The Fertility Fitness Podcast

Fertility Focus on your Knickers!

Episode Summary

Today, Maria will be talking about a well-known phenomenon in the infertility and trying-to-conceive community - Knicker Watch

Episode Notes

Today, Maria will  be talking about a well-known phenomenon in the infertility and trying-to-conceive community - Knicker Watch. 

It's when women pay incredibly close attention to the content of their knickers. What you can see in your knickers is sending you messages about what your body is doing, which is why tracking your cervical mucus from the moment you decide to try for a baby is crucial.

Here are five things to look for when you're on Knicker Watch:

  1. Your cervical mucus: This is the gooey stuff that you occasionally find hanging around your vagina and making itself comfy in your knickers. If you're trying to conceive, you need to know when you're ovulating or if you're ovulating. Your cervical mucus can really help you with this. Your mucus will go through various stages as your cycle progresses, changing from white and sticky to more transparent and stringy. The egg white-like consistency is the one you're looking for when trying to conceive. Your body starts to produce it around the time of ovulation. Egg white cervical mucus is perfect for the sperm - it's just the right pH, and the sperm travel through it with relative ease on their way to your egg.
  2. Bleeding, but not your period: Ovulation spotting or bleeding can happen around ovulation when an egg is released from an ovary. The change in hormone levels during ovulation can allow some of the uterine lining to shed. It's usually very light and often goes unnoticed.
  3. Urine: Some research has found a link between urinary incontinence, aka not being able to hold your wee, and different phases of the menstrual cycle. Keep track of your cycles, not just your periods and cervical mucus, but any other factors you notice, so you can collect as much reliable information as you can about when you're due to ovulate.
  4. Bowel movement: Progesterone builds up around ovulation, which is good for a healthy pregnancy as it allows the growth of your uterine lining. However, it can also affect your bowel movements. Increased levels of progesterone can lead to constipation, and interestingly, it can also lead to looser stools and even diarrhea, which is why some women experience a change in bowel habits around the time of their period. In order to try and avoid constipation, drink lots of water, eat lots of fiber, and speak to your doctor before trying stool softeners or medication.
  5. Vaginal thrush: Vaginal thrush is caused by yeasts from a group of fungi called Candida. If you're prone to thrush, it may actually be a sign that your body is getting ready to ovulate because around ovulation, the vaginal pH becomes naturally more alkaline. Luckily, there's no research to suggest that thrush is linked to infertility, but given the symptoms, it may hinder the trying to conceive process.

So, if you're trying to conceive, make sure you stay attuned to your body and what your knickers are trying to tell you. Knicker Watch is key when trying to conceive.

Maria, is a PT who specialises in helping women have babies. 

Website: Fitness Fertility

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.