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CERVICAL MUCUS STUDIES & PCT Cervical glands are extremely sensitive to the ovarian hormones. The amount and the characteristics of cervical glands secretions depend on these hormones. In early part of the ovarian cycle when the hormones levels are low the mucus is scanty. Its amount increases as the hormones production increases. The characteristics also change whether estrogens are predominant or progesterone added.

On recognition of the amount and the characteristics of the cervical mucus, a fair degree of the state of ovarian hormones can be judged. This is the best clinical means to know the ovarian function. In early days of menstrual cycle, cervical mucus is scanty. As the amount of estrogen increases, that of mucus increases too. In the pre ovulatory period when estrogen has its peak, the cervical mucus is abundant, tenacious, viscous clear like the white of raw egg, cellular, stretchable in thread and makes fern when dried. It is called fertile mucus and is most favorable to sperms ascent.

After luteinization when the progesterone is added, although quantity of mucus remains as it was, its characteristics change into turbid, sticky, non stretchable, cellular and makes a mesh instead of fern when dried. It is progestational infertile type mucus, not favorable for sperms. Luteinization is confirmed by observing the change of characteristics of the mucus. It means few repeated observations. Luteinization indicates that the progesterone is being produced and the woman has most probably ovulated unless it has been a case of luteinization of unruptured follicle (LUF).

Sperm Cervical Mucus Interaction Tests (SCMI) During sexual intercourse the husband ejaculates semen into the vagina. It remains there and the active sperms swim up through the cervical mucus to ascend thorough the genital tract to the oviducts, the site of fertilization. These tests help to find out that the active sperms can go up. If there is cervical hostility or sperms weakness, these tests will be negative.

These tests are mainly done to detect favorability or hostility of cervical mucus to sperms but can also be used to study of male factors and hormonal status of the woman. The tests are performed at the time of ovulation when the cervical mucus is of fertile type. There are two types of tests, In vivo Post coital test (PCT) and In vitro Mucus Penetration Tests (MPT).

   
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