Cervical Mucus Changes at Conception and Ovulation

by Anonymous

Does cervical mucus change from slimy and stretchy to milky in a day?

Laura's answer:

Hi,

Yes, cervical mucus can change from stretchy like egg whites to milky and creamy in a day once conception/ovulation takes place.

This is what is happening at conception/ovulation that makes the cervical mucus change textures (conception happens right after ovulation, within about 24 hours):

As your body readies itself for ovulation and conception, high levels of estrogen cause your cervical mucus to become more abundant, watery, and stretchy like egg whites (called egg white cervical mucus or EWCM).

This fertile cervical mucus is necessary to getting pregnant. As it changes the pH balance to be more alkaline and less acidic. And provides a more friendly and nourishing environment for the sperm to swim up the cervix, through the uterus, and up the fallopian tubes to wait for and egg to be released at ovulation to fertilize the egg (conception).

The rise in estrogen triggers your body to release luteinizing hormone (LH) which causes the egg to be ovulated.

Once ovulation takes place, the same LH hormone helps transform the empty ovarian follicle (from which the egg came from) to what is now called the corpus luteum.

The corpus luteum then (immediately after ovulation, and therefore when conception occurs) starts to emit progesterone.

Progesterone is needed to support and prepare your body and the endometrium for pregnancy.

The rise in progesterone levels causes your basal body temperature (BBT) to rise and will also cause your cervical mucus to change consistency from stretchy to creamy/milky, among other things.

This all takes place in about 24 hours. So yes, your cervical mucus can change in a day.

This more hostile cervical mucus (creamy/milky) is necessary to help prevent infections going up into the uterus where the fertilized egg is now headed.

Hope this answers your question,