So I AF came to visit me on May 2, 2012 and I thought she had left on May 5, 2012 which she didn't I have been spotting off and on from May 5,2012 to May 8, 2012. Its been one weird cycle. I guess I am going to start using OPK's today let the BD begain.

Ovulation Tracker

http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/i-didnt-know-i-was-pregnant/

Changes In Cervical Mucus and What They Indicate











We are hesitant to become intimate with the less appealing parts of natural bodily functions, but changes in cervical mucus can be one of the greatest clues to determining when ovulation is about to occur. Cervical mucus is a natural secretion of the cervical glands designed to moisten and protect the cervix. The nature of the discharge changes with the various phases of your menstrual cycle.
As with most reproductive functions, hormone levels cause the changes in cervical mucus. As the menstrual cycles progresses, the ovaries increases the amount of estrogen released. The estrogen not only directs the mucus to change the nature of its make-up, it also creates changes in the cervix to make conception a possibility.

There are four basic changes in cervical mucus each month. It may take several cycles for a woman to become familiar with these differences. To determine the pattern of changes, it is best to record them noting the color, consistency, amount, and slipperiness.

There will be little or no cervical mucus present the first few days following your period. The vulva should be dry. Lack of cervical mucus is an indication that conception is not possible at this time.

Early mucus begins just prior to ovulation. It is a thick mucus that is sticky and white or creamy in color. When subjected to finger testing, the mucus will break easily when you pull your fingers apart. As your cycle progresses, the cervical mucus will begin to look cloudy and will increase in volume tenfold. The cervical mucus will stretch further during the finger test, but will still break before your thumb and forefinger are stretched completely apart. There is a possibility that you could get pregnant at this point.

Highly fertile mucus occurs at ovulation. It is thin, stretchy and clear or pale white much like egg whites. It is often referred to as egg white mucus due to its resemblance. The volume of the mucus will continue to increase at this time until ovulation reaches its peak when the chances of conception are at their highest. It is the stretchiest mucus and can be stretched several centimeters between the thumb and forefinger before breaking.

Unlike the other stages of mucus, the egg white mucus at the time of ovulation provides an optimal environment for sperm. This slippery and stretchy mucus is much less dense than any other form of cervical mucus. This change allows sperm to pass through to the uterus much more easily. Also, sperm can live for two to three days in this type of mucus while waiting for a fertilized egg to arrive.

The changes in post-ovulation mucus and egg white mucus are drastic. The amount decreases and it becomes sticky. This mucus is not as stretchy as the previous mucus. The vulva becomes dry again. Chances of becoming pregnant at this time are markedly low.

As you become more familiar with your cycle, you will be able to more easily identify the various stages your cervical mucus goes through each month. However, there are several factors that can cause cervical mucus to change, thereby making it harder to understand the cycle. If you intend to rely on charting your cervical mucus as an aide to determine the best time to conceive, then you should not use douches, lubricants, and spermicides.

Other things to consider before beginning to rely on cervical mucus as an indicator are if you are taking any medications including antihistamines and diuretics, the fertility drugs Clomid and Gonadoptropin, antibiotics, cough medicines, tranquilizers, antibiotics, and vitamins as they can also make interpreting cervical mucus difficult. Vaginal infections, sexually transmitted diseases, obesity, breastfeeding, and stopping birth control pills can change the nature of cervical mucus. If any of these factors are of concern to you, then you should schedule an appointment with your health care provider.

   Cervical mucus changes are monitored for determining when ovulation occurs through the cervical mucus monitoring test. As your cycle progresses, your cervical mucus increases in volume and changes texture. The changes in the mucus that is secreted from the cervix reflect where you are in your cycle. The consistency of your cervical mucus changes during the cycle due to hormonal fluctuations. You are considered most fertile when the mucus becomes clear, slippery, and stretchy. Many women compare mucus at this stage to raw egg whites.

Before collecting a sample, be sure to wash your hands first in order to prevent the transmission of germs.

The most common ways of collecting a cervical mucus sample are:
» Inserting your finger into your vagina and collecting some mucus.
» Using toilet paper and wiping the entrance of your vagina and analyzing the mucus collected that way.
» The most accurate way to collect your cervical mucus is to insert your finger into your vagina and circle your finger around your cervix or as close as you can to the cervix. This will allow you to actually collect the cervical mucus instead of just it’s wetness.

Monitoring the changes in cervical mucus is the only method that will not require looking back to the past few cycles for analysis, and also provide reliable results that you can trust when trying to conceive. You can do this yourself by getting a sample of your cervical secretions and stretch it between 2 of your fingers (the thumb and index finger) to test for the consistency. Examining the changes in your cervical mucus can help you pinpoint your time of ovulation and increase your chances of pregnancy.

Before Ovulation (low chance of pregnancy):
The first few days following menstruation, there will be little or no discharge present. You will feel dryness around your vulva. During this time, chances of getting pregnant are low.

Approaching Ovulation (chance of pregnancy):
The first discharge that does appear should be moist or sticky and should be white or cream in color. In the finger test, the mucus should break easily. You will only be able to pull your fingers about 1 cm apart before it breaks. During this transition time, first the mucus will become cloudy and slightly stretchy during the finger test (this means that it will still break before the fingers are stretched all the way). As time progresses, the mucus will become greater in volume.



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Right around ovulation (high chance of pregnancy):
At this stage, mucus resembles egg whites. It is the thinnest, clearest and most abundant at this point in the cycle. Finger testing will allow the mucus to stretch quite a ways (several centimeters) before it breaks (if it breaks at all). ) The amount of this thin mucus will steadily increase until you experience your ‘mucus peak’. This is the last day of this period where the chance of conception is high. It is closely tied to ovulation. During this phase, the sperm’s survival rate is higher. It can survive in cervical mucus for up to 72 hours, a significantly longer time than during the rest of the cycle.

After Ovulation (low chance of pregnancy):
After ovulation, there is a marked change in mucus appearance. It returns to the sticky stage (does not stretch during finger test) and there is again a feeling of dryness around the vulva.

One caution for this test is that sperm can be confused with the mucus secretions and you could make wrong assumptions. Also, vaginal infections, medication, and birth control can alter conditions and should be taken into consideration when examining any vaginal secretions.

If you are interested in charting your cervical mucus to try and pinpoint your time of ovulation, you can download our free cervical mucus charts.

Cervical Mucus Chart
•Pdf Format
•Excel Spreadsheet Format

There are several cases where you may not be able to collect an adequate sample of cervical mucus. Medications, being over 35, & not ovulating can have a dramatic effect on your body’s ability to produce the fertile cervical mucus.

If you are not able to determine your time of ovulation, you may have to use another ovulation prediction method, such as basal body temperature ( BBT ) charting or using ovulation tests.