This 25 year old woman has never given birth and has no history of STIs. Each photo was taken at approximately 10:00 pm every day starting the first day of her menstrual cycle. For the duration of this project, she used condoms as her birth control method so as not to introduce semenal fluid into the photoshoot. She did not use tampons or mooncups during her menstruation either.
This cycle is of normal/average length for her, about 33 days. Her cycle’s follicular phase (variable number of days preovulation) lasts until about day 20 or 21. Her fertile phase lasts from days 13 to 21 with ovulation on day 20. Her luteal (postovulation) phase is 13 days long (12-16 days is the norm and is not variable in a normal cycle).
Above is a graph of her basal body temperature for this cycle. As you can see, after ovulation on about day 20, her temperature began to rise due to the heat-inducing hormone progesterone produced by the corpus luteum. This temperature shift signifies that ovulation has already occurred. Check out more information about the Fertility Awareness Method of birth control to learn more about cyclical temperature changes.
You may notice on the right side of some photos, some jagged looking skin, which is the remnants of her hymenal ring. Her os (opening in the cervix) is round because she has never given birth; the os becomes more of a slit after childbirth. On the sides of the photos, you can see her vaginal rugae, which are the ridges that make the elastic muscular canal of the vagina able to open/expand dramatically during arousal and childbirth.
She also tracked the depth/movement of her cervix in her vagina. These gradual shifts are not really distinguishable in the photos, but was a tangible change as the depth she needed to reach a finger inside to touch her own cervix varied slightly each day. She also noted the firmness of the cervix and openness of the os – again a change she was feeling with her finger.
Her uterus is tipped backward (retroflexed), so you may notice that the cervix is pointing upwards in some photos. This is an anatomical variation that is present in about 20-30% of the population, and is most often a genetic trait. It means that the body of the uterus lies more towards her back than over her bladder.
Day One
Blood – red , clotty and heavy flow
Cramps – mild
Breasts – de-swelling
Feeling – very sexual and tender
Day Two
Blood – Dark red, medium/light flow
Breasts – normal
Basal body temperature – 97.2 F (and remains between 97 F and 97.4 F until day 20)
Day Three
Blood – Brown and watery dark red, low flow
Day Four
Brown Spotting with some dark red flecks (note fresh blood at os)
Day Five
Light brown discharge; very low flow
Tender, heart-achey
Tired
Day Six
Very light brown discharge
Sticky cervical fluid when touched between fingers
Day Seven
Cervix in low closed position
Cervical fluid sticky
Day Eight
Cervix, low and closed/firm
Cervical fluid white and sticky
Day Nine
Cervix low and closed
Dry sensation
Day Ten
Cervix low and closed
Notice blood spot near os and brown clot near cervix (right). Possibly from vigorous intercourse earlier that day (not mittelschmerz as I am not ovulating yet)** Since posting this last idea that the blood may have been from intercourse, I have since been diagnosed with an endometrial polyp that occasionally causes bleeding mid-cycle, usually unrelated to intercourse. I am treating it with holistic measures and hope it clears up soon.
Day Eleven
Cervical fluid is creamy
Day Twelve
Cervical fluid white and wet, milky
Feeling particularly sexual
Day Thirteen
Copious watery cervical fluid
Cervix softening and moving upwards
Day Fourteen
White/clear watery cervical fluid, dripping
Day Fifteen
Cervical fluid changed to more eggwhite texture
Cervix is soft, open and high
Day Sixteen
Cervical fluid alternately wet and eggwhite consistency
Cervix soft and high
Day Seventeen
Cervical fluid is very gelatainous (here seen covering os) and streaked with whitish yellow
Sensitive, sensual breasts (not painfully tender)
Stringy Fluid when stretched between fingers (above)
Day Eighteen
Eggwhite fluid
Day Nineteen
More white-tinged eggwhite fluid
Very stretchy and strong Fluid (above)
Day Twenty
Mild back pain and cramp on left side (mittelschmerz)
Ovulation suspected!
Feeling very sexual
Cervical Fluid gelatinous and egg-white (right)
Day Twenty One
Drier/chunkier (like drying rubber cement) cervical fluid
Nipples very tender and painful
Day Twenty-Two
Tender nipples
Cervical position is mid and slightly open
Basal Body temperature beginning to rise, today 97.6 F
Day Twenty-Three
Very tender nipples
Dry feeling
Basal Body temperature 97.5 F
Day Twenty-Four
Very tender nipples
Dry feeling
Cervix feels hard and high again
Day Twenty-Five
Headache and tired
Dry/tacky
Day Twenty-Six
Breasts swelling
Tacky cervical fluid
Basal Body temperature now noticeably higher than preovulation by about 1 degree Farenheit. It is now 98.1 F and ranges from 98.1 F to 98.6 F for the rest of this of cycle
>
Day Twenty-Seven
Tender nipples, swollen breasts
Tacky cervical fluid
Day Twenty-Eight
Dry feeling
Day Twenty-Nine
Dry feeling
Day Thirty
Dry feeling
Breasts feel heavy
Day Thirty-One
Feeling bloated
Dry fluid (note fresh blood at os, sign of impending menses)
Feeling emotionally tender
Day Thirty-Two
Very light brown spotting
Cervix low and open
Feeling tired
Day Thirty-Three
Pink spotting
Lower back ache
Menses begins tomorrow upon waking, 13 days after ovulation (luteal phase)
Thank you!
Feel free to comment below. Please know that I ‘censor’ the comments, so you needn’t bother saying something mean, derogatory, pornographic, or sexist as posting such comments does not further the vision of my project or the health of the world.
its a good website…now/.i can tell my wife about that…
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I think is very good for us. what a extraordinary website! i want to convey you for card these. very composed.
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Muito boa a tua ideia, mente maravilhosa, gostei das fotos mas elas me deixaram com duvida, porque que o meu muco de cor clara transparente só aparece um dia durante o ciclo completo só vejo ele um dia apenas… estranho
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cervix project
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VERY GOOD
VERY GOOD
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Hi, I’m a 48 years old man.
Feel guilty to my wife for asking her ….
The life is really a miracle.
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Great research, very helpful!
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awsome really interesting and amazing work, as a man i have to admire where i’ve been come from and where i am going all these 35 years!! as far as dedication goes A*********
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NOSSA MUITO LEGAL
EU QUERIA SABE COM E UM ULTERO QUANDO ESTA GRAVIDA
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hi ,
me totally splendid , a beautiful project done by you .
a lot of things to be leaning from u carry on
best of luck .
take care ,
kalyan
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I am 40 yrs. old. Today was the 4th or 5th time I felt my cervix over the last 25 years or so. I was alittle alarmed by what I felt. None of the pictures I saw on this web site looked like what I felt. It is the first time I felt it hard to the touch and what feels like about 1″ 1/2″ long. Is this normal? Should I be concerned?
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beautifulcervix Reply:
November 25th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
If you are concerned, see your practitioner. But, it sounds like you are feeling your cervix at a different time of month than you may have before. The cervix feels harder (like the tip of a nose) when you are in an infertile phase and softer when you are fertile (like lips). It protrudes into the vagina about 1 1/2 inches, so that sounds about normal. But, again, if you are concerned, see if you can use a speculum to see it for yourself or go to your gyno/midwife and have them take a peek to alleviate some anxiety.
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I am just wondering- how come your first period lasted 3 days(the pictures indicates that your period lasted 3 days- even though there was a little bit of brown discharge – does the brown discharge count as a part of the period? I would have liked you explain your case of what is your menstrual cycle? do you get your period for every 28 days- or may be my calculations where wrong- please explain) and when next came was after 28 days? In my case my period last 3 0r 4 days, the next time I get my period is after 21 or 22 days only, I guess not every one has the same cycle…
Very fascinating though, didn’t you find painful the speculum that you use it? I couldn’t do my smear test the other day, because the speculum was so painful.
Thank you
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beautifulcervix Reply:
November 25th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Only about 30% of women have exactly a 28 day cycle. The number of days a menstrual cycle is varies from woman to woman but is counted from the first day of bleeding to the first day of bleeding when her next cycle begins (usually 24-36 days, but can be longer or shorter). The days of brown bleeding do count as your period.
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I am impressed to read such a powerful story about Beautiful Cervix Project -Age 25 – Entire Cycle ». I will post a link on my coupon site to this blog post. I will be back to read more.
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wow…that is amazing….I check my cervix often and today I had noticed that it felt harder than normal – just felt very solid and extending upwards into my uterus….I panicked of course because this was different….I am also almost 42 and going through a lot of changes but had no idea that my cervix changes when I am fertile to not fertile…so interesting…Thanx
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Thank you so much… I have been trying to have a baby and when my new nurse practitioner said that I looked very fertile, I wanted to know how she knew that and your site showed me exactly what she meant… soft, high, open cervix indicates ovulation and now I can see that. Thank you I am a studying nurse myself and I am so interested in the body and exactly what everything looks like!
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very sceitific reserch
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I appreciate, lead to I discovered exactly what I was looking for. You’ve ended my four day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye
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I wish this had been around when I was ttc. It might’ve taken much of the guesswork out. Despite all the tests I took and temping I did and feeling of my cervix, I never got a daily good look at it like you did. I bet you could get pregnant right away with all the info you have about your body. Amazing! Great project!
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For most women, menstrual cycles start from age of eleven to thirteen. However for them to settle down and start following a steady routine, it will take some time. Once the irregularity is gone, menstrual cycle for a woman is a 28 days cycle. This cycle begins with the first day of your menstruation and ends the day before your next menstruation starts.
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beautifulcervix Reply:
November 25th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
Only about 30% of women have 28 day cycles. The length of normal, healthy menstrual cycles can vary for women throughout their lives and between women.
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nice but other language be publish easily understan to others peoples …this is my suggestion
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beautifulcervix Reply:
November 25th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
I agree. Please note there is a translate page option on the sidebar underneath the ‘sumbit your email’ address box.
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This is extremely interesting. Thank you for all your time and effort in creating this project. Wow, this is just great!
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Its fantastic …….. very informative indeed !!
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nice information..now iknow better of my girlfriend days
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are these photos about vaginal infection?
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beautifulcervix Reply:
November 25th, 2011 at 4:09 pm
Nope. They are about the normal cervical and vaginal secretions throughout a menstrual cycle.
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I owe you a very big thank you. I was terrified the other day when I felt a lump now I know its just my cervix. This information is immensely important and should be taught to all women. We should know what our bodies feel and look like so that we can understand and can take care of them. I’ll be using this information to take better care of mine from now on.
Thank you,
R
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Absolutely amazing! Bravo! So much of the female anatomy a mystery. Thank you for your research!
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Wow, I love the photos and info. I have been trying to track my fertility. I never know what the CM is supposed to look like. You have helped me so much. Kudos to you.
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Thanks so much for sharing these pictures. They are very educational and interesting.
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I’m extremely inspired together with your writing talents and also with the layout for your blog. Is that this a paid topic or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s uncommon to see a great weblog like this one these days..
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Thank you so much, these pictures are very helpful for understanding menstural cycle…….Excellent work////
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Thank you so much for doing this. I’ve always been ignorant as to what things are “supposed” to look and feel like, and try to avoid self-examination because I didn’t know what was “normal” and always assumed there was something wrong with the way I was constructed down there and it freaks me out, as things don’t feel neat and smooth the way the diagrams we were given at school were. I didn’t know what texture my cervix was supposed to be or where it was in relation to other structures. Your photographs have been invaluable in helping me to feel a bit better about my own body. That’s not to say GYN appointments aren’t important but this has set my mind at ease somwehat and inspired me to get to know my body better. Judging by the comments I’m not the only one! So thank you.
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Idol Tan Campagn, my cycle is closer to 21 days and I am (as far as I know) healthy. They’re regular, just shorter.
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When a women become pregnent it is the most likely time but here we disscussing about mensuration and the photos are such a horrible for me i am so scared about that looking inside pubic and blood but its good as a knoledge.
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What a unique and interesting project. Thanks for doing this.
Peace and Love
J
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Six years ago I was diagnosed with a incompetent cervix. I didn’t where or what my cervix really looked like. The doctor said that my cervix looks really chewed up from all of the surgeries that I had to endure to keep my daughter in.
Thank you for showing me what a cervix really looks like. I find your site very educational. Now that I know what a healthy cervix looks like. I wonder what my cervix looks like.
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knowing that i have a high cervix i am more into the functions of my body
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Thank you for this! This has been very helpful and it its beautifully illustrated! Very good job please keep it up!
Thank you!!!!!
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Thankyou for doing this…thanks to this site I have my own speculum now and I observe my own cervix- not to mention I am cured of the fear of pap smears now! I have even been photographing it, but a mirror and a torch is not the same as a boyfriend talented with a headlamp! Keep up the good work! I am trying to conceive my third baby, and when I do I would be interested in having my cervix photographed when dilated, if that is possible.
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Dear blogger, I was touched by the way you expressed your point of view on Beautiful Cervix Project -Age 25 – Entire Cycle ». I have a blog of my own and I will link back to this article.
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hi thanks for sharing your experience i have always wanted to know what a cervix looked like inside my body and it has been great how these things work. now i know what doctors scrape inside your body when doing cervical smear tests
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Thanks for these photos!
I found them a little gross, but highly interesting and informative. I always wondered what a gynecologist was looking at, and what is was I felt in the middle of my vagina, whether is was supposed to be there or not. All the diagrams you can find show the cervix as an opening at the end of the vagina not poking out at all, where I was feeling a hardness in the middle and poking down (seemed like a penis almost) with what seems like a lot of space around it and deeper in. Now I know what it is, that it moves and changes hardness.
Thanks for this website! I found it in a comment in the fourth result when I googled “can you feel your cervix”. (http://ehealthforum.com/health/topic112449.html#b)
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When investigating my vagina and cervix, I found I could move my finger past the cervix. Is it possible for a finger to enter the cervix?? Or do I have an odd lump? (my doctor said its just my cervix not a weird lump but i just want to understand more, thanks!)
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