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The easiest way to assess the presence and quantity of oestrogen in your bloodstream, and gain clues about your fertility status, is to check your cervical secretions throughout your cycle.

Increased production of oestrogen, as your body prepares for ovulation, stimulates the cells of the cervix to produce more secretions, which creates an increasingly wet and slippery feeling around the vagina as you approach ovulation. While your cervical secretion pattern may vary from cycle to cycle, a typical cervical secretion pattern over the course of a menstrual cycle will look like this:

• Day 1 of your cycle is marked by bleeding, which may continue for between 3 and 5 days, depending on what is normal for you.

• Immediately following the end of a period, cervical secretions aren’t produced in any noticeable quantities and the vagina can be described as quite dry.

• After a couple of days, you may notice a creamy – white secretion which has no odour and produces no discomfort. It may leave a bit of a mark on undergarments.

• This creamy – white secretion then becomes a little thinner and whiter, and increases a little in quantity. Some women have described this as being similar in colour and consistency to moisturizing lotion.

• Over the next couple of days these secretions change quite dramatically, becoming increasingly more clear and ‘elastic’.

• Just prior to ovulation, cervical secretions become completely clear, exceedingly ‘stretchy’ and can be described as resembling raw egg white. This is the peak time for cervical – secretion production, and with good reason: for sperm to reach an egg they need to be able to swim upwards, and through a lubricated channel that allows this. In addition, when looked at under a microscope, these cervical secretions appear to have channels within them, assisting the sperm even further. Not all women notice the elasticity or stretchiness of these highly fertile secretions, but they may simply be aware of an increased wetness. Some women even describe this as feeling as if they have wet themselves. This may be because this type of secretion is produced in small ‘pulses’ from the top of the cervix.

• Almost immediately following ovulation, the cervical secretions stop being clear and stretchy, and revert back to a thicker creamy secretion, which can become quite ‘blobby’ over the next few days. This is the progesterone effect. It creates a bit of a seal to the cervix (neck of the womb), designed to prevent any foreign bodies – from sperm to bacteria – ascending the womb. It also makes the vagina more acidic and hostile to sperm.

• Over the next couple of weeks, leading up to the next period, cervical secretions become minimal again, producing just enough to keep the vaginal canal moist and protected.

When you first attempt to identify and interpret your own cervical secretion changes, it’s worth being aware of the factors that can make this difficult. Wash as normal, using soap and water and rinsing well, but avoid the use of vaginal deodorants, talcum powder or lubricating jellies. Wear all – cotton underwear, and avoid absorbent pads, thongs, G – strings or nylon tights – stockings are better!

Television adverts for panty – liners have broached the subject of cervical secretions, although not overtly, preferring to refer to those ‘in-between days’ when you need some protection. Certainly, for some women, the secretion of cervical mucus can be copious and very watery at times. However, I don’t recommend the use of panty liners, as they can be very drying and too absorbent, so many women miss their fertile secretions. Better to bring a spare pair of pants to change into during the day if necessary.

In summary, the general pattern is for cervical secretions to change throughout the menstrual cycle, increasing in quantity and becoming more clear (transparent) and stretchy as you get closer to ovulation. Noticing and recording these changes for a few months will help you recognize your individual fertility pattern. In the most common pattern, as mentioned, cervical secretions start out dry (just after your period) and then get sticky, then creamy, then wet and watery, becoming most like raw egg white as you get closer to ovulation. You may, though, get different types of cervical secretions on the same day. Always record your most fertile cervical secretions to make sure that you do not miss a potentially fertile day.