#cervical position

Okay so this week I asked some of the other admins what they thought would be a good thing to write about and they suggested cervical position. So first off what is your cervix, what does it do, and where is it?

Your cervix is a cylinder shaped canal that connects your vagina to your uterus. But the only part of it you will be able to feel is the outside. It feels kind of like a dimple. Your cervix is what produces cervical fluid. It regulates the type and texture of the fluid and whether or not it encourages or prevents pregnancy. When you are on your period your cervix is what opens to allow the blood to be shed. Then, when you are getting ready to give birth your cervix is what dilates and allows the baby to pass through and be born.

 Your cervix is pretty high up inside of you but if you aren’t squeamish you should be able to reach it with no problem. In my opinion the best way to reach it is either sitting down on a toilet or in the shower where you can prop your leg up. Please remember whenever you try to check your cervical position it is very important to use clean hands!! You don’t want to introduce any kind of bacteria inside of your vagina. All you need to do is insert one or two fingers inside your vagina very gently. Try to use your finger tips so as not to scratch the vaginal walls. Towards the end of the vagina you should feel a small dimple. It could be on the tip of a hard lump or feel very soft and squishy, depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. It could take you a few times to find it but have patience and I am sure that you will. Also be mindful that your cervix can move around throughout the day so it’s a good idea to check it around the same time.

So what does your cervix have to do with ttc? Just like your cervical fluid can give you a good idea of where you are in your cycle, your cervical position can do the same as well. 

Throughout your cycle your cervix changes. At the beginning of your cycle it is low and hard like the tip of your nose, then once your period ends it gradually rises and becomes soft wet and open around the time of ovulation. At this point your cervix will feel more like your lips. This is where your cervical position can really help you! Pinpointing ovulation is not an exact science. So when you are ttc you can use all of the information your body will give you. If you check your cervix and it is soft high open and wet you can be pretty positive you are in your fertile window! After ovulation your cervix will close up, drop and become firm again.

When pregnancy occurs your cervix will rise again and become soft. The opening will be closed tightly to protect the new baby. This shouldn’t be used to confirm pregnancy! This can happen at different times for each woman and usually doesn’t happen until at least 12 days after you have ovulated. Please only confirm your pregnancy with a home pregnancy test or a visit to your doctor!

Alright so that about sums that up. If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave them here or send in an ask! Hope you ladies had a great week. Baby Dust to you all!

The thing with trying to track yourself and your health using only one thing as a guide is that results are often inaccurate because our bodies don't always follow a strict pattern or work in textbook fashion.

Your cervix can help indicate the time of your cycle or whether you're pregnant, if you combine your findings with other findings. Sometimes the cervix isn't positioned where one would think it would be and/or doesn't feel like one should think it would at x point, which is why it's important to compare it with other hormonal symptoms (discharge, pain or pressure, bloating, bleeding, hunger, mood, etc).

Since cervical position is sensitive to hormonal changes, for some people it may be possible the implant or other hormonal birth control can influence its position, especially since cervical position changes throughout the cycle, but hormonal birth control often hinders your cycle so that your system isn't welcoming to pregnancy. But, again, it can be hard to tell.