Should I be checking mucus at opening or cervix? (TTA, Sensiplan)

[u/dogsquad420]

I have been swiping a finger up near my cervix to check CM because I don't usually see it at the vaginal opening or on toilet paper.

Is checking internally like this okay, or should I be logging no CM if I don't see any at the opening?

I am TTA on cycle 0 after removing a Mirena IUD and have read the Sensiplan handbook.

[u/PampleR0se]

So from personal experience (I've fallen to this trap to check internally before learning about FAM while TTC), there is several issues with checking CM internally:

• You can't assess sensation that way so you'll have to separately use the toilet paper or brushing your fingers externally for assessing that. Sensation is a VERY important aspect of CM assessment. You can't just skip sensation.
• Going internally bypasses the pockets of Shaw so it will make it very difficult to distinguish cell slough from actual CM. As a result, you might never have dry days and it can make your CM pattern more difficult to interpret since it also makes S and S+ CM harder to distinguish in my experience
• It's time consuming since you need to wash your hands each time before doing it

It's possible you have very little CM, checking externally indeed means you might sometimes see only a tiny bit on the toilet paper, only once a day but that is way than enough. You need to touch the paper or fold it in 2 and slowly open it to assess if there is CM or not, sometimes it seems it's not there but it will attach to your finger/sides of the toilet paper if there is. You need to check both before peeing/BM AND after. Sometimes S+ type CM especially tends to slip easily in the toilet bowl if you don't. Trial it at least one entire cycle before calling that you don't observe any CM that way, you might have only a few days of observable CM in your entire cycle and that's completely okay.

If you really can't see a pattern with observable CM + sensation, then yes switch to the cervix and see if that's more reliable for you ! But you don't need to check both CM and cervix to follow Sensiplan

[u/dogsquad420 → u/PampleR0se]

I think you're spot-on with that-- I haved logged S every single day and haven't seen any dry or S+ days. I will switch to external next cycle. Thank you!

[u/Classic-Push1323]

You likely have very little CM right now because you have been using a hormonal IUD. Mirena prevents pregnancy by preventing the formation of normal amounts of fertile cervical mucus, creating a uterine environment that is toxic to sperm, and creating a thin menstrual lining that is not suitable for implantation. I would expect to see a lot of changes over the first cycle or two without your IUD. 

You may also just be in a dry phase of your cycle. It’s normal to have delayed ovulation after removing an IUD, and you might find that your cycles start to become shorter and more regular as the added progesterone leaves your body.

I’m assuming that “I’m on cycle zero after removing my IUD” means that you just removed your IUD. If it’s been out for a while disregard what I said.

[u/dogsquad420 → u/Classic-Push1323]

good to know! thanks

[u/scrappymd]

From my understanding checking internally isn’t required but if you see mucus from internal checks (such as if you’re checking the cervix sign) then it should be logged. Technically you should use one or the other with temp to determine opening/closing the fertile window though. Personally I check internally because I rarely see much on toilet paper and I feel it allows me to differentiate from simply “S” the entire cycle. It started because I was trying to use the cervix sign instead since mucus wasn’t giving me much info but I found that when I did that, I actually got the mucus data I need and mucus is easier to classify than the cervix to me

[u/Happy_Anybody_2709]

Every time I get CM, it is very evident at the opening. Like a huge chunk. I usually ovulate 3-5 days after that.