If you’re trying to get pregnant, you are likely looking for ways to track your fertility and pinpoint the best days to conceive. There are a variety of ways that you can check your reproductive health and fertility. For women, one easy, at-home method to track ovulation and your fertility is to observe the color and texture of your vaginal discharge throughout your menstrual cycle. The visual characteristics of your discharge can help you gain a sense of when you are most fertile and at the best chances of pregnancy.

Infertility is common in the United States, with about 19% of married women aged 15 to 49 struggling with infertility. The more informed you are about your fertility and reproductive health, the easier it is to seek support in your journey toward parenthood. Continue reading to learn more about the difference between fertile and infertile ovulation discharge and the role vaginal discharge plays in conception.

What is vaginal discharge?

Vaginal discharge refers to the fluid or gel-like substance that comes from the vagina. It mostly consists of cervical mucus, a fluid made by the cervix that exits the body through the vaginal canal.

Some women often feel self-conscious or ashamed of their vaginal discharge. However, discharge is actually part of a vital process that keeps your vaginal tissues lubricated and free from dead skin cells and bacteria. Vaginal discharge and cervical mucus also play a key role in fertility and conception.

How does cervical mucus help with conception?

Conception, or fertilization, occurs when a sperm and an egg join together. For the sperm to reach the egg in the fallopian tubes, it must first travel up the vaginal canal, through the cervix, and into the uterus. Cervical mucus helps this step of conception. Fertile cervical mucus is wet and slippery, and makes it easier for sperm to swim up the vagina. Infertile cervical mucus tends to be thicker and can prevent sperm from traveling through the cervix and into the uterus. If the sperm can’t move through the cervix, it can’t fertilize the egg.

Cervical mucus changes from thick and pasty to thin and slippery during the days leading up to ovulation. Ovulation is the phase of your menstrual cycle where your ovaries release an egg into the fallopian tubes for fertilization. As such, if you’re hoping to get pregnant, it is important to pay attention to your vaginal discharge during ovulation. Observing your ovulation discharge can help you recognize changes in your cervical mucus and pinpoint when you’re most likely to conceive. Knowing when to take a pregnancy test will be crucial too. 

Fertile vs. infertile ovulation discharge

The amount, color and consistency of vaginal discharge, or cervical mucus, changes throughout the menstrual cycle. It can also differ from person to person. Generally, here’s what you want to look for when determining the difference between fertile or infertile ovulation discharge.

Fertile ovulation discharge tends to look and feel similar to egg whites. Other qualities of fertile ovulation discharge include:

• Clear.
• Stretchy.
• Watery.
• Slippery.

Before and after ovulation, your body may produce less discharge. Infertile discharge tends to be:

• Yellow, white or cloudy.
• Creamy or pasty.
• Thick.
• Gluey.

There are a few ways to check for infertile or fertile ovulation discharge. Be sure to wash your hands before and after performing any of these methods:

• Manually — Insert a clean finger or two into your vagina near the cervix. Remove your finger and note the mucus’s color and texture.

• With toilet paper — Wipe your vaginal opening with white toilet tissue prior to using the restroom. Observe the discharge’s color and consistency on the tissue.

• By checking your underwear or a panty liner — Note the color and texture of the discharge on your underwear or a panty liner. This method is less reliable than the other two because the color of your underwear as well as how long the discharge has been there can change the color, texture and consistency of the discharge.

Concerned about your ovulation discharge? Fertility Cloud specialists can provide fertility testing from the comfort of your home

Having difficulty determining if you have fertile or infertile ovulation discharge? With Fertility Cloud, you can have a same-day or next-day fertility consultation online with board-certified reproductive endocrinologists and Infertility specialists from your computer, tablet, or phone. After your consultation, our team of specialists may recommend additional at-home hormone testing and can send the test directly to your door. No need to take time out of your busy schedule to travel to a lab or medical facility. 

Contact our team by phone today for more information or book an initial appointment online with a fertility specialist.