Ovulation signs - mucus

So, you know the basics about why, when and how an egg is released.

This post shows you how to tell it's happened.

First things first.
The day you ovulate can change from cycle to cycle.
The more regular you are, the easier it is to tell.
If your periods vary greatly from month to month it's hard to pinpoint.

This is why it's useful to record ovulation signs or use a test.

Options:

Rummage in your drawers.
Not not those drawers, your knickers!
You may notice discharge on your pants or after going to the toilet on the tissue. Your partner may notice you're very wet at certain times of the month. This is cervical mucus.


We secrete mucus throughout our cycles. Depending on the type of mucus it serves different uses, including
1) prevent foreign bodies causing an infection.
2) prepare the womb for keeping a baby
3) give sperm a helping hand to make a baby

The rough pattern from start to end cycle is this:
After period - dry
Creamy
Lotion
Runny / Watery
Clear / slippery / stretchy / egg white.

This can vary - but egg white is what you're after for baby making
.
On the run up to your fertile period it may be runny / watery. When you ovulate or close before, it should resemble egg white (often referred to as ewcm), it's clear, stretchy and if placed between your fore finger and thumb should stretch without breaking.
This is the good stuff! It helps the sperm swim along more easily.

The vagina is usually hostile to sperm (sperm are foreign bodies after all) and is designed to kill them (aww, poor swimmers!). Think of ewcm as a red carpet with a special guide to show them the way serving champagne and canapes!

It also allows sperm to live longer - up to five days.

Once ovulation is over, your mucus will turn creamy or dry.

More about mucus

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/preconception/suspectingaproblem/mucusexpert/

Not sure what cervical mucus looks like?
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/photo_galleries/what-cervical-mucus-looks-like/