Pregnancy Without Ovulation Mucus: Can It Happen?

Question
i had a cycle in which i did not experience the slippery ovulation mucus.i thought it was an infertile cycle but i just discovered that i fell pregnant during this cycle.is it the mucus produced during intercourse that aids in propelling the sperm?

Answer
Hi, Jel,

Thanks for your question! The answer is that the thick cervical mucus does help propel sperm and gives sperm a place to live while it travels to fertilize the egg. It isn't produced during intercourse, but during ovulation. The natural lubrication produced by the female is not thick enough to provide sperm the environment it needs.

Just because you don't notice the stretchy egg white consistency type mucus doesn't indicate that you're not ovulating. It's just a sign that helps determine when you are (like temperature). All the signs put together (plus some women like ovulation monitors that you can buy at a drugstore)--it's a combo that helps you when charting to either help you become pregnant or prevent pregnancy.

The Couple to Couple League has a lot of information on this matter: http://ccli.org/

I know pregnancy wasn't your goal, but nonetheless, congratulations. I hope your unplanned pregnancy results in unplanned joy for you.

-Jacqueline, MSSW