What is Hostile Cervical Mucus?

Hostile cervical mucus is cervical mucus that prevents fertilization of an egg by limiting the free movement of sperm or killing off sperm, preventing the sperm from successfully reaching the egg. It is a potential cause of infertility and can also sometimes develop as a side effect of fertility drugs. There are methods available for dealing with this type of cervical mucus to give a couple an opportunity to try conceiving unassisted before turning to other options.

There are several reasons cervical mucus can be considered “hostile.” Most commonly, it is too thick for successful fertilization. Normally, cervical mucus during the optimal days in a woman's menstrual cycle for conceiving is thin, facilitating easy movement of sperm to the egg. When it is thick and sticky, the sperm have difficulty navigating; it is like rowing up a stream of molasses instead of a clear river.

Hostile cervical mucus can also be highly acidic. If the pH balance of cervical mucus is off, the sperm cannot survive. Rarely, women have anti-sperm antibodies in their mucus, white blood cells that identify sperm as hostile invaders and kill them off in an attempt to protect the body. Testing of the mucus can reveal the presence of high acidity or anti-sperm antibodies and can also be used to assess the mucus for thickness and other qualities.

A doctor may have some specific recommendations to help a patient with hostile cervical mucus, based on the doctor's experience and the patient's history. Sometimes, simply making dietary changes can address this condition. Cutting out dairy products and drinking ample fluids can be helpful. People may experience success with herbal supplements, like evening primrose oil, designed to promote the development of healthy cervical mucus. Some companies make products specifically designed to address hostile cervical mucus. Women can also talk to their doctors about adjusting medications, as sometimes changes in cervical mucus are caused by medications a woman is taking and the medications can be changed or temporarily suspended while a woman is trying to conceive.

If treatment attempts for hostile cervical mucus do not work, women can discuss their next options with their doctors. It is entirely possible to have quite healthy, viable eggs while the cervical mucus inhibits conception, and using in vitro fertilization may result in a healthy, low-risk pregnancy. In other cases, women may have other complications making conception challenging. A full evaluation can help a doctor gather information to use in making treatment recommendations.