Are you looking for more ways to track your fertility or signs of pregnancy? Do you know what your cervix does and how to locate it? Show
Your cervix is the opening to your uterus located inside the vagina, and it’s a part of your body that is constantly changing to reflect what is going on with your reproductive parts. Many women do not realize that they can check their cervical position anytime on their own to learn more about their cycle, and not only when they’re close to giving birth. Why Should I Check My Cervical Position?Knowledge is power. Aside from knowing more about your body, having the ability to check your cervical position can help you when you’re trying to become pregnant and assist you as you get closer to giving birth. We’ve all heard the term “10 centimeters dilated,” but I had no idea what that actually meant until I had my first child. As your body prepares to give birth, your cervix dilates, or expands and stretches, to create a bigger opening. Is Cervical Position a Pregnancy Indicator?It’s possible to use a cervical check to determine if you’re pregnant, but it will never be as reliable as a home test or a blood test at the doctor’s office. Your cervix can change for many reasons, and it often does, depending on your cycle. When you’re pregnant, your cervix will be higher and softer than at other times in your cycle. This will feel similar to when you’re the most fertile, but it lasts longer. If you have a good relationship with your own body, you can check on your cervix to help confirm pregnancy suspicions early on. Even so, it’s better not to rely on this sign alone. Every woman has a different body, a different cervix, and a different reaction to pregnancy. Don’t be discouraged if your cervix doesn’t feel like it has changed. You may still be pregnant. Tracking Fertility by Checking the CervixCervical position checks are most beneficial for those trying to become pregnant. There are many ways you can track your fertility to time when you have sex and increase your chances of pregnancy. As your body begins to prepare to house a baby, it changes and moves slightly to allow a pregnancy to happen. Your cervix will move upwards, opening slightly and softening as your blood increases. You can feel these changes pretty clearly, which lets you know it’s time to start making that baby! What Does the Cervix Feel Like?The way your cervix feels will depend on where you are in your menstrual cycle or pregnancy. It will always feel different from the rest of your vagina, and with practice, you’ll be able to identify it quickly! Your vagina’s interior is primarily soft and spongy, but the cervix is a harder spot deep in the back and up. The closer you get to ovulation, the softer and wider it will become, but it still won’t feel like the walls of your vagina. Instead, you’ll feel something like a button.
Editor's Note: How to Check Cervical PositionYou shouldn’t be nervous about checking on your own body. Make sure you’re relaxed and ready to spend a couple of minutes investigating. Knowing how to check your cervix safely can come in handy for pregnancy or future fertility tracking, and it’s a great skill to learn! 1. Wash Your HandsAny time you’re going to be touching your vagina, especially if you’re pregnant, you have to make sure your hands are clean. Introducing germs and bacteria into your vagina will only cause problems for you if you get an infection. It’s also important to mention that you shouldn’t try to check your cervix if you’re dealing with a pre-existing infection, like a bacterial or yeast infection. Outside contamination will only make it worse. 2. Find a Comfortable SquatSome women find that the toilet is the most comfortable place to explore inside their vagina, while others prefer to put a leg up on the side of the tub. You can position yourself any way you like as long as you’re comfortable and can squat or spread out enough to open your vagina. I find that popping a squat on the bathroom floor over a handheld mirror is the easiest because I can check everything related to my vagina at once and have accompanying visuals when it comes to my explorative journey. 3. Slowly and Gently Reach in and UpDon’t rush this part! Be gentle with yourself and slowly push your index or middle finger as far back as it will go inside your vagina. Run your finger along the top of your vagina once you reach the back. If you’re new to this process, this could take a few moments to get the hang of. As long as you’re not in pain or uncomfortable, it’s safe to continue feeling around in there until you come across something that feels unusual. That’s your cervix! 4. Memorize How it Feels, and Document Any ChangesThe first time you find your cervix, you won’t be able to know how different it is from any other time, but document what you felt. If you’re tracking your pregnancy, determine how firm you think the cervix felt, then keep up with checking on it until you feel it soften. You can also inspect your fingers afterward and document the consistency and color of your discharge. Discharge is an entirely normal part of having a vagina, and it can help you pinpoint where you are in your cycle for timing sex to your fertility calendar. Dangers To Checking Your CervixAs long as your hands are clean and your nails are trimmed neatly and not long, jagged, or sharp, there is little risk to checking your cervix before pregnancy. The biggest concern comes from the potential to introduce bacteria to your vagina, especially close to labor. You also risk disappointment if you rely too much on your cervix when checking for early pregnancy signs or as the only way to track your fertility. Pair your cervix checks with other methods to provide the most accurate results and prevent dashed hopes. Tips for Checking Your CervixWhile this process isn’t hard to do, there are a few things you should remember before checking your cervical position. Here are some handy tips to give you an even better idea about what your body is doing and how and why it’s doing it. 1. Don’t Rely on DilationIf you’re hoping to get an early heads-up about when you’re going into labor, don’t rely on your cervix. You can be dilated up to 3 centimeters for weeks before the birthing process begins. 2. Sometimes Your Cervix Won’t Close CompletelyHaving children can affect how your cervix feels, so what you felt before may never be that way again once the baby is born. Many women experience a cervix that is perpetually slightly open after giving birth, but that doesn’t mean you can’t track your fertility by how it feels. The firmness and the position will still be helpful indicators of fertility. 3. Look for Mucus ChangesThe hormones that affect your cervical position also affect your mucus or discharge in the same way. Vaginal mucus seems to be something women rarely talk about, but it’s one of the most accurate and helpful ways to figure out when you’re fertile. When you’re at your most fertile, your discharge will be clear with a slippery, elastic, and stretchy consistency like an egg white. (1) In early pregnancy, vaginal discharge changes to thick or milky white mucus known as leukorrhea. 4. Sexual Arousal Changes EverythingChecking your cervical position during or after sex will never give you an accurate answer. Your body changes during sex or when aroused, and your cervix will move, so wait a few hours before feeling for any changes. Give your hormones and your body enough time to chill back out (2).
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Wouldn’t it be nice if your body had an immediate pregnancy indicator? Like a Fitbit alert or a voice in your head shouting, “Look, Ma, there’s a baby on board!” But even pregnancy tests aren’t accurate until 1 to 2 weeks after a missed period. If you know what to look for, it’s possible to pick up on your body’s early pregnancy cues. Your cervix — the doughnut-shaped gate between your vagina and uterus — might spill the tea first. Your cervix usually feels kinda like a firm ball at the top of your vag. When you’re pregnant, it changes. Keeping tabs on your cervix’s position and texture could help you figure out whether or not you’re pregnant. The first pregnancy clue is a change in position. During ovulation, when your ovaries release an egg, your cervix moves higher. If there’s no meet-cute between your egg and your partner’s swimmers, your cervix shifts down into period position. So if your cervix is riding high instead of moving down to open for Shark Week, there’s a chance you could be pregnant. Hard or soft?Pretend for a second that your cervix is a grapefruit. If it feels hard and unripe, there’s not much going on in the baby-making department. If it feels soft, like a ripe, juicy fruit, there’s a good chance you might be preggo. During pregnancy, your cervix can get so soft that it feels exactly like the walls of your vagina. Why so sticky?Sometimes all that cervical softening causes weird discharge. If you’re pregnant, you might notice extra sticky white mucus in your panties. Up to 25 percent of women also experience implantation bleeding, which will look like brownish early period blood, during early pregnancy. How to checkThe only way to check your cervix is to wash your hands, get comfy, and stick one or two fingers into your vagina. Your middle finger usually works best since it’s longest, but you do you, boo. The most important thing is to make sure your hands and fingernails are clean and dry. To get an accurate reading on your cervix’s position and texture, you’ve gotta know your baseline. What does your cervix normally feel like? So before you rely on your cervix to tell you if there’s a bun in the oven, you should be comfortable feeling around up there on the reg. Keep track of how your cervix feels when you’re ovulating (it’ll be high) or when your flow is about to start (it’ll be low). Some women are pros at sussing out the differences, but that takes time. Practice makes perfect. But is this really a reliable pregnancy test?Maybe, maybe not. Most women don’t feel their cervix often enough to know when it’s doing something abnormal. If you’re not intimately familiar with your lady bits, this probably isn’t a reliable method of pregnancy testing. Even if you’re super familiar with your cervix, remember that factors other than pregnancy can make it shape-shift. Sometimes it moves up or down depending on your testing position (are you a foot-on-the-toilet kind of girl or do you prefer to squat?). It can also move during sex. Your cervix isn’t the only body part that’s got your back. Missing your period is a pretty strong indicator that you’re pregnant. So is that little plus sign on a pregnancy test pee stick. Here are a few more signs you might be pregnant:
If all signs point to pregnancy, it’s best to take an at-home test for confirmation. Though some pregnancy tests are advertised as accurate before you’ve even missed your period, it’s best to wait until you’re late. That’s because it’s totally possible to get a false negative early on. Sometimes your hormones take a few days to adjust. Most tests will pick up on pregnancy about a week after a no-show flow. Once you’ve confirmed that you’re pregnant, go ahead and contact your healthcare provider. It’s important to get that first pregnancy appointment on the books. Your cervix starts to change position and texture pretty quickly after conception. If you think you’re pregnant, checking your cervix is a good place to start. If you have a sneaking suspicion that you’re preggo, remember to take good care of yourself. Take a prenatal vitamin, eat well, drink lots of water, and make sure you’re catching some Zzz’s. These are great ways to stay healthy for yourself and your potential bun in the oven. Once you’ve confirmed that you’re pregnant, make an appointment to see your healthcare provider. |