the cervix will not be able to combine with the eggs normally. It may cause female infertility.

3. Induced immune infertility: Women's cervical mucus is incompatible with sperm, there may be anti-sperm antibodies in cervical mucus, so that the sperm and cervical mucus will have an immune reaction, so the sperm can't pass through and bind to the egg. Women are more likely to develop immune infertility.

4, cause other diseases: cervical mucus is likely to cause pathological changes in other organs, because abnormal cervical mucus has a certain relationship with the body's endocrine and immune factors. Once the cervical mucus has an abnormal endocrine system, the immune system will be affected to some extent. Women's cervix will also be affected to some extent, which may cause cervical tumors, stenosis, etc. ^[3]

1. Amount: The amount of cervical mucus reaches its peak one day before the body temperature rises, which is about 0.3ML or more, and the body temperature drops rapidly after 1 to 2 days.

2. Appearance: After 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 state after ovulation.

3. Drawing test: apply 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 drawing has gradually increased since the menstrual period, and can reach 10 to 20 cm during ovulation.

4. Anti-sperm antibodies: In some patients with immune infertility, anti-sperm antibodies can be detected in cervical mucus.

5. Chemical composition analysis: The pH value of the cervical mucus, the content of protein, sugar, mucin, chloride, etc. also show periodic changes.

6. Cervical mucus crystals: Apply mucus on glass slides and dry them naturally. Observed under a low-power microscope, the mucus exhibits typical fern-like or shingle-like crystals due to the high salt characteristics of the mucus, and has many branches. Estrogen promotes the formation of crystals, while progesterone and androgens inhibit it. ^[4]