FF and CM Question

Laylarue · September 2011

I've looked everywhere for an answer on this, but no luck. This is my first month off of the Nuva Ring. I've not really had any CM at all. However when I put dummy temp in for tomorrow FF gives me CH at CD11. So I guess my question is, could I really have ovulated without any CM? Sorry if this is a silly question!

AshleyR711 · September 2011

yes you can. some women don't get a lot of CM. If this month is a bust, then try a lot more water next time as your cycle starts to regulate and see if it helps!

GL!

Dr.Google · September 2011

Sure. People ovulate and don't produce any or enough CM all the time. That's why some women take guaifenesin, hoping to increase their production. Also, it's possible you made some and just didn't notice. (You don't mention if you were checking internally or externally.)

dani2480 · September 2011

Absolutely.

After coming off of some types of BC, your body may take a while to regulate. Part of what needs to regulate is your CM. Hormonal BC can cause the cervix to stop producing CM (or at least fertile CM) to help prevent pregnancy. Sometimes the BC can even damage the cervical crypts that produce/release the CM (and the body needs to repair). So, it could be a few months (or more) before you start to see your CM return to normal.

Also, depending on individual hormone levels, some women produce more/less CM than others. Some women never see EWCM, while others get it for 4-5 days. Age plays a role in this too (the older you are, the less fertile CM you tend to produce). Your body may naturally not produce a lot of CM.

One way to help you chart your CM, if you find you don't produce much, is to check internally. Insert your index and middle finger into your vagina, and use them to "pinch" some of the fluid found at the opening of the cervix and pull it out. Just make sure you're consistent with this method through any given cycle.

You should also pay close attention when you use the bathroom. Often times EWCM will come out when you poop (because bearing down helps push stuff out of your vagina too). The EWCM might just slip out and into the toilet without you realizing it. You can check the toilet bowl (EWCM will usually clump up into a little ball in the water). Or check the toilet paper (sometimes it's hard to see unless you angle it right, or pinch and pull at the toilet paper a bit to look for stretchy stuff). Some women find that once the EWCM slips out they feel dry the rest of the day. So, if you're missing the EWCM you might think you're not having CM at all.

Laylarue · September 2011

Doctor Google:
Sure. People ovulate and don't produce any or enough CM all the time. That's why some women take guaifenesin, hoping to increase their production. Also, it's possible you made some and just didn't notice. (You don't mention if you were checking internally or externally.)

Thanks! I was checking externally. I figured since I've just recently taken out my Nuva Ring it would take a while to get somewhat regulated with CM and ovulating.

Laylarue · September 2011

dani2480:
Absolutely.
After coming off of some types of BC, your body may take a while to regulate. Part of what needs to regulate is your CM. Hormonal BC can cause the cervix to stop producing CM (or at least fertile CM) to help prevent pregnancy. Sometimes the BC can even damage the cervical crypts that produce/release the CM (and the body needs to repair). So, it could be a few months (or more) before you start to see your CM return to normal.
Also, depending on individual hormone levels, some women produce more/less CM than others. Some women never see EWCM, while others get it for 4-5 days. Age plays a role in this too (the older you are, the less fertile CM you tend to produce). Your body may naturally not produce a lot of CM.
One way to help you chart your CM, if you find you don't produce much, is to check internally. Insert your index and middle finger into your vagina, and use them to "pinch" some of the fluid found at the opening of the cervix and pull it out. Just make sure you're consistent with this method through any given cycle.
You should also pay close attention when you use the bathroom. Often times EWCM will come out when you poop (because bearing down helps push stuff out of your vagina too). The EWCM might just slip out and into the toilet without you realizing it. You can check the toilet bowl (EWCM will usually clump up into a little ball in the water). Or check the toilet paper (sometimes it's hard to see unless you angle it right, or pinch and pull at the toilet paper a bit to look for stretchy stuff). Some women find that once the EWCM slips out they feel dry the rest of the day. So, if you're missing the EWCM you might think you're not having CM at all.

Thank you! That is very helpful. I've been on BCP for 12 years and never really had noticeable CM so I guess I imagined it being pretty obvious, but maybe not!

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