What Is Cervical Mucus Alteration: Causes and Symptoms

In a typical menstrual cycle , this fluid varies in consistency and composition.

During the follicular phase (i.e. when one is most fertile, just before ovulation ) the levels of estradiol increase, stimulating the abundant production of a viscous and elastic mucus, which becomes evident with transparent losses , similar to albumen. egg. In practice, the cervical mucus “prepares the ground” for the eventual fertilization of the mature egg cell , as it facilitates the passage of the spermatozoa through the vaginal canal and favors their survival. The secretions maintain these characteristics until the end of ovulation, then become thick, sticky and decrease or disappear.

The modifications of the constituents of the cervical secretions can influence the penetrative ability of the spermatozoa (obstructing fertilization at ovulation) and their survival (increasing their destruction). Furthermore, the mucus may occasionally contain antibodies which cause agglutination of the sperm.

Pathological changes in the cervical mucus occur predominantly in the presence of infections (e.g., cervicitis ), cervical stenosis (secondary, e.g., to treatment for a malignancy), and polycystic ovary syndrome .