Understanding Your Liquid Pearl
In Chinese Medicine, your cervical fluid is called Liquid Pearl. You may or may not have noticed that these secretions change in volume and consistency throughout your cycle. Because we haven’t been taught how to read our nectar, we can sometimes mistake our fertile fluids as something other than a sign of good health.
Tracking your liquid pearl along with your cycle, can give you a better understanding of the hormonal changes happening inside your body during your different phases. Your liquid pearl can also help you predict ovulation.
Cyclical Changes in your Liquid Pearl
We are all unique with different rhythms. This may follow your typical pattern but not necessarily to the tee. It’s also important to note that your cervical fluid is different than your sexual secretions, so observe and check your cervical fluids when you are not sexually aroused.
Menses: Blood flow; no need to check
Dry Phase: Feels a bit drier after your bleed. Not too much moisture. The moisture tends to evaporate within just a few seconds of being exposed to airflow.
Sticky & Creamy: Fluids increase. Initially feeling a bit more moist, a little thicker and slightly sticky and gelatinous; sometimes rubbery. Sometimes white/subtly yellow or cloudy in color and eventually turns creamy like lotion, more abundant and thick as you near ovulation. You would think that this is your most fertile fluid, but wait for it!
Egg White: Stretchy egg white fluid is the cardinal sign of your fertile window! It will be clear, thin, odorless, abundant and super stretchy!
Your liquid pearl will almost immediately diminish after ovulation. Typically there's little to no cervical fluid prior to your next period, but some folks report having a creamy mucus right before their period arrives.
How to Check Your Cervical Fluid
Wash hands thoroughly with toxic free soap
Get in a comfortable position sitting, squatting or standing with one leg propped up
Reach your index or middle finger inside your vagina. Getting a sample closer to your cervix is ideal
Remove your finger and observe the consistency, color, and density of your cervical mucus. It’s also helpful to smell your fluid to check for imbalances
If placing your finger inside your vagina is something you’re not comfortable with, you can always check your underwear or toilet paper. Keep in mind that this is not a good way to smell for imbalances as the cervical mucus can mix with your urine.
Signs of Disharmony
If it's ever extremely copious, overly dry, darker yellow, greenish, gray or has a foul offensive smell, this would indicate a possible pattern of disharmony.
Some signs of abnormal discharge include changes in:
Consistency - unusually thin, or thick and more textured/chunky
Color: gray, green, dark yellow, or brown
Volume: significant and unexpected in volume and lasts beyond your fertile window
Smell: fishy, metallic, or just different
If you’re drawn to learn more about holistic vaginal health, consider taking our self study e-course called Sacred Vaginal Ecology, Jade Gate Health.
The connection between our physical and emotional well-being offers profound insights into our health. The Heart and its correspondence to our emotions and bodily functions are the core of this ancient healing system.