Cervical mucus or discharge is important for conception because it helps sperm survive and swim from the cervix to the fallopian tubes. Age, vaginal infections, medication side effects, and hormonal imbalances are some of the causes of cervical mucus problems. Even medications intended to increase fertility can cause vaginal dryness problems. So it is understood that poor discharge is not a symptom of pregnancy.
When cervical mucus problems get in the way of getting pregnant, it is medically known as hostile cervical mucus. Hostile cervical mucus can refer to severe vaginal dryness, problems with vaginal secretions when they are too acidic, or immune problems. More serious discharge problems may require fertility treatment or hormonal support.
Role of vaginal discharge in pregnancy
El vaginal discharge it is essential to achieve pregnancy, as it creates the ideal environment in which the semen can develop and move freely. Just before ovulation, cervical fluids will increase and become more like raw egg whites in consistency. Thus, cervical mucus actively nourishes sperm and improves their ability to move through the cervical canal. Any problem with mucus can impede this process and make getting pregnant even more difficult.
Main causes of vaginal dryness
The term hostile cervical mucus can refer to different problems with cervical fluids. Some of the most common causes are the following:
Hormonal imbalances Thick, dry, or sticky mucus is often caused by hormonal imbalances, and often occurs along with ovulation problems. While hormonal irregularities can interfere with pH balance, acidity can also be the result of a bacterial or fungal infection. It is also possible to have an excessive amount of fertile cervical mucus and not ovulate, which is called anovulation.
Pharmaceutical products. Some medications can dry out or decrease the quality of cervical mucus. Cold and allergy medications can thin cervical secretions (just as they dry up mucus in the nose). Medications for allergies, colds, sleeping pills, as well as some antidepressants and epilepsy medications can cause vaginal dryness, as well as lower libido. So if you are trying to get pregnant it is recommended that you tell your gynecologist or reproductive endocrinologist about all the medications you take, even if you think they are irrelevant to your fertility.
Being underweight. The estrogen hormone it is responsible for the increase in cervical mucus that precedes ovulation. But if you're underweight, over-exercising, or a professional athlete, your estrogen levels may be low. This can not only lead to less fertile cervical mucus, but also other problems with ovulation. You might even stop having your period. Gaining weight and cutting back on exercise can help stabilize your body.
Other causes for vaginal dryness to appear
Age. As we age, we may have fewer days of cervical mucus. Between the ages of 30 and 40, you may only have a day or two of dryness. Other times, cervical mucus stays longer in the more watery stage and does not go through the egg white phase. But each person is different, and each one has their personal cycles, you just have to be alarmed when the flow changes out of the normality of each person.
Previous surgeries. If you've had surgery in the past or had some kind of injury to your cervix, it can also cause problems with the production of cervical mucus. If you've ever had a cervical cone biopsy or cervical cyst, you may not be producing as much cervical mucus as you used to.
Douching. Douching can remove cervical mucus, which is so important when getting pregnant. Douching can also remove beneficial bacteria, which increases the risk of vaginal infection. Like vaginal douches, products like the well-known “intimate deodorants” are better to skip.