From the Guidelines
To improve cervical mucus for fertility, consider using guaifenesin (found in Mucinex or Robitussin) at 600-1200mg daily during your fertile window, as it thins mucus throughout the body, including cervical mucus. Stay well-hydrated with 8-10 glasses of water daily to maintain proper mucus consistency. Evening primrose oil (1500-3000mg daily from menstruation until ovulation) may help increase fertile-quality cervical mucus. Avoid antihistamines, which can dry up secretions. Regarding probiotics, while there's no direct evidence they improve cervical mucus specifically, vaginal health probiotics containing Lactobacillus species may help maintain optimal vaginal pH and microbiome balance, potentially creating a more sperm-friendly environment, as suggested by a review of existing meta-analyses on probiotics 1. Antibiotics should only be used if there's a diagnosed infection, as they can disrupt vaginal flora and potentially worsen fertility issues, and their use should be guided by recommendations from professional medical organizations, such as the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) 1. If cervical mucus issues persist despite these measures, consult a reproductive endocrinologist, as underlying conditions like hormonal imbalances or infections may need treatment. Some key points to maximize fertility include educating clients about peak days and signs of fertility, including the 6-day interval ending on the day of ovulation characterized by slippery, stretchy cervical mucus, and advising women with regular menstrual cycles to have vaginal intercourse every 1–2 days beginning soon after the menstrual period ends 1. Methods or devices designed to determine or predict the time of ovulation should also be discussed, and factors that might reduce fertility, such as smoking, consuming alcohol, using recreational drugs, and using most commercially available vaginal lubricants, should be discouraged 1.
From the Research
Cervical Mucus and Infertility
- The role of cervical mucus in human infertility is complex and not fully understood 2.
- Cervical mucus patterns and the fertile window in women without known subfertility have been studied, and it was found that the mean days of peak type (estrogenic) mucus per cycle was 6.4, and the mean number of potentially fertile days was 12.1 3.
- Cervical mucus varies in response to both natural and artificial hormonal changes, and it is commonly believed that cervical mucus thinning is associated with normal fertility 4.
Probiotics and Antibiotics
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies to suggest that probiotics or antibiotics can improve cervical mucus for infertility.
- However, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation has been associated with an increased probability of conceiving, and may present a feasible and inexpensive modifiable factor to improve fertility 5.
- Serum omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid concentrations have been shown to have no strong association with the probability of conceiving naturally 6.
Factors Affecting Cervical Mucus
- Age and parity are factors that affect cervical mucus patterns, with nulliparous women aged ≥30 years having fewer mean days of peak type mucus per cycle and fewer potentially fertile days compared to nulliparous women aged <30 years 3.
- Recent oral contraceptive use and breastfeeding have been associated with reduced cervical mucus cycle score and a higher number of days of mucus, respectively 3.
- Alcohol and tobacco use have been found to have minimal impact on cervical mucus parameters 3.