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Discover the Key that Lies Hidden in Your Cervix
Your cervix has a hidden key to fertility. Every month it goes through several changes, and these changes let you know how fertile you are (or aren't!) Along with your cervical mucus, these changes are a great way to know just when you should try "baby dancing."
You can reach your cervix pretty easily, and it feels much like the tip of your nose. It may take you a few cycles to get used to checking. At first the thought of checking a cervix didn't really appeal to me - it was kind of intimidating!
But the truth is you can learn to check your own cervix. (In fact, you can check it for dilation at the end of your pregnancy!) You'll get the hang of it.
It's an optional part of charting your fertility, but it really does give you important insight. It can provide the confirmation you need when your cervical mucus is very fertile and the ovulation test strips are telling you you're close to ovulation. A quick check and you'll know that the door is open for you to get pregnant.
How to Check
Just as when you check your cervical fluid, use a clean finger. Your cervix is located high in your vagina. As noted above, it will feel a lot like the tip of your nose - firm.
- When you're not fertile it's lower down, harder, and closed.
- When you are fertile it'll rise higher, feel softer, and open. You'll also probably feel fertile fluid around (though not always).
- If you've already given birth it may always be slightly open.
The best way to find out is to check every day and note what you find. Note if it's firm or softer. Note if it feels higher or lower. Note how open it feels. Over the course of your cycles you'll come to understand your own patterns.
When to Dance
As you've probably figured out already, your cervix is ready for sperm when it's higher, softer, and more open. When it's up higher it's closer to where your egg is. It softens and opens to let the sperm to move up into your uterus more freely.
Unlike basal body temperature, your cervix feeling and position and your cervical mucus truly let you identify when ovulation is about to happen. Use them to time lovemaking and greatly increase your chances at babymaking!
