Reading Time: 4 minutesWondering what cervical mucus before period should look and feel like?. Or what is the early pregnancy discharge before missed period. We explained in details in this post what your CM right before menstruation should look like if pregnant and if not pregnant.
What is cervical mucus?
Cervical mucus also known as cervical fluid is a vaginal discharge produced by the glands in the cervix.
The cervix is a passage that connects the vagina to the uterus.
The color, texture and consistency of your CM changes through out your menstrual cycle.These changes are influenced by changes in your hormone levels.
If you are trying to get pregnant, tracking your cervical mucus is one of the ways to determine when you are most fertile.
Your cervical discharge serves the vagina in the following ways:
- It aids conception by providing a sperm friendly environment for the sperm to thrive and nourish in
- It also protects the uterus from bacteria and germ by producing thick mucus that is not penetrable
WHAT DOES CERVICAL MUCUS LOOK LIKE BEFORE PERIOD / Cervical discharge right before period (pictures)
This is what you cervical mucus looks like before menstruation
CM a few days to your period is usually thick, creamy and sticky due to the presence of progesterone hormone.
But this can differ if you have an hormonal imbalance issue, it can appear more milky white.
A creamy discharge means you are not fertile and it serves as a mucus plug to prevent sperm from entering in the uterus.
What is the right Cervical Position and mucus before period?
The position of your cervix and the mucus discharge it produces changes throughout your menstrual cycle.
After ovulation, your cervix becomes more firm and also drops lower. If pregnancy occurs the cervix will move up and become more soft.
What is a Period?
A period is the shedding of the uterine lining around two weeks after ovulation.
At the beginning of the menstrual cycle a follicle stimulating hormone(FSH) instructs the ovaries to produce eggs. The FSH also triggers the production of estrogen hormone.
Estrogen hormone starts the process of thickening the lining of the uterus in preparation for pregnancy.
Towards the middle of your cycle the estrogen level reaches its highest.
This rise in estrogen hormone also makes the cervix to produce an increased egg white cervical mucus.
Also the estrogen hormone at its peak triggers the production of the luteinising hormone(LH).
The luteinising hormone causes an egg to be released within 24 hours after an LH surge.
The progesterone hormone level starts rising gradually to take over from where the estrogen hormone left of.
The progesterone hormone further thickens the lining of the uterus to prepare for embryo implantation should pregnancy occur.
If the egg or ovum released during ovulation isn’t fertilised it disintegrates within 24 hours.
After ovulation, the egg white cervical mucus dries up quickly. You are no longer fertile and you may experience some dry days.
The thickened lining of the uterus is then shed as your menses in the next 14 days after ovulation.
Stages of Cervical Mucus
Dry cervical mucus
The few days after menstruation is known as the dry days. Your CM after menstruation is usually low or dry. This means you are infertile
Creamy Cervical Mucus
Around a week after your menses, your CM starts to look creamy or pasty. This signifies you are entering the fertile phase of your menstrual cycle.
Watery Cervical Mucus
A watery CM means you are a few days away from ovulating. You are in your fertile window. Having sex on these days can result into pregnancy.
Egg White Cervical Mucus
EWCM is the most fertile cervical mucus. It looks just like a raw egg white. It allows sperm to swim easily into the uterus and fallopian tube to fertilise the egg. This is the day of your peak fertility. Egg white mucus is seen during ovulation and it is stretchy, thin and slippery.
Sticky Cervical Mucus
Cervical mucus after ovulation before your period is sticky and thick. This premenstrual mucus signifies that you are no longer fertile. This type of mucus makes it difficult for the sperm to swim past the vagina into the female reproductive organs.
What is the cervical mucus just before period starts…If Pregnant?
If pregnant, the cervical mucus experienced around the time of your expected period will be creamy or milky white discharge (vaginal mucus).
The rise in estrogen and progesterone hormone after conception has occured causes numerous changes in the body.
Changes such as breast soreness or tenderness, early pregnancy discharge(leucorrhea), food craving and aversion.
If you do not experience milky white discharge around the time your period is due, you may still be pregnant.
The presence of leukorrhea is not a major symptom of pregnancy.
The best way to test for pregnancy is by taking a pregnancy test after a missed period.
The difference between cM before period vs cm in early pregnancy Discharge
The cervical mucus before menstruation is usually thick and pasty. It also appears in low quantity because the level of estrogen hormone is low before your period.
But if pregnant, the cervix will produce excessive milky or creamy white discharge due to the rising level of estrogen and progesterone hormone.
In early pregnancy, this discharge is known as leukorrhea.
The vaginal discharge in early pregnancy, is influenced by both the estrogen and progesterone hormone.
The progestrone hormones makes the cervical mucus to appear thick and heavy while the estrogen hormone increases the level of production of the mucus and makes it appear watery and wet.
Also as you progress into the pregnancy, a mucus plug is produced to seal the opening of the cervix in other to prevent bacteria and unwanted elements from entering into the uterus.
If pregnant, you may also notice some implantation bleeding or implantation discharge some days before your period is due.
One of the first signs of pregnancy before a missed period is excessive milky white discharge.
Vaginal discharge during pregnancy is nothing to worry about unless it is itchy, smelly or causes burning sensation while peeing. This could be a sign of an infection.
is egg white discharge before period a sign of pregnancy?
Stretchy cervical mucus two weeks before period is a sign of ovulation.
Egg white cervical mucus is your most fertile cervical mucus and it is usually a sign of ovulation rather than pregnancy.
It is possible to mistake arousal fluid with EWCM since they look very similar.
Most women who experience a watery CM before period do not report getting a BFP from their pregnancy test.
Is Increased Cervical Mucus Before Expected Period A sign of Pregnancy?
An increase in cervical discharge is usually associated with an increase in level of estrogen hormone in the blood.
Before Period, your level of estrogen hormone should be lower than progesterone hormone.
Progesterone hormone is responsible for thick, stick or creamy discharge in the second half of the menstrual cycle.
But if pregnancy occurs, the estrogen and progesterone hormone will start to rise to support the new life.
The rise in these two hormones can cause your vaginal discharge to be excessive milky or creamy white.
When to see the Doctor
If you have an abnormal discharge that has any of the following characteristics:
- Burning sensation while urinating
Cervical mucus right before period starts is sticky if not pregnant. If pregnant or have hormonal imbalance problems you can have a creamy or milky white discharge.