Expert: Bob Kambic - 5/31/2007

Question
I have been on the pill (Yasmin) now for quite a while, and take it perfectly.  The last few months, I've been reading up on the different types of cervical mucus, and I am a bit concerned.  Even though I'm on the pill, I still have mucus discharge that resembles "fertile" mucus--clear, slippery, and stretchy.  Should I be concerned that I'm ovulating?  Or does the pill mess around with my hormones so much that this really means nothing?
Thanks.

Answer
It's not a good idea to try to track your mucus while on the pill. The pill is a hormone that supplements and replaces your own body's hormones. So it's difficult to say what the mucus really is telling you.

Some women do ovulate with some pills. The pill can also act to prevent implantation if a conception does occur. There is really no way to tell what is happening.

That is one reason that I support the natural methods, methods a woman can use to monitor her own fertility patterns.

http://www.irh.org/nfp.htm

http://www.fertilityfriend.com/HelpCenter/FFBook/ff_fertility_signs.html

Be sure to try to get a teacher to work with you until you really understand your fertility.