[Spyctre]

Could someone help me distinguish the two? Google isn't helping.

I'm getting a combination of stretchy-sticky and creamy right now. I was curious if the creamy(which looks like normal CM creamy) was actually just something from the walls of the vagina. Normally it's just kind of damp in there, nothing to look at. Not used to getting combo mucus.

[ShawnaCAN]

The pattern is what determines whether it's cervical mucus or vaginal discharge - and that's unique to each woman.

It takes 3 cycles of recording your observations to tell if you have infertile vaginal discharge after AF, before the start of the fertile mucus. After ovulation, there is no fertile mucus produced. Anything you observe after O comes from little fragments breaking off of the mucus plug in the cervix, from the vaginal walls, or from seminal fluid. It's normal to have an increase in discharge just before AF arrives, because the plug in the cervix has to liquefy and come out so the bleeding can come out too.

Hope that helps!

[Spyctre]

Well, I've been charting for a while. I usually just get scant bits of sticky CM after O, as you described. I'm just a little confused by what's there now. I'm seeing huge globs of the sticky stuff, and the few times I did an internal check, I had a lot more creamy. Not the usual for me at all. Not too sure what's going on.

I was curious if the vaginal walls produced mucus similar or identical to the cervix. Google didn't yield any answers, it seems like people have mixed answers to that.

[ShawnaCAN]

Ah, I think I understand your question better.

If you happened to conceive this cycle, you may notice an increase in discharge. That's for two reasons. First, the plug in the cervix gets a lot thicker to protect the new baby. As it does that, fragments can break off causing a lot of stuff that can be a lot like fertile mucus. Also, as soon as you start producing pregnancy hormone after implantation - there is increased blood flow to the pelvic region to support the newly developing baby. This increase in blood flow can also increase discharge, because blood carries extra water to the area.

Vaginal discharge and cervical mucus can be identical. The overall pattern reveals which is which.

[Spyctre]

Alright, thanks, that helps. Well I hope I did conceive this cycle. =) It would be pretty great. I'm not relying on temps right now because I usually have my highest at 7 or 8 DPO. I'm waiting for it to fall.