Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Overcome Female Infertility - What is A Cervical Mucus Test?


As we mentioned in previous articles, infertility is defined as inability of a couple to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse or can not carry the pregnancy to term. It effects over 5 millions couple alone in the U.S. and many times more in the world. Because of an unawareness of treatments, only 10% seeks help from professional specialist. In this article, we will discuss what is female infertility cervical mucus test ?

I. Definition
Cervical mucus test is the study of the cervical mucus through out menstrual cycles. The main focus of the test is to analyze "Is the mucus is friendly to sperm invasion or not ?". There are 2 types of cervical test.

II. Procedure
1. Spinnbarkeit
The sample is taken from the vagina to check for the day of ovulation.

2. Postcoital test
The test is examined within 4 hours at the doctor office or laboratory after sexual intercourse and assuming that the male partner has a healthy sperm production.

III. Diagnosis

a) Spinnbarkeit test
Spinnbarkeit is a self help kit, it can be done by a woman at comfort at her own home to exam the mucus characteristics, because the mucus consistently change throughout menstrual cycle. If the mucus is watery and stretchable, it means it is very close or a good chance that the ovulation is coming.

b) Postcoital test
It is also known as sperm-sperm mucus interaction test or Sims-Huhner test, it is done after the Spinnbartkeit test or at the laboratory just before ovulation to see how the sperm of the male partner swim through the watery and stretchable mucus. If the sperm is able to swim normally then the cervical mucus is consider friendly to sperm invasion or otherwise. If there are no sperm are found in the cervical mucus but presented in vagina, or sperm are found clumping, no movement or dead then the female partner may be suspected to produce sperm hostile cervical mucus. More analysis may be required to rule out any external factors.

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