dry cm vs. watery cm

[asilstubbs]

I'm currently trying to get prego (so excited!) and am monitoring my signs, but am very confused regarding the difference between dry and water cm. At first it seems like an obvious duh! moment, but how do I know its not just natural fluids i'm feeling down there rather than "water" cm? Does anyone have any tips for telling the difference?

[maryddn]

Thanks for the info. I believe I had EWMC on 1/22 and 1/23.  We only made love up to 1/22. From what you said, my egg released on 1/23. When you said "to bd the day before and the day after ovulation," does it mean I should have bd on 1/22 and 1/24? But I was dry on 1/24 though.
This is all new to me, so thanks for your input.
Mary

[asilstubbs]

Thank you so much! This can be so confusing when your first getting started!

[JoyRenee]

There isn't a dry CM.

Let me write this out as clearly as possible:

1). Before ovulation, you will be dry (no CM present) and are considered not fertile at the time.

2). As the cervix begins to soften to let sperm through to the uterus, you will begin to see discharge. It can be sticky/tacky/gummy and it can be cloudy/white/yellowish. You are considered fertile at this time, but you still haven't ovulated yet.

3). Sperm can live up to 5 days in the vagina, so have sex every other day when you begin to see CM (just to cover the bases, you know!)

4). When you ovulate the CM will become "watery" as you called it, or stretch to an inch or more when you finger test it. It will also be CLEAR like raw egg whites (that part is important because if it is stretchy but NOT clear, you're not ovulating). YOUR GOAL IS TO BD THE DAY BEFORE AND THE DAY AFTER OVULATION.

5). Please note that clear and stretchy fertile CM can last more than one day. The very last day of this type of CM is the actual day the egg is released.

Hope that is clear and hope it helps. Basically, when you see CM, have sex!