Cervical check


First and foremost!

Checking the cervix of the uterus must be viewed as an additional opportunity to check the information temperature and ovulation discharge provideso, to confirm the fertile period. Interpreting cycle incidents on the cervix of the uterus alone is very difficult, and you should not weight the information from cervix checking without having other founds supporting the information the cervical gives.

The cervix of the uterus changes and moves throughout the day depending on the time of day, bladder content and position, which makes it unreliable as a sole source of information.

You should also quit checking the cervix once you are pregnant, to avoid the possibility of provoking something we want to avoid. This does not mean that checking you cervix leads to abortion! It is just much better to let it be than to bother yourself with thoughts like ”Could this have been avoided..” if it goes wrong.

There are also large individual differences in how pregnant cervixes feel and you usually don’t achieve anything other than getting anxious for no reason.

There are individual differences, ALL cervixes do not act the same way. It is therefore important to take your time and use several cycles to get to know the cervix of YOUR uterus.

 

Rules for checking the cervix of the uterus

  • Start as soon as the period is over.
  • Make sure your hands are clean and your fingernails clean and short
  • Check the cervix once ever day on about the same time each day, in the same position, and with an equally full or empty bladder each time. Inconsistencies in these points can move the cervix noticeably.
  • Use some cycles to get to know it. You don’t get to know it just by feeling it sporadic or after only a few days.

 

How to check the cervix of the uterus:

  • Find a comfortable position. Sitting on the toilet, standing with one leg resting on the toilet lid or squatting, are good positions making the cervix available.
  • Put tone finger or two into the vagina until you feel the cervix.
  • Feel if it is easy or hard to reach, if it is soft or hard, and if it has a big or little opening.

Cervical check

 

The cervix’ different positions and consistencies

  • Placement: low or high?
    • Is it easy to reach? Then it s placed low in the vagina
    • Is the cervix harder to reach? Then is placed higher.
  • Consistency: Hard or soft?
    • Does if feel like the tip of a nose? Then it is hard.
    • Does if feel like lips? Then is soft.
  • Opening: Closed or open?
    • Is it a little depression or tiny crack in the cervix? Then it is closed.
    • Is there a big hole in the cervix? Then it is open.

 

Rule of thumb for hoe the cervix usually behaves in different stages of the cycle:

  • Before ovulation:
    • Hard
    • Closed
    • Placed low
    • Dry or a little moist
    • Can face backwards
    • Pink/redish color

 
  • Just before or during ovulation:
    • Soft
    • Open
    • Placed high
    • Slippery
    • Centered
    • Pink/redish color

 
  • After ovulation:
    • Hard
    • Closed
    • Placed low
    • Dry or a little moist
    • Can face backwards
    • Pink/redish color

 
  • Just before / during your period:
    • Open
    • Hard
    • Placed low
    • Moist
    • Can face backwards

 
  • Early pregnancy:
    • Tightly closed
    • Plugged in
    • Placed low or high (varies)
    • Can face backwards
    • Blue/purple color
    • Hard on the inside, but with a soft layer outside

 

 

Women how have given birth before have a split shaped opening in the cervix of their uterus. Cervix of women who has given birth

Women who haven’t given birth before have a round, small whole in their cervix.

 Cervixal in women who has not given birth

 

About the cervix of the uterus:

  • Women who have given birth will always have some sort of opening in the cervix. They have to feel when the cervix opens up even more.
  • If you feel something that feels like grains of sand on the cervix, these are the so called “nabothian cysts”. These are harmless and go away by themselves. It they are there for a long time, you should go to a gynecologist to have them checked out.

As a rule, the cervix is placed low, hard and closed when you are in an infertile period. When the cervix opens up, becomes softer and pulls up, it is a sign of fertility.

 

Cervix

Inspiration sources: “Taking charge of your fertility” by Toni Weschler and Better Helath


Picture scanned from: “Taking charge of your fertility” by Toni