Ovulation discharge?

[MiaMarsh]

I'm a birth doula & I keep getting all these questions from women back home who want to know about mysterious things their bodies are doing now that they realize what I do! It's lovely :)

One old friend has begun charting & noticed increased vaginal discharge during ovulation. Does anyone know why this happens? I told her it could just be upped libido but I was wondering if there was something to do with prepping for implantation....

Thanks!

[Cyllya]

I was under the impression that was cervical mucus, but after a quick search I can't find anything that says one way or another whether cervical mucus ever oozes out like that.

[WifeofAnt]

It can be cervical fluid.  There are a few people I know who can check their CM externally because it just flows out.

[ameliabedelia]

It can be cervical fluid.  There are a few people I know who can check their CM externally because it just flows out.

Increased discharge during ovulation is very common and GOOD.  It means the body is making lots of cervical mucous, which definitely does just come out.  Most women who check cervical mucous just check it when they wipe and by feelings of wetness/slipperiness.  It *should* be able to be checked externally, if the women is producing enough. Lots of cervical mucous is a good sign as far as fertility goes.

[MiaMarsh]

Awesome, thanks!

[JMJ]

Yes, it is cervical mucus and is very normal.  It is caused by he increase in estrogen just before ovulation.  The cervical mucus nourishes sperm so that they can live for several days when normal vaginal conditions would only allow them to live for a matter of hours.  It's definitely something that prepares for conception, and ovulation normally happens around the end of the discharge.  Implantation would happen about a week-10 days after that.