What changes in cervical mucus should I look for to know I'm close to ovulation?

Cervical mucus changes through the cycle because of rising and falling hormones, and it's a free, natural way to spot your fertile days. After your period, many women notice dry days or very little discharge. As estrogen rises before ovulation, mucus becomes creamy or lotion-like, then wetter, clearer and more stretchy, often compared to raw egg white. This slippery, stretchy mucus usually appears in the few days before ovulation and helps sperm survive and swim. After ovulation, progesterone makes mucus thicker, stickier or dry again. To check, notice how it feels at the vaginal opening during the day or look at it on toilet paper before you urinate. Some women gently test stretch between two fingers. Writing a simple daily note, like dry, sticky, creamy or egg-white, helps you see your pattern over two or three cycles. The days with the wettest, most slippery mucus are usually your most fertile, so that's a good time for intercourse. Some women naturally have less obvious mucus, and medicines like certain antihistamines or ovulation tablets can change it. See a doctor if discharge has a strong smell, is green or grey, causes itching or burning, or if you never notice any pattern and your cycles are irregular.