Learning how to check your cervix is easier than you think—and can be helpful if you'd like to monitor cervical changes that may indicate ovulation, early pregnancy, or labor. It may sound like something only taught to doctors and nurses, but there’s no reason a person can’t learn where their cervix is and how to notice changes in cervical position. Learn more about how to check your cervix during the menstrual cycle and for pregnancy. Show
Why Check Your CervixThere are many different reasons why you might want to check your cervix and monitor how its position changes. OvulationIf you're trying to get pregnant, checking your cervical position can provide key information to help identify your fertile window (or the ideal time to have sex for the best chance to conceive). Your cervix goes through subtle changes throughout your menstrual cycle. Cervical changes can help you to detect ovulation, determine when you're most fertile, and indicate when ovulation has likely already occurred. Early PregnancyYour cervix also changes during early pregnancy due to hormonal shifts and increased blood flow to the area. However, it's hard to distinguish between the changes that occur due to impending ovulation and pregnancy. So, checking your cervix is not a definitive way to tell if you're pregnant. Other symptoms, such as breast tenderness, nausea, tiredness, and lack of a period, are more noticeable and reliable in early pregnancy. DilationThe cervix makes its most dramatic changes in late pregnancy and childbirth. You probably know this from the movies. When the television doctors say "They're 10 centimeters," they are talking about dilation of the cervix. The cervix shortens, thins, and dilates during childbirth. It morphs from being tightly shut and hard at the start of pregnancy to 10 centimeters wide and completely effaced (or thinned out) at birth. It is possible for you to notice these changes yourself. Note that some people start dilating weeks before they go into labor, and others don't begin until days or hours before delivery. So, noticing a few centimeters of dilation doesn't necessarily mean labor is imminent—but it could be! Tips for Checking Your CervixDon’t expect to understand what you’re feeling the first, second, or even tenth time you try checking your cervix. This is a skill that comes from practice and patience. But once you learn what the signs are, you’ll be a pro.
Step-by-Step InstructionsWhether you're checking your cervix for ovulation, during pregnancy, or simply out of curiosity, there are steps you can take to locate and record the position of your cervix. If you're feeling nervous, don't be. You’re not going to hurt yourself. Here's how to get started:
What to Look ForThere are several changes you are feeling for when checking your cervix. As you get more comfortable with the process, try to look for these changes. Tissue SoftnessDoes your cervix feel soft or firm? Estrogen softens the cervical tissue, making it feel softer (or less firm) when you're most fertile. Some say it feels like the tip of your nose when you’re not fertile and like the firmness of your lips when you are fertile. Cervical OpeningIs your cervix open or closed? Your cervix will be just slightly open just before ovulation. The opening is tiny—no more than a thin slit. It will open again just before and during menstruation. However, during your period, the cervix will be lower in the vagina (and not higher, like it is before ovulation). If your cervix always feels slightly open, don’t worry. Especially if you’ve ever given birth (that can include a miscarriage), your cervix may never fully close. As ovulation approaches, you’ll still be able to notice the height and softness changes of the cervix, though. Cervical PositionYou'll want to notice if your cervix's position is high, medium, or low. As you approach ovulation, your cervix moves up and back. In some cases, it may be so high that you can't reach it. Some people try to figure out if they’re pregnant by checking their cervical position. Unfortunately, there is no way to know whether you’re pregnant by checking your cervical position. You just have to wait until you can take a pregnancy test.
Cervical MucusWhen you're checking your cervical position, you should also pay attention to your cervical mucus. The same hormones that change your cervix also affect cervical mucus. Also known as cervical fluid or vaginal discharge, your cervical mucus changes as you approach ovulation. Paying attention to several ovulation signs is the best way to detect your most fertile time. Research has found that having sex when you have fertile cervical mucus may be the best way to time sex for pregnancy. Checking for Cervical DilationIf you're pregnant and getting close to your due date, you may be hoping to determine when you'll go into labor by checking your cervical dilation. Some pregnant people hope they can determine if they are going into labor. However, as noted above, it's important to use extra caution when checking your cervix for signs of dilation so that you don't inadvertently introduce germs that could cause infection. Many gynecologists will check the cervix at every well-check appointment in the last month of pregnancy. They may tell you how your cervix is changing, along with the baby's "station." You might assume these are signs you'll go into labor soon—but actually, they're not. You can be dilated 3 centimeters for your last three weeks but not go into labor until your due date or later. And you can also have no cervical dilation until the day you give birth and then dilate to 10 centimeters quickly. A Word From Verywell You don't need to check your cervix to get pregnant or know when you're dilating. That said, learning to evaluate your cervix can help you connect with your body and boost your chance of identifying your fertile window or when dilation has started. You may also notice changes to the cervix in early pregnancy, but
there are much more reliable ways to know if you've conceived, such as simply taking a pregnancy test. Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Rachel Gurevich, RN Thanks for your feedback! How long after implantation does cervix become soft?When pregnancy occurs, the cervix will rise up and become soft, yet the uterine is will remain tightly closed. This occurs at different times for different people– as early as 12 days after ovulation or well after the pregnancy has been confirmed by a home pregnancy test or doctor.
Does the cervix drop before implantation?Before you miss your period and before you have a positive pregnancy test, it's quite impossible to diagnose implantation or an early pregnancy by palpating the cervix. The position of the cervix during pregnancy does change but not at the same time in all women.
Can cervix be slightly open in early pregnancy?In some women, the cervix opens too early during pregnancy or is shorter than normal. These conditions can cause problems during pregnancy.
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