Lecture Notes on Male and Female Reproductive Physiology

5. Cervical Mucus and Fertility

1.1 Types of Cervical Mucus

• Dry phase (post-menstrual)
• Creamy phase (early fertile window)
• Egg-white cervical mucus (EWCM) → peak fertility
• Sticky phase (post-ovulation)

1.2 Fertility Significance

• EWCM: thin, stretchy, alkaline → facilitates sperm survival & transport.
• Post-ovulation mucus → thick and acidic → prevents sperm entry.

1.3 Basal Body Temperature (BBT) and Ovulation

1.3.1 BBT Pattern

• Pre-ovulation: lower temperatures
• After ovulation: progesterone raises BBT by 0.3–0.5°C
• Remains elevated in luteal phase.

1.3.2 Clinical Uses

• Identifies luteal phase defects.
• Confirms ovulation, but does NOT predict it.

1.4 Ovulation Prediction and Fertile Window

1.4.1 Fertile Window

• 6-day period: 5 days before ovulation + ovulation day.
• Greatest fertility:
• Day −2 to Day 0.

1.4.2 Ovulation Prediction Methods

• LH urine surge detectors
• Cervical mucus monitoring
• Ultrasound follicle tracking
• Hormonal blood tests
• BBT charting (retrospective)