Cervical Mucus Changes Through the Cycle

Guides. Updated October 11, 2026. Calculated with the standard pregnancy dating method used by ACOG and the NHS.

Cervical mucus changes in response to hormones, and watching it is a free way to track fertility.

After your period

Many people have dry days or very little mucus.

Approaching ovulation

Mucus becomes creamy, then wetter and more abundant.

Most fertile

Clear, slippery, stretchy mucus like raw egg white usually appears on the days just before ovulation. This is the best time for sex if you're trying to conceive.

After ovulation

Mucus becomes thicker and stickier, or dries up, as progesterone rises.

This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or midwife about your own pregnancy or fertility.