Cervical Mucus Before and After Menstruation
There’s quite a lot to observe when it comes to cervical mucus throughout your menstrual cycle. Because depending on which phase you’re currently in, its appearance and consistency change. Cervical mucus is a great indicator of whether your period is imminent or if you’re approaching your fertile days. That’s why we’re here to explain how your cervical mucus looks before and after your period.
If you want to learn more about cervical mucus, follow this link.
Cervical Mucus Before Period
Your cycle begins with your period: Day 1 of your cycle is always Day 1 of your period. Therefore, we need to focus on the end of your cycle when discussing cervical mucus before your period. Let's walk through it briefly: If after your ovulation and the end of your fertile window, there was no fertilization, the built-up uterine lining is shed – resulting in your menstruation. During your fertile phase around ovulation, the hormone estrogen causes your cervical mucus to become very thin and stretchy. As your period approaches, the cervical mucus becomes cloudy and clumpy again, or may even disappear entirely. Just before your period, you may even feel as though your vaginal entrance has dried up.
Cervical Mucus After Period
After your period comes ovulation. Right after your bleeding, your body produces only a small amount of cervical mucus, and your vaginal entrance often feels dry. The production of cervical mucus continues to increase as your body prepares for ovulation. As the follicle grows, the appearance and consistency of your cervical mucus changes: It becomes cloudier, whitish, or yellowish, and is thick, creamy, clumpy, sticky, or viscous, and not stretchy. The closer you get to ovulation, the better the quality of your cervical mucus becomes: It becomes clearer, more glassy, more transparent. Sometimes, the cervical mucus after the period may have a slight yellowish tint or contain white streaks, it is stretchy and feels slippery and lubricative. Sperm thrive in this environment.
