Hostile cervical mucus can prevent fertilization by restricting sperm movement or killing sperm, potentially causing infertility. It can be caused by fertility drugs or an imbalance in pH levels. Dietary changes, herbal supplements, and medication adjustments can help, but if unsuccessful, other options like IVF can be considered.
Hostile cervical mucus is cervical mucus that prevents fertilization of an egg by restricting the free movement of sperm or by killing the sperm, preventing the sperm from successfully reaching the egg. It is a potential cause of infertility and can also sometimes develop as a side effect of fertility drugs. There are methods available to deal with this type of cervical mucus to give a couple an opportunity to try to conceive without assistance before moving on to other options.
There are several reasons why cervical mucus can be considered “unfriendly”. Most commonly, it is too dense for successful fertilization. Normally, cervical mucus during the optimal days of a woman’s menstrual cycle for conception is thin, facilitating easy movement of sperm to the egg. When thick and sticky, semen has a hard time navigating; it’s like walking up a river of molasses instead of a clear river.
Hostile cervical mucus can also be highly acidic. If the pH balance of the cervical mucus is off, sperm cannot survive. Rarely, women have anti-sperm antibodies in their mucus, white blood cells that identify sperm cells as hostile invaders and kill them in an effort to protect the body. The mucus test can reveal the presence of high acidity or anti-sperm antibodies and can also be used to evaluate the thickness of the mucus and other qualities.
A doctor may have some specific recommendations for helping a patient with hostile cervical mucus, based on the doctor’s experience and the patient’s history. Sometimes, simply making dietary changes can address this condition. Cutting out dairy products and drinking plenty of fluids can help. People may have success with herbal supplements, such as evening primrose oil, designed to promote the development of healthy cervical mucus. Some companies make products specifically designed to address hostile cervical mucus. Women can also talk to their doctors about medication adjustments, as sometimes changes in cervical mucus are caused by medications a woman is taking, and medications can be changed or temporarily stopped while a woman is trying to conceive.
If treatment attempts for hostile cervical mucus don’t work, women can discuss their next options with their doctors. It is entirely possible to have quite healthy and viable eggs as cervical mucus inhibits conception and the use of IVF can lead to a healthy, low-risk pregnancy. In other cases, women may have other complications that make it difficult to conceive. A comprehensive evaluation can help a doctor gather information that can be used to make treatment recommendations.
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