Fertile cervical mucus is easy to spot once you know what you’re looking for. It’s a great sign of fertility, and along with other signs, you can get a good idea of what your body is doing. You can learn to tell if you’re ovulating, if you’re fertile or non-fertile.

Below are the differences between slightly fertile mucus, fertile mucus and highly fertile mucus.

Possibly Infertile or Slightly Fertile Mucus

Following infertile mucus, you may find possibly infertile or slightly fertile mucus. Mucus in this state is responding to increasing levels of oestrogen and is usually sticky and may feel damp. There is only a slight chance of conception with this form of mucus “ sperm will find this mucus particularly hard to swim through.

Words which women commonly use to describe mucus at this time include:

Creamy
Pasty
Thick
Cloudy
Sticky
Flaky
Tacky

‘Possibly Infertile’ or ‘Slightly Fertile’ mucus still feels more dry to touch than fertile mucus. It may be yellow, white or opaque. Upon observation by touch between your thumb and index finger, you will find that it does not stretch or move, but may be damper or in more quantity.

Fertile Mucus

Fertile mucus usually signals the impending arrival of ovulation and for those who are hoping to avoid conception, you must avoid unprotected intercourse at this time. On the other hand, if you’re trying to get pregnant, this is the time where you’re more likely to conceive. Your mucus may change to a more watery state and feel more slippery. You may find this mucus is more abundant than the earlier, less fertile forms of mucus.

Words which women commonly use to describe mucus at this time include:

Wet
Slippery
Watery
Clear
Thin
Fluid

Fertile mucus feels wet and slippery compared to infertile mucus. It’s likely to be clear or have a cloudy/white colour to it. Fertile mucus will even smell sweeter (and apparently taste sweeter) than less fertile mucus which may have a more vinegar scent, however the most important observation to make is the wetness/slippery observation.

Highly Fertile Mucus

This time is the most likely time to find what is commonly known as EWCM (egg-white cervical mucus) or spinn (short for spinnbarkeit which is german for spiderweb). EWCM is ‘stringy’ hence coming from the word spiderweb. It may appear as a glob, or in smaller amounts amongst more watery mucus. Not all women have egg-white cervical mucus, so don’t be alarmed if you don’t notice any. Some women swear by Evening Primrose Oil to increase their levels of EWCM, however if you see a naturopath, they can suggest an appropriate dosage for you.

If you were to stretch EWCM between your thumb and index finger, you may notice it stretches, unlike the infertile mucus which keeps it’s shape. You can see why this form of mucus favours sperm “ it has a consistency similar to sperm and creates an ideal environment for them to reach the egg.

For more information on other forms of mucus, have a look at our article Cervical Mucus, Ovulation and Your Fertile Period.

Ovulation Calculator – Predict Your Fertile Days!

If you’d like to find out your most fertile days, give our ovulation calculator a go! All you need to do is enter in the last date of your menstrual period, as well as your usual cycle length. It’ll predict your upcoming fertile days, so together with your mucus observations, you have some great tools to speed up that path to conception.

Recommended Reading For All Things Fertility

Below are some books I recommend for those wanting to know more about or taking control of their own fertility. Many of these books also rate very highly with BellyBelly fans.

#1: Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler

For any woman unhappy with her current method of birth control; demoralised by her quest to have a baby; or experiencing confusing symptoms in her cycle, this book provides answers to all these questions, plus amazing insights into a woman’s body. Weschler thoroughly explains the empowering Fertility Awareness Method, which in only a couple minutes a day allows a woman to:

Enjoy highly effective, scientifically proven birth control without chemicals or devices
Maximize her chances of conception or expedite fertility treatment by identifying impediments to conception
Increase the likelihood of choosing the gender of her baby
Gain control of her sexual and gynaecological health

#2: Plan to Get Pregnant: 10 Steps to Maximum Fertility

Having a baby is one of the biggest life-decisions that a couple can make together. Plan to Get Pregnant tells you what you need to do to maximize your chances of conception, and breaks the process down into 10 manageable steps. It not only talks you though getting pregnant, but it also offers guidance on how to stay pregnant, especially through the, often difficult, first trimester. From how to know when you’re both ready to become parents and what to eat for maximum fertility, to embarking on IVF treatment and beyond, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to start a family.

Zita West has numerous fertility books and I highly recommend her work. Other books from Zita West include: