How do I check my cervix for signs of ovulation?
by
Polly Logan-Banks
|
Medically reviewed
by
Babatunde Gbolade, Consultant gynaecologist and fertility control specialist
|
September 2019
|
Medically reviewed
by
Babatunde Gbolade, Consultant gynaecologist and fertility control specialist
|
September 2019
|
During the course of your menstrual cycle you can track changes in your cervix by how it feels to the touch. This can help you work out when you're most fertile, so you can plan the best time to have sex to get pregnant.
Where is my cervix and how do I check it?
Your cervix is where your vagina connects to your womb (uterus). It can be tricky to find it, especially at first. But you may be able to find it using the following technique:
About one in five women have a tilted womb (retroverted uterus). This can make it a bit trickier to find your cervix. If you have a tilted womb, you're more likely to find your cervix tilted towards the front wall of your vagina, rather than the back.
It's worth trying this technique several times at different points in your cycle, so you can get used to how your cervix changes throughout the month. You may like to keep a note of how it feels at different times.
How can I tell when I'm most fertile?
You're at your most fertile around the time you ovulate. But because sperm can live inside you for up to a week, you can have baby-making sex for a week leading up to ovulation, too.
It's worth noting that many experts believe that tracking your ovulation won't actually help you get pregnant. Instead, the NHS and others say that you'll have the best chance of conceiving if you have sex every two to three days throughout your cycle. But if you'd like to try to track your ovulation to find your most fertile time, here's what to expect from your cervix:
You may want to combine checking your cervix with monitoring other signs of ovulation, such as changes in your cervical mucus. In the days leading up to ovulation you'll probably notice increasing amounts of clear and slippery mucus, which looks and feels a bit like raw egg white.
Another way to check for signs of ovulation is to chart your basal body temperature (BBT). This means recording your temperature as soon as you wake up every morning.
When you ovulate, your temperature is likely to rise slightly. So an increase in BBT for three days or more could be a sign that you have recently ovulated. By tracking this every month, you can start to build a picture of when in your cycle you usually ovulate, helping you to predict when you'll be at your most fertile.
Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) may be an easier, quicker and more accurate way of predicting ovulation than charting every day. These work a bit like a pregnancy test – you can test your wee or saliva and find out straight away if you're ovulating.
If all this sounds like a lot of hard work, don't worry! Many experts believe that knowing when you're most fertile won't really help you get pregnant anyway. For most couples, simply having sex every two to three days will give you the best chance of conceiving.
More conception tips:
Where is my cervix and how do I check it?
Your cervix is where your vagina connects to your womb (uterus). It can be tricky to find it, especially at first. But you may be able to find it using the following technique:
- Start by going for a wee. Having an empty bladder can make your cervix easier to find.
- Wash your hands with soap and warm water. This will reduce the risk of bacteria getting into your vagina and causing an infection.
- Find a comfortable position – you may prefer to squat, or stand with one foot up on a chair or the side of the bath.
- Insert one or two fingers into your vagina. You'll probably notice that the walls of your vagina feel soft and spongy. Your cervix is deep in your vagina, usually slightly tilted towards the back wall. It should feel noticeably different, usually firmer and smoother. Some people compare it to feeling the tip of your nose, or lips puckered up for a kiss. You may also be able to feel a slight dent or opening in the middle of your cervix.
- If you like you can use a little lubricant to make the process more comfortable.
About one in five women have a tilted womb (retroverted uterus). This can make it a bit trickier to find your cervix. If you have a tilted womb, you're more likely to find your cervix tilted towards the front wall of your vagina, rather than the back.
It's worth trying this technique several times at different points in your cycle, so you can get used to how your cervix changes throughout the month. You may like to keep a note of how it feels at different times.
How can I tell when I'm most fertile?
You're at your most fertile around the time you ovulate. But because sperm can live inside you for up to a week, you can have baby-making sex for a week leading up to ovulation, too.
It's worth noting that many experts believe that tracking your ovulation won't actually help you get pregnant. Instead, the NHS and others say that you'll have the best chance of conceiving if you have sex every two to three days throughout your cycle. But if you'd like to try to track your ovulation to find your most fertile time, here's what to expect from your cervix:
- After your period: this is when you're most likely to be able to find your cervix. It's likely to stick out more into your vagina, and will probably feel firm, like the tip of your nose. You may notice that it feels slightly tilted towards one side – this is perfectly normal. If you can feel a dip in the middle of your cervix, it will usually be tightly closed at this time. These are all signs that you're not particularly fertile at that moment.
- Before ovulation: as you approach your most fertile time, your cervix will become shorter, so it won't stick out into your vagina so much and may be harder to feel. When you do feel it, you'll probably notice that it feels softer than at other times in your cycle. If you can feel a dip in the middle, it may feel a bit more open at this time. You'll probably also notice a bit more vaginal discharge. This is sometimes known as having a short, high, open and wet cervix (SHOW). These are all signs that now is a good time to have baby-making sex.
- After ovulation: about a day after you ovulate, your cervix will return to the position it was in just after your period. During this time you're also less fertile.
You may want to combine checking your cervix with monitoring other signs of ovulation, such as changes in your cervical mucus. In the days leading up to ovulation you'll probably notice increasing amounts of clear and slippery mucus, which looks and feels a bit like raw egg white.
Another way to check for signs of ovulation is to chart your basal body temperature (BBT). This means recording your temperature as soon as you wake up every morning.
When you ovulate, your temperature is likely to rise slightly. So an increase in BBT for three days or more could be a sign that you have recently ovulated. By tracking this every month, you can start to build a picture of when in your cycle you usually ovulate, helping you to predict when you'll be at your most fertile.
Ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) may be an easier, quicker and more accurate way of predicting ovulation than charting every day. These work a bit like a pregnancy test – you can test your wee or saliva and find out straight away if you're ovulating.
If all this sounds like a lot of hard work, don't worry! Many experts believe that knowing when you're most fertile won't really help you get pregnant anyway. For most couples, simply having sex every two to three days will give you the best chance of conceiving.
More conception tips:
- Learn more about how to check ovulation using cervical mucus, basal body temperature or ovulation predictor kits.
- See the top 11 ways to get your body ready for baby-making.
- Are some sex positions better than others for conception? Find out!
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