Tracking changes in the cervix can help a woman detect whether she is pregnant. The cervix is a circular band of muscle that separates the uterus from the vagina. The cervix changes at different points in the menstrual cycle and throughout the stages of pregnancy. In this article, we look at how the cervix and cervical discharge change in the early stages of pregnancy. We also discuss how women can check their cervix for changes. The cervix undergoes various changes throughout the menstrual cycle and in early pregnancy, which we discuss in the following sections.
When a woman is not pregnant, the position of her cervix changes throughout the stages of the menstrual cycle:. If a woman has conceived, the cervix will remain higher in the vagina, with its position being similar to that during ovulation. The texture of the cervix also changes in early pregnancy due to increased blood flow. If the woman has not conceived, the cervix will feel firm to the touch, like the tip of a nose.
If she has conceived, the cervix will feel softer, more closely resembling the lips. The consistency and color of cervical discharge change in different stages of the menstrual cycle. Some women use the consistency of their discharge, or cervical fluid, to track the stages of their menstrual cycle. This technique is one component of natural family planning.
Understanding the typical cervical mucus changes throughout the menstrual cycle can help women identify early pregnancy:. A woman who has conceived during her cycle may notice cervical mucus increasing instead of drying up after ovulation.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , light bleeding or spotting may occur around the time of implantation, which is generally 1—2 weeks after conception. Feeling the cervix offers clues regarding early pregnancy, but it is not a sure way to detect pregnancy.
Cervical changes may be subtle, and not all women will be familiar enough with their cervix to pick up on the changes. The only guaranteed way to check for pregnancy is with a pregnancy test.
However, women can check their cervix at home. To do this, they should clean the hands thoroughly before placing a finger into the vagina. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Learning how to check your cervix is easier than you think. If you're trying to get pregnant, checking your cervical position can provide key information to help identify your fertile window or the ideal time to have sex for the best chance to conceive. Your cervix goes through subtle changes throughout your menstrual cycle.
Cervical changes can help you to detect ovulation, determine when you're most fertile , and indicate when ovulation has likely already occurred. Your cervix also changes during late pregnancy and childbirth. You probably know this from the movies. When the television doctors say "She's 10 centimeters," they are talking about dilation of the cervix.
The cervix shortens, thins, and dilates during childbirth. It morphs from being tightly shut and hard at the start of pregnancy to 10 centimeters wide and completely effaced or thinned out at birth. It is possible for you to notice these changes yourself. This is a skill that comes from practice and patience.
Whether you're checking your cervix for ovulation, during pregnancy, or simply out of curiosity, there are steps you can take to locate and record the position of your cervix. If you're feeling nervous, don't be. Here's how to get started:. There are several changes you are feeling for when checking your cervix.
As you get more comfortable with the process, try to look for these changes. Does your cervix feel soft or firm? Estrogen softens the cervical tissue, making it feel softer or less firm when you're most fertile.
Is your cervix open or closed? Your cervix will be just slightly open just before ovulation. The opening is tiny—no more than a thin slit. It will open again just before and during menstruation. You'll want to notice if your cervix's position high, medium, or low? As you approach ovulation, your cervix moves up and back. It may be so high that you can't reach it. You just have to wait until you can take a pregnancy test.
When you're checking your cervical position, you should also pay attention to your cervical mucus. The same hormones that change your cervix also affect cervical mucus.
The white goo, called leukorrhea, is very common type of vaginal discharge that can occur during pregnancy and is nothing to worry about, Starkey says. Getting swabbed for a Pap smear and HPV test isn't anyone's idea of a good time but it's a necessary evil to catch cervical cancer and other diseases before they can cause more harm.
But you don't have to do them every year, says Devorah Daley , M. Starting at age 30, we recommend every three years if you're doing just the Pap. Daley says you can stretch that time frame out to five years. It's believed that more than 90 percent of cervical cancer cases are caused by HPV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , with higher incidence rates among Black and Hispanic people. However, it's hard to know whether that prevalence is due to socioeconomic factors such as access to health care or other variables.
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