When cervical mucus problems stand in the way of getting pregnant, it’s medically referred to as hostile cervical mucus. Hostile cervical mucus can refer to severe vaginal dryness, vaginal secretions that are too acidic, or immunological problems.Learn more about what it means to have no or low levels of cervical mucus, what causes it, how it impacts fertility, and what you can do about it.
Role of Cervical Mucus in Pregnancy
Mild problems with cervical mucus may increase the time it takes to get pregnant, but won’t necessarily cause infertility. More serious cervical mucus problems can require fertility treatment or hormonal support. Cervical mucus is essential to achieving pregnancy as it creates the ideal environment for semen to thrive and move freely. Just before ovulation, cervical fluids increase and become more like raw egg whites in consistency. In this form, cervical mucus actively nourishes sperm cells and enhances their ability to move through the cervical canal. Any problems with the mucus can impede this process and make getting pregnant more difficult. However, there are ways to improve cervical mucus quality and quantity.
Types of Cervical Mucus Problems
Cervical mucus hostility can refer to any number of problems with cervical fluids. Some of the more common issues with cervical mucus include:
Acidic mucus, which creates an environment hostile to spermAnti-sperm antibodies, defensive proteins produced by the immune system in response to a past infection which can attack and kill spermInflammatory cells in the vagina or cervix, which can actively target and kill spermThick, dry, or sticky mucus, which interferes with sperm motility
Causes of Cervical Mucus Problems
Cervical mucus levels fluctuate during the menstrual cycle. But sometimes, not enough is produced or there are other issues at play that adversely impact cervical mucus. There are many different reasons for having no or limited cervical mucus. There are a few reasons why you might suddenly start to have less cervical mucus that you had before. As you get older, cervical mucus tends to be less copious or it may last for a shorter amount of time. Infections, hormonal imbalances, or medications might also affect the amount of cervical mucus you see close to the time of ovulation.
Medication Side Effects
Some medications can dry up or decrease the quality of cervical mucus. Those drugs may include:
Antihistamines or allergy medicationsAtropineCold and sinus medications, especially if they include a cough suppressant or antihistamineCough suppressantsPropanthelineSome antidepressants and epilepsy drugsSome sleep aids
While cold and allergy medications can decrease cervical secretions (just like they dry up the mucus in your nose), whether or not they can cause infertility is questionable. Usually, drugs like these are taken for a limited period of time and are nothing to worry about. If you are concerned about a cold medication’s effect on your fertility, you could avoid them and try using a neti pot (with distilled, sterile water) to clear out your sinuses. Another option is to try a cream or aromatherapy treatment that contains menthol or eucalyptus. If your antidepressant is drying up your cervical mucus (and likely also lowering your libido), discuss your options with your psychiatrist. There may be alternatives you can try. Be sure you tell your gynecologist or reproductive endocrinologist every medication you’re taking, even if you think it’s irrelevant to your fertility. Your primary care physician and fertility doctor may have to work together to find the best solution for your overall health and fertility.
Fertility Medications
Clomid is a commonly used fertility medication that sometimes alters cervical mucus. Not everyone who takes Clomid will experience problems with low-quality cervical mucus. It’s more common in those who take Clomid at higher dosages. If you do notice vaginal dryness or a lack of fertile cervical mucus when taking Clomid, mention this to your doctor. They may prescribe an estrogen suppository to help counteract the side effect.
Age
As you get older, you may have fewer days of cervical mucus. The quality of your mucus and quantity of it may also be affected. In your 20s, you may have had up to five days of ideal-quality cervical mucus. In your 30s and 40s, you may only get one or two days. Sometimes, the cervical mucus remains at the more watery stage and never becomes optimal (like raw egg whites). The more days of high-quality cervical mucus you have, the better your chances will be of getting pregnant. That said, it’s still possible to get pregnant when you have just one or two days of fertile cervical mucus. Regardless of whether you get a good number of cervical mucus days or not, if you’re over 35, and you’ve been trying for six months to get pregnant without success, you should see a healthcare provider for a fertility evaluation.
Douching
Vaginal douching can wash away the valuable cervical mucus you need to get pregnant. Douching can also wash away good bacteria, leading to an increased risk of vaginal infection. It’s best to skip vaginal douching or products meant as “feminine deodorants.” Even if you’re not trying to get pregnant, these products are not recommended, needed, or healthy for your vagina.
Infections
Infection can cause hostile cervical mucus. Yeast infections may be treated with over-the-counter medications, or, in more unusual cases, prescription medications. Many yeast infections can cause vaginal irritation and discomfort, making sexual intercourse a problem. You can start trying to get pregnant after treatment, which usually lasts a week or two. Bacterial infections can cause strong odors. You may feel embarrassed to talk to your doctor about unpleasant vaginal odors, but it’s important to your overall health and fertility. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can also lead to other fertility problems, including infection of the uterus and fallopian tubes. It’s very important to diagnose and treat any infection right away.
Damage to the Cervix
Previous injury or surgery on the cervix can also lead to problems with producing cervical mucus. If you’ve ever had cervical conization or cervical cone biopsy, you may not produce as much cervical mucus as before.
Being Underweight
The hormone estrogen is responsible for the increase in cervical mucus that precedes ovulation. If you’re underweight, if you exercise excessively, or if you’re a professional athlete, your levels of estrogen may be low. This may lead to less fertile cervical mucus and also to problems with ovulation. Gaining weight or cutting back on your exercise routine may help.
Hormonal Imbalance
A hormonal imbalance can also lead to a lack of cervical mucus. If you’re not ovulating, you may not get fertile cervical mucus. It’s also possible to have an excess amount of fertile cervical mucus and not be ovulating (called anovulation), depending on what’s causing the problems with ovulation.
Treatment
Potential treatments for cervical mucus issues vary based on the underlying causes and other contributing factors (including age, smoking, and medication use). Management may involve treating any vaginal or cervical infection with antibiotic or anti-fungal medication. If you’re taking Clomid, your fertility specialist may decide to change your treatment or lower the dosage. A short-term course of ethinyl estradiol, a synthetic estrogen, may improve the production and quality of cervical mucus. You may be advised to take an over-the-counter cough remedy containing guaifenesin, an expectorant known to thin cervical mucus (though whether it improves fertility is unknown). Using a fertility-friendly lubricant if there is no indication of either infection or anti-sperm antibodies can also help. Intrauterine insemination, a fertility treatment which bypasses the cervix, is another possible solution. In rare cases, in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be explored if these treatment efforts fail and infertility persists. While some people suggest that drinking more water or eating less dairy may help, there is currently no evidence that either will enhance the quality or production of cervical mucus.
