Can Cervical Mucus Predict Early Pregnancy?

Cervical mucus in early pregnancy is odorless, creamy and white. Some women do use cervical mucus to detect pregnancy.

Hormones, cervix position, and mucus discharge change when you conceive. Progesterone, the pregnancy hormone increases the production of mucus from the vagina.

Usually, the function of vaginal discharge is to ward off infections, lubricate and maintain pH.

During ovulation, the mucus helps to allow sperm movement to the egg thus favoring conception.

How does cervical mucus change during pregnancy?

When compared with other symptoms of pregnancy, cervical mucus is a weak contender.

During pregnancy, Leukorrhea (normal cervical mucus) production increases. But cervical mucus in early pregnancy looks similar to the cervical mucus in the non-pregnant state.

As pregnancy progresses, the mucus forms a plug to prevent infections from harming the baby. Later, the break down of the mucus plug is the first step to childbirth changes.

How does cervical mucus in early pregnancy look like?

During early pregnancy, cervical mucus looks like a thick white discharge because the progesterone levels are high and there is a need for forming a mucus plug.

Early pregnancy mucus can be either copious or normal amount.

Thick white discharge is also a symptom of ovulation. But during ovulation, the cervical mucus is like egg white and is also known as Egg White Cervical Mucus (EWCM).

During the later stages of pregnancy, the amount of cervical mucus reduces.

As pregnancy progresses further the mucus characteristics, change because of the hormonal fluctuations. 

As you know estrogen-progesterone balance influences the cervical mucus. 

Thus, when estrogen is higher, it makes cervical mucus more watery. Estrogen dominance causes excessive vaginal discharge. On the other hand, progesterone makes vaginal discharge thicker. 

How does cervical mucus change during early pregnancy?

There is a thin milky white discharge called Leukorrhea that is mostly seen in the case of pregnant women. It is quite similar to the ovulating milky white discharge.

During pregnancy, most women get this profusely watery white discharge. But that is common in non-pregnant women also. 

Due to the rise in progesterone levels, you will notice a thick white discharge which goes on to develop into a mucus plug. It is a typical progesterone dominant characteristic.

Leukorrhea doesn’t increase beyond the normal level until two months of pregnancy.

Looking for an increase in Leukorrhea will not be the accurate way of detecting pregnancy.

During pregnancy, the cervical mucus seals the opening of the cervix. At the time of labor, the mucus plug breaks and comes out as clumps.

Stages of cervical mucus during a month

The cervical mucus goes through 6 stages during the menstrual cycle.

There are dry days that indicate that period is about to happen.

After the period the hormones are still low and need time to tune into the next cycle.

Later during proliferation of endometrial lining, the cervical mucus glands start releasing discharge.

Ovulation causes egg white like mucus that is clear and helps the sperms to travel to the tubes.

As the ruptured cysts begin secreting progesterone, the mucus becomes soft and creamy. The mucus gets thicker and is no longer stringy.

Thick white sticky vaginal discharge is a sign that now fertility is declining. Soon menses begin, and your endometrial lining sheds off.

Implantation bleeding and Leukorrhea during early pregnancy

Cervical mucus changes during the menstrual cycle as explained above.

Can you detect early pregnancy by cervical mucus?

Well, there is no surety that what you detect based on cervical mucus changes during early pregnancy will be right.

Cervical mucus during early pregnancy is similar to that during ovulation and after ovulation phase.

However, when the cervical mucus during ovulation dries up, it forms a clear frond-like pattern due to the estrogen levels present at that time.

But during the progesterone-dominant phase, the cervical mucus doesn’t form any clear pattern.

After implantation bleeding occurs if it has to, then you start getting a thick white vaginal discharge.

This is Leukorrhea which happens during mucus plug formation.

However, you see a similar discharge during ovulation and premenstrual phase also.

What is pink or brown colored cervical mucus?

The pink or brown color is because of blood mixing in cervical mucus. When your egg embedment occurs, it causes some bleeding. This blood mixes with the cervical mucus and thus produces a pink or brown discharge.

Implantation spotting is a sign of pregnancy. But even after this, there are lots of other possibilities for mid-cycle bleeding. It could be because of hormonal changes.

Changes in intestinal and urinary systems during early pregnancy

Due to the increased level of progesterone, the intestinal system becomes less sensitive. The symptoms start in the 6th week of pregnancy.

There is a change of taste and aversion for something. It is unusual, but pregnancy toxicosis is mainly the cause of this change. By the 12th week, things get back to normal.

The uterus expands during early pregnancy and creates a pressure on the urinary bladder leading to a frequent urge to pee.

Later the uterus moves up during the second trimester.

During the third trimester, the uterus again lowers down due to fetal movement reflex.

Other signs of early pregnancy like nausea, cramping, bloating and nasal congestion are more reliable than changes in cervical mucus.

Waiting for two weeks seems long, but the best way is to get a pregnancy test a week from period to detect pregnancy.

The cervical mucus goes through a lot of changes during the monthly cycle. While it is a good indicator of fertility, cervical mucus doesn’t reveal much about pregnancy.