GKU Talks - CM

[pismoduo]

Time for another fun filled edition of GKU Talks. This week, let's chat about Cervical Mucus.

How much do you rely on CM for charting?

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you?

Do you check internally or externally?

Any advice/questions/comments about CM?

[twobananas]

How much do you rely on CM for charting? Not too much, I feel like I have EWCM for a long time leading up to ovulating.

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you? Usually wet/EWCM up through ovulation, then random dry, creamy afterwards

Do you check internally or externally? Externally

Any advice/questions/comments about CM?
Yes! This is probably a dumb question, but how do you tell the difference between sperm and EWCM? I feel like during my FW I'm having sex so often it could really be either.

[ohinvrtedworld]

Oct 14, 2015 17:06:44 GMT -5 twobananas said:

Any advice/questions/comments about CM?
Yes! This is probably a dumb question, but how do you tell the difference between sperm and EWCM? I feel like during my FW I'm having sex so often it could really be either.

^ I've read and also observed that semen tends to soak up into toilet paper. EWCM will generally set on top.

[Ray]

How much do you rely on CM for charting? - Because my cycles are not super regular I relied quite a bit on CM when using OPKs so that I was not just peeing my money away. I know that as my CM starts to get creamier that I should start using OPKs. I also looked for EWCM to time intercourse. OPKs only gave me 1 day notice whereas CM we could start 3-4 days before O.

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you? I generally have very little CM externally. I will notice an increase of creamy CM a week or so before O, then EWCM internally a few days before. My CM dries up pretty quickly after O.

Do you check internally or externally? I generally start paying closer attention as soon as I notice creamy CM externally and begin checking internally at that point. 

Any advice/questions/comments about CM?

I have heard people warn about giving yourself a yeast infection by checking internally. I've never had an issue but generally make sure I wash my hands before hand. I find physically the easiest and most convenient way to check is by sitting on the floor before I hop in the shower in the morning. 

If you're having difficulty try increasing your fluid intake and/or checking internally. 

Be brave and google pictures if you're not sure.

Arousal fluid =/= EWCM learn to know the difference.

[joy]

How much do you rely on CM for charting? Charting your basal body temperature along with either cervical mucus or cervical position gives you the most accurate data to pinpoint your ovulation day. Cervical mucus is not confirmatory of ovulation on its own, but is a great secondary sign!

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you? Yeah... eggwhite around ovulation then lots (eggwhite, watery) during my luteal phase. I long ago stopped paying attention to sticky or creamy.

Do you check internally or externally? Externally.

[ohinvrtedworld]

How much do you rely on CM for charting? I'm actually taking a temping break and am only observing my CM.

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you? It tends to be wet until 2-3 days before ovulation, when it turns into serious EWCM. Then it pretty much dries up immediately after O.

Do you check internally or externally? Externally, it's easiest when...

SPOILER: Click to show

{Click here to see more.}...you check it after a BM since all those muscles are pushing it out!

Any advice/questions/comments about CM? Just wanted to throw it out there that I've observed CM with my temps for a while, and that's why I feel OK with seeing the pattern and quitting temping for a while for my own sanity. It doesn't confirm anything and can change out of nowhere just to screw with you!

[Ray]

Oct 14, 2015 17:06:44 GMT -5 twobananas said:

How much do you rely on CM for charting? Not too much, I feel like I have EWCM for a long time leading up to ovulating.

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you? Usually wet/EWCM up through ovulation, then random dry, creamy afterwards

Do you check internally or externally? Externally

Any advice/questions/comments about CM?
Yes! This is probably a dumb question, but how do you tell the difference between sperm and EWCM? I feel like during my FW I'm having sex so often it could really be either.

EWCM is really stretchy - you can open your fingers a couple inches before the strand breaks if you have enough on your fingers. Semen will not do this. 

I find arousal fluid closer in appearance to EWCM but I now know that it is "clearer" and a bit more viscous than EWCM. 

Honestly it took me a long time to figure out what I was looking at and I still second guess myself sometimes.

[pismoduo]

Oct 14, 2015 17:06:44 GMT -5 twobananas said:

Any advice/questions/comments about CM?
Yes! This is probably a dumb question, but how do you tell the difference between sperm and EWCM? I feel like during my FW I'm having sex so often it could really be either.

I usually have to check if it's stretchy or not. Semen isn't stretchy. I think EWCM is also not water soluble?

[joy]

Oct 14, 2015 17:11:43 GMT -5 pismoduo said:

 I think EWCM is also not water soluble?

Yes.  Semen dissolves in water while eggwhite cervical mucus does not.

[pismoduo]

How much do you rely on CM for charting? Less so for ovulation prediction than I used to. I get EWCM usually by CD10 but normally don't ovulate until at least CD20, so it's less helpful than it used to be. But a switch to sticky is usually a good secondary indicator of O for me. I still wait for 3 high temps to confirm, but it's rare that I got from EWCM to sticky without it being tied to O.

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you? See above - lots of EW/watery for most of my cycle, then sticky right after O (for maybe a day) and then creamy straight through to AF.

Do you check internally or externally? Internally. Usually don't get enough to check externally, plus I have a hard time telling texture on TP.

[akraus2015]

How much do you rely on CM for charting? Not much at all. I try to chart it when I notice it, but its very inconsistent. (Either that or I'm still learning to notice the patterns.)

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you? See above.

Do you check internally or externally? Externally

Any advice/questions/comments about CM? No questions really, my CM is just inconsistent still, so I'm still learning to check it and rely on a pattern.

[ameliabird]

How much do you rely on CM for charting?
I don't rely on it much because I don't have a lot but it tends to follow a good pattern so it is reliable.


Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you?
I've only been tacking a few cycles between before my DD was born and now but it seems to starts with eggwhite soon after AF and then post O it dries up and I may get creamy before my next AF.


Do you check internally or externally?
externally if there's enough but internally if not.


Any advice/questions/comments about CM? Occasionally I get fertile CM again post-O but I hear that's pretty common.

[notagoddess]

How much do you rely on CM for charting? I rely on it a lot to tell me I'm entering my FW and should start frequent sex. I rely on temps to confirm ovulation.

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you? Sticky -> Creamy -> Watery -> Eggwhite -> Sticky -> Creamy

Do you check internally or externally? Externally.

Any advice/questions/comments about CM? Identifying watery or EWCM can be hard because it's so slippery and because it can be hard to tell with semen. I've spent way too much time staring at TP in the last year and a half.

[ellabee]

How much do you rely on CM for charting?
I chart EWCM, it's a good secondary sign for me after bbt. I don't note other CM on my chart.

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you?
Just EWCM a few days prior to O.

Do you check internally or externally?
Externally. My EWCM is usually enough to note externally.

Any advice/questions/comments about CM?
Nada.

[pismoduo]

Oct 14, 2015 19:04:40 GMT -5 notagoddess said:

Any advice/questions/comments about CM? Identifying watery or EWCM can be hard because it's so slippery and because it can be hard to tell with semen. I've spent way too much time staring at TP in the last year and a half.

This is why checking internally has been so helpful for me. It's easier to tell if it will stretch between my fingers or not.

[kayladawn91]

How much do you rely on CM for charting? I log it when I remember, but my temp shift is usually noticeable enough to pinpoint O.

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you? Not really. But I'm not great about checking it all the time so maybe I just don't notice it because of that.

Do you check internally or externally? Externally if there's enough. If not, I check it internally.

Any advice/questions/comments about CM? Nope!

Edited because holy typos

[LadyNymeria]

How much do you rely on CM for charting? Once I notice the increase in creamy I start logging every day. I always see watery or EW right before O so it helps me time sex correctly.

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you? I usually see a big increase in creamy followed by a few days of EW or watery CM right before O. Occasionally I'll have a day or two of EW or watery after O, but then it goes back to creamy before drying up.

Do you check internally or externally? Primarily externally. Internally if I'm also checking CP or if there's not enough externally.

Any advice/questions/comments about CM? I don't see as much CM when I'm not well hydrated, so be sure to drink your eater.

[rungirlrun]

How much do you rely on CM for charting? It's a good secondary sign for me. I'm lucky in that my cycles are very predictable (always O on day 12 or 13) and OPK confirms that. But I like having another sign to confirm.

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you? Yep pretty much.

Do you check internally or externally? Externally. Mine is usually pretty apparent on my underwear.

Any advice/questions/comments about CM? Not much. But I agree with other posters that CM is much more apparent when I'm well hydrated. I pretty much drink a ton until I O which I guess is good, but I feel like I have to pee every other minute.

[bazinga]

How much do you rely on CM for charting?
I rely almost entirely on CM to identify FW, together with very predictable cycles. I know only a bbt shift can confirm O but I haven't managed to temp regularly yet. The one month I did temp it confirmed O when I would have predicted based on CM, and for now I'm kind of Ok with the general indication.

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you?
Yes. I have 8-10 day periods so notice that by the time I finish I go quickly from sticky or creamy to W or EW for 4-5 days until CD16.

Do you check internally or externally? Usually I see enough externally or on toilet paper. Leading up to FW I'll check internally, after I just record what I see but don't check internally every day, and avoid this later in the TWW. I'm happy not to see the early spotting I'd be blissfully unaware of otherwise...

Any advice/questions/comments about CM?
I've not yet learned to properly tell the difference between sperm and CM but picking up some good tips here. And like others have said, hydration is really important.

[goldenlove3]

How much do you rely on CM for charting?
It has been a pretty good indicator lately but I've had cycles in the past where I had it but didn't O until later (confirmed by temping). I mostly use it as a secondary sign. It's a good heads-up for me to start using OPKs and making sure we're having sex at the right time. It does make it really hard to NTNP because I know when I'm in my FW.

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you?
Usually it is wet for a couple days, EWCM for 4-5 days prior to O, dry for about a week after O, then creamy the few days before my period.

Do you check internally or externally?
Externally. I get enough on the toilet paper that I don't have to check internally.

Any advice/questions/comments about CM?
Green tea seems to help me with increasing EWCM.

[wannabmama]

How much do you rely on CM for charting? Not much but I'm noticing more of a pattern now so it's a good confirmatory sign.

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you? Mine didn't seem very regular but recently it seems I get ewcm for about four days, including one day after O, then it dries up. After that maybe a bit of watery/creamy a few times. This cycle I've strangely had ewcm post-O.

Do you check internally or externally? Externally, I get enough on TP it's pretty clear

Any advice/questions/comments about CM? I've definitely noticed drinking water helps increase amount for me.

[requiressnacks]

How much do you rely on CM for charting?
I rely on it a lot. It basically confirms that I'm in my FW, as I get EWCM usually a couple days before O.

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you?
Yes, creamy to watery to Eggwhites to watery and then nothing.

Do you check internally or externally?
Internally. The two finger method is the only way I can tell if it's stretchy. otherwise my watery and EW look similar on toilet paper.


Any advice/questions/comments about CM?
Don't get freaked out by checking internally. It's not weird.

[sleepymonkey]

How much do you rely on CM for charting? Not much. I record it on my chart but it is really only interesting to me.

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you? Usually I start getting EWCM soon after my period stops and I have it for up to a week before O. Sometimes, like last month, it pretty much dried up before I even O'd. Usually after O I have a few dry days and then I get random patches of watery or EWCM. It usually turns to creamy and increases right before CD1

Do you check internally or externally? Both. Mostly externally but if I have a hard time telling the consistency, I check internally.

[ellabee]

Wasn't there also a recent post about someone using probiotics to help increase CM? Haven't tried it, but just wanted to throw that out there.

[Deleted]

I'm bumping because I think this is a good discussion topic.

How much do you rely on CM for charting? I don't rely on it because I don't check it on a daily basis. I only make note of it when it's obvious amount around the time I typically ovulate.

Does your CM follow a typical pattern for you? I think it increase right before O, but I don't chart it consistently

Do you check internally or externally? Externally, usually after i've gone to the bathroom.

Any advice/questions/comments about CM? Don't overanalyze CM.
If I can't immediately identify what type it is, I don't make a note of it. I think if you are overthink it, you will second guess yourself.