Cervical mucus, what's normal and what’s not?

There is nothing more unsettling than seeing or feeling some unexpected discharge during the cycle, and not knowing what it means. Most discharge (or cervical mucus) is totally normal, and actually gives us vital signs about where we are in the cycle, where we are relative to ovulation, and gives us information about our fertility.

Contrary to popular belief, cervical mucus is far from random. It’s actually a precious sign of your reproductive health.

Your cervix produces different types of mucus depending on the level of hormones present, and you can use this vital information to track where you are in your cycle. Knowing when you’re fertile and when you’re not is the foundation of the fertility awareness method.

Ready to find out what discharge is normal, and what isn’t? Grab your toilet paper, and let’s get to it!

Clear or stringy discharge

If you’ve ever felt that feeling like you peed yourself, or started your period, only to look at your underwear and find abundant or clear or mucus that forms strings (like it’s hanging down into the toilet, or off the toilet paper), consider yourself very fertile! This is peak type mucus and it indicates high estrogen levels, usually appearing during the fertile window, which is the phase leading up to ovulation.

As estrogen levels rise, the cervix produces more cervical mucus to create a hospitable environment for sperm. This stretchy and slippery mucus aids sperm in their journey through the reproductive tract, facilitating the chances of successful fertilization. If you're trying to conceive, this is a good sign indicating that your body is primed for pregnancy.

Spotting mixed with clear, stringy mucus

It can feel concerning to see bleeding mid-cycle mixed in with clear or stringy discharge. The most common type of spotting of this type is known as breakthrough bleeding and is associated with high levels of estrogen at ovulation. It usually doesn’t last more than a day or two, and is typically followed by other ovulation signs, such as a sustained rise in basal body temperature.

It’s considered a normal type of bleeding, and a secondary ovulation sign. If you have prolonged mid-cycle spotting, or if spotting is persistent, heavy, or accompanied by pain, it's advisable to consult a healthcare professional to rule out any underlying issues.

Cervical mucus in your luteal phase (after ovulation)

The luteal phase comes after ovulation and is characterized by the presence of progesterone, a hormone crucial for maintaining a potential pregnancy. You’ll probably notice a significant dry-up of mucus after ovulation. However, you might not be completely dry, and that’s totally okay. If you see a couple days of creamy, clear or wet discharge, it doesn’t mean you’re ovulating again (as long as you confirmed ovulation already that cycle). It is usually due to a normal bump of estrogen mid-luteal phase.

It’s also normal to see some type of thick or white discharge before your period. When you’re on birth control, you may see this almost every single day.

Clear or creamy discharge before your period

As the menstrual cycle progresses and the body prepares for menstruation, the cervical mucus might change again. In the days leading up to your period, you may notice clear or white mucus that is thicker and stickier. You may also feel wetter. This is the result of hormonal changes as the body prepares to shed the uterine lining in the absence of a fertilized egg.

The mucus plug that was in place during the luteal phase is dissolving and making way for menstrual blood to flow through. Think of it as a heads-up that your period will start in a few days!

Discharge every day of the cycle

I’m never dry! Is this normal? Is a question I get all the time as a fertility awareness educator. The answer is yes, it’s totally normal to have some type of discharge every day! Some people’s lowest level of estrogen reflects a dry pattern, while others experience some kind of unchanging discharge day after day. It’s all a variation of normal.

If you have longer cycles, you might have multiple patches of discharge, as estrogen rises to facilitate the release of an egg, but the egg fails to luteinise. You’ll be able to tell because the patch of mucus is not followed by a rise in basal body temperature, or a clear dry-up.

If you’ve come off birth control, your cervical crypts may be overproducing a thick mucus. This is also normal and eventually you’ll have more variation in your mucus after your cervical crypts heal.

It’s all a variation of normal

We all have to find our own mucus pattern across the cycle, and this does take some time to get used to. But understanding the nuances of mucus across the cycle can empower you to make informed decisions about your reproductive health and identify when and whether you’re ovulating.

Everyone’s body and cervix are unique, and while there are general trends, variations are entirely normal. Any abnormal changes in the colour or smell of your discharge warrant a consult with your healthcare provider.

As you embark on this journey of self-discovery and awareness, remember that your body has an incredible ability to communicate with you. Cervical mucus is one of those ways. And for that, cervical mucus is magical.