Clear mucus before period
Question
Is it normal to have just before your period is due some clear mucous with a little blood in it? The blood looks like a string and not droplet form.
Answer
Last Updated: July 3, 2013
Yes, it is normal. The stringy appearance that you’ve observed is due to the special wetting properties of cervical mucus, which will cause any co-mingled blood to disperse rather than bead up into droplets. As to why you see both blood and mucus, there are two common reasons. The first is the release of some cervical mucus during the early stages of menstruation, as the inner lining of the uterus (the endometrium) begins to shed, dislodging residual cervical mucus ahead of, and along with, it. The second is the early sloughing of the endometrium during the fertile time, when mucus production is also high, sometimes known as “breakthrough” bleeding. It is not a “period” but rather a response to the high estrogen surge that causes both mucus production and the thickening of the endometrium. Sometimes it just gets too thick, so a small amount of it falls away. From our perspective as teachers of the Sympto-Thermal Method, we would ask whether you have had a sustained temperature shift. If so, you are close to menstruation, but if not, you could still be very fertile.
Andrea and Ron Gronsky
Andrea and Ron Gronsky
Answered By:
Andrea and Ron Gronsky
Andrea and Ron Gronsky, PhD, Professional Members of CANFP,now retired, taught the Sympto Thermal Method through the Couple to Couple League, in the Oakland Region.
