Age 24 – Most of Cycle
This is the cervix of a 24 year old woman with no history of STIs or abnormal Pap smears. She is sexually active and tracks her fertility using the Fertility Awareness Method; she and her husband use condoms during her fertile phase as birth control. This cycle is 25 days long, with ovulation around day 12 or 13.
Day 1
Red blood flowing from the os and collecting near the speculum
Day 2
Day 3
Some endometrial tissue (lining of the womb that is shed during menstruation) or a small clot leaving the os
Day 4
Light reddish brown flow, seen here as a streak to the right of the os
Day 5
Light red spotting
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Cervical fluid is white & clear and has egg-white consistency
Day 9
Very fertile cervical fluid that stretches a few inches between the fingers; egg-white consistency
Day 10
Wet & lubricative cervical fluid; os is slightly more open and central (and continues to be through Day 13), indicating peak fertility
Day 11
Day 12
Ovulation suspected; cervical fluid watery
Day 13
Day 14
Based on a rise in basal body temperature and a general ‘drying up’ pattern of her cervical fluid, this woman identifies that she has already ovulated (likely on day 12) and is now in her luteal phase
Day 14
Sticky & white cervical fluid, typical for her in her luteal phase
Day 15
Day 16
Day 23
Day 23
Her luteal mucous is white, sticky and does not stretch
Day 23 panties
Cervical fluid dried in her panties in streaks, indicating that it does not contain much water and is therefore not fertile