Frequently asked fertility questions

Checking Cervical Mucus: The consistency of your cervical mucus changes throughout your cycle. In the days leading up to ovulation, the amount of oestrogen in your body increases which causes your cervical mucus to become stretchy and clear. The mucus becomes more alkaline and hospitable to sperm.

After ovulation, the oestrogen levels fall and your cervical mucus will tend to dry up. You can check your cervical mucus internally or externally, by wiping the outside of your vagina and observing the mucus that appears.

Check to see if the vagina feels wet or dry. Look at the mucus and check its colour, consistency, the amount of mucus present, and whether the mucus can be stretched between your finger and thumb.

Cervical mucus is normally described as dry (there is no mucus), sticky (the mucus forms little balls when rolled between finger & thumb), creamy (it has the consistency of body lotion and feels cold), watery (it is clear and wet feeling) or egg white cervical mucus (ewcm) (which has the consistency or raw egg white and will stretch between your finger & thumb).

Not all women will get ewcm or they may see it on the days running up to ovulation but not on the day of ovulation itself. When your cervical mucus becomes more watery or becomes ewcm and when your vagina feels wet or lubricated, it is likely that ovulation is going to occur in the next few days. Be aware that some women have more than one patch of watery or ewcm mucus in a single month.

Checking Cervical Position: Your cervix changes throughout your cycle. Around the time of ovulation your cervix becomes soft and open and is felt higher in your body and feels wet. At other times it feels firm, closed, low and dry.

To check your cervical position, wash your hands thoroughly. Always be in the same position when checking your cervix, otherwise you may think that your cervix is higher or lower than it actually is.

Put one or two fingers into your vagina. You should be able to feel the cervix towards the back of the vagina and it feels slightly different to the surrounding tissue.

Feel your cervix and see whether it feels soft or firm, closed or open, wet or dry and whether it is high or low. If you have already had children, your cervix will always feel slightly open.

Checking Basal Body Temperature (BBT): Checking BBT will not help you predict when ovulation will occur, but it may help you determine when ovulation has occurred and so help you gain a better understanding of your own menstrual cycle.

Before ovulation, your temperature is normally slightly lower. After ovulation, progesterone is released and your temperature rises by about 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 0.2 degrees Celsius. You should use a BBT thermometer to check your temperature and most ladies find a digital thermometer is easier to use.

Take your temperature each day before you get up, eat, drink, smoke etc. Ideally you should take your temperature at the same time each day and use the same thermometer throughout your cycle. Your temperature can be taken orally, vaginally or rectally. If you snore, it is advisable not to take your temperature orally. Use the same method throughout your cycle.

Record your temperature either on a chart or using one of the many online charting websites. Be aware that your temperature may be affected if you are unwell, have drunk alcohol, have had less than 3 hours uninterrupted sleep before taking your temperature or if you have taken your temperature at a different time to normal.