Hey there,I have been curious, this month in particular, as this cycle is the first in which my husband and I have started trying to conceive–on day 15 of my cycle, my cervical fluid was very sticky and dense–not super fertile, by my understanding. We did have sex on this day, but since then I have scarcely seen/felt any cervical fluid at all, when on a normal month I will see it through its normal stages. My question is, in general, is it normal for the fluid to just cease production? And what happens to cervical fluid when conception occurs?Thank you! You rule.-CaitlinMS
Hi Caitlin,
Without knowing what type of cervical fluid you experienced at the beginning of your cycle, it is hard to be sure what is going on. But from the information you gave us, it could be that you haven’t ovulated yet. Cervical fluid doesn’t usually cease production, although it can be difficult to find. Many women won’t notice any cervical fluid until they bear down (like a bowel movement). Soon after conception cervical fluid may be a little wacky, and you may notice heavier amounts of it. Dry and/or sticky cervical fluid is indicative that you may not have ovulated yet.
Experiencing ovulation earlier or later than you might expect is totally normal. Your body may be taking a longer time to gear up to ovulate this month. According to Toni Weschler’s book, “Taking Charge of Your Fertility,” when women experience variation in cycle length, it is almost always before ovulation occurs. The time period between ovulation and menstruation is usually very consistent and lasts between 12 and 16 days. Keep tracking your cervical fluid to note your progression in the cycle. If your body is taking longer than usual to ovulate, your period may come later than you might expect.