Jarkleinhans, more info. for you RE: Checking your cervix

[stacy-ann]

Some women would rather not do this but wanted to pass this info. on to you:


How do I Check my Cervical Position?
This one was a little more intimidating for me. I had no idea what my cervix looked like or was supposed to feel like, much less where to find it. This may take some practice. What you are looking for is a little "knob" or protruding bit inside your vagina with a small opening or indentation at the tip.

To check, wash your hands and assume a suitable position for accessing the cervix. There are several such positions - you can stand with one foot on the floor and one foot up on the toilet seat (or other elevated surface) or you can squat or you can perch on the toilet seat with your knees spread apart. Once you're positioned, insert your index finger (gently!) into your vagina and locate the cervix. In general, if you insert your finger as far as it will go, the structure that stops it from going further is the cervix. Take note of how easy or difficult it is to reach, and how it feels to gentle touch.

The cervix is considered low if it is easy to reach with your index finger; it is considered high if it is more difficult to reach. It is considered hard if it feels like the tip of your nose; it is considered soft if it feels more like your lower lip. Also note whether the small opening seems tightly closed or if it is more open, allowing a fingertip just barely inside.

After your menstrual period, you will begin to start checking your cervical position. At this time, the position of your cervix will be low within your body and easily reached with your fingertips. The opening to your cervix will be closed - feeling like a small slit or a tiny hole. The feel of your cervix will be rather hard to the touch. It will feel almost like touching the tip of your nose. During this phase (the first phase of a cycle) a woman is considered infertile.

Right before ovulation occurs, the amount of estrogen increases within your body. This causes your cervix to rise. When checking your cervical position, you will notice that it will move from the lowest point to mid and then extremely high. At the highest point it may be difficult to reach your cervix with your fingertips. The opening of your cervix increases making the slit or tiny hole much larger. The feel of your cervix is much softer now almost like touching your bottom lip. This is an indication of your peak or most fertile time. The cervix will remain high until you ovulate - after which estrogen subsides and the hormone progesterone is released, causing your cervix to return to its low, closed and hard position.

Take care