The Hormone Cafe

In this episode of The Hormone Café, Dr. Sarah Pederson, holistic OB-GYN at Vera Health and Fertility, explains what cervical mucus is, why it’s essential for fertility, how to identify high-quality cervical mucus, and strategies to improve it.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

💡 What is Cervical Mucus (CM)?

• Produced by cells in the cervix (endocervical canal), mostly water, mucin, proteins, and sugars.
• Hormone-dependent: estrogen promotes mucus production; progesterone dries it up after ovulation.
• Acts as a “highway” for sperm, facilitating movement from the vagina to the uterus.

🩺 Why Cervical Mucus Matters

• Essential for fertility; helps sperm reach the egg.
• Indicates hormonal and reproductive health.
• Both too little or too much mucus, or abnormal texture/color, can signal issues.

✅ How to Know if Cervical Mucus is High-Quality

• Appears around cycle day 10–12, before ovulation.
• Clear, stretchy (can stretch >1 inch), and gloppy on toilet paper.
• Present for at least 3 days around the LH surge.
• After ovulation, progesterone should dry it up.
• Abnormal signs: yellow, sticky, thick, or present outside expected window.

🌿 How to Improve Cervical Mucus

1. Hormone balance:
   • Estrogen rise in the follicular phase is essential.
   • Bioidentical estrogen (oral or vaginal) may be used if needed.
2. Hydration: CM is 95% water — drink plenty of fluids.
3. Nutrition:
   • Adequate protein (building blocks for CM)
   • Antioxidants: leafy greens, citrus, glutathione-rich foods
   • Omega-3s for hormone support
4. Supplements:
   • Antioxidants: vitamin C, NAC (N-acetylcysteine), glutathione
   • Blood flow support: alpha-lipoic acid, vitamin E
5. Ovulation support: Ensuring regular ovulation cycles promotes healthy CM production.

Key Takeaways:

• Healthy cervical mucus is a sign of fertility, balanced hormones, hydration, and good nutrition.
• High-quality CM improves sperm transport and increases the chances of conception.
• Monitoring CM throughout your cycle helps identify hormonal or reproductive issues early.
• Lifestyle, nutrition, and sometimes medical support can optimize cervical mucus quality.