What color is your cervix?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2003
What color is your cervix?
5
Sun, 09-07-2003 - 8:13am
Hi,

I've managed to look at my cervix with a speculum and found it is purplish!

I thought they were supposed to be pink or red unless you're pregnant - and I can't be pregnant because I had a period a couple of weeks ago - very light admittedly, more like spotting - but also my temps have not stayed up.

Anyone else have this?

CSM

Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
Sun, 09-07-2003 - 8:26am
Hi there. My name is Julie and although I might not be much help to your question, I'd love to know where you got your speculum from and about what they cost. I was thinking of getting one but was unsure where to buy and the cost. Is it easy to use? How do you use it if you don't mind? Standing up, down on the bed? And, lastly, is it painful and can you really see what the doc's see when you go in for an exam? I would imagine that you'd need a mirror to see right? Is this something you do alone or does dh help?

Just a few q's if you have time to answer, I'd really like to get one. I also thought too that you cervix was purple when your pg, are you sure you not pg? You said you had af a couple of weeks ago which might put you close to mid-cycle (maybe your about to ov) I have heard around ov time it can get from dark pink to purple then when not fertile or pg, it goes to light pinkish. You can really see your cervix that close to tell what color it is with this thing? That is so amazing to me. Please share with me and the others on how you do it and how this works.

Thanks so much!



Julie (29), DH (30)

ttc #1

c 1

cd 17 (waiting to O next week)

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2003
Sun, 09-07-2003 - 9:00am
Hi Julie!

I think I ovulated 2 days ago so that's a good point - it could still be purple because of that.

Thanks for your interest in my cervical explorations! I'm quite excited about it because although we've been TTC for over a year, up until this cycle I just used calendar and temps to try to figure out when I was ovulating.

I got a plastic speculum for £4 (about $6) from a charity called Women's Health - I'm afraid it's in the UK though, so probably won't be much use to you. I think someone posted a link to a US site that sells specula, but I can't remember what it was called - perhaps they will post again! :)

Anyway, here is what I did. First of all made sure DH was out 'cos I think he would be a bit revolted ... trying to keep some mysteries of womanhood about me!

I piled a stack of pillows on the bed and got a strong lamp and a small mirror. Washed my hands well. Practised opening and closing the speculum.

Then I lay back on the pillows - half sitting - with my legs up and spread. I carefully eased the speculum in (closed!) with the handle pointing to the side. It didn't hurt at all - important to relax, I think. Once it was in almost all the way, I turned it so the handle was above me and opened it 3 notches. The third notch is very slightly uncomfortable and I hope to just use 2 notches when I get more used to using it.

Next I moved the mirror and lamp around to have a look inside. The first time all I could see was the vagina walls, which are very wrinkly and pink. I think I wasn't pushing the speculum in far enough.

After a couple of attempts I gave up and tried again the next day - this time I found it first time, a round, very smooth thing at the end of the wrinkly vagina walls, with a small opening through which the sperm need to swim! I expected it to be pink, but it was purple :(

Hope this helps, and not TMI!!!!

CSM

Visitor (not verified)
anonymous user
Sun, 09-07-2003 - 10:51am
CSM,

Wow, that is amazing, thanks so much for sharing with me! It sounds very interesting in there...lol! I really want to get one and see how open or closed it is. I use the finger method right now but do not know how effective that is as I cannot tell very well how open or closed it is. I don't get it I guess, I am on cd 17 and my cp seems to be a bit softer and more open (I think???) but it would be so helpful to see it. Also, I am experiencing that fact if I am only 4-5 days from O (should ov on cd 20-21) I have no CM at all, well very, very little watery like with no texture to it, just like plain water and this worries me as all the info I've been reading says you must have some EWCM to keep the sperm alive and unless I reach way up in my cervix, I can only get out a tiny bit of clear. We'll see as I do have 4-5 days left before O (I hate Oing this late in my cycle, my cycles are about every 34 days) it sucks. I bought the Clearblue Easy Fert. monitor this cycle and just started using it and at cd 15 it read "high fert." so thats a good sign but I hope it reads "peak fert. soon".

Thanks again for the info on this, I might go online and try and find one in the US.

Good luck to you too!

Julie

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2003
Mon, 09-08-2003 - 5:28am
Julie,

I'm 30 and in reading about CM it's common to only get a couple of days of EWCM at that age. If you are much younger, say early 20s, then you should expect 5 days or more of EWCM but not if you are closer to 30. At least that's my interpretation of what I've read.

I didn't get any EWCM to speak of, which is why I'm planning to start the robittusuin next cycle!

Good luck,

CSM

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-22-2003
Mon, 09-08-2003 - 7:22am
A purple cervix is usually found when you are pregnant. Have you tested? I see that you only had some spotting a couple weeks ago, it's possible you could be pregnant. A non-pregnant cervix is red or pink. Good luck.


Michelle

 

Avatar for bethanees
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-17-2003
Mon, 09-08-2003 - 7:43am
Ladies...

Thank you! What an informational post this was. I bit weird for me, (but only b/c my mom never talked to me about my body, and therefore I've never really gone exploring!) I've read a couple of posts prior to this one talking about feeling your cervix, and that just makes me laugh b/c I would have NO CLUE what the heck I was feeling! LOL! :-)

I also had no clue you could BUY a speculum! Although I probably won't be trying that any time soon, I found it thouroughly interesting! I was just wondering 2 wks. ago WHY ON EARTH my Dr. had to do a pelvic exam when I was having my 3rd miscarriage - I wonder if it was to see the color of my cervix. (I was REALLY annoyed!!! Here I was, bleeding profusely (sp), cramping like crazy, and an emotional wreck... and he wasnted to do a PELVIC EXAM!!! Arg! :-)

Also, thanks to the later poster about CM... I also did not realize your CM changes with age. So Robitussin works, huh? More great info!

Again, thanks ladies! I think I might be able to graduate to health 201! :-)

Bethanee(26) TTC#3 with Caleb(2.3/4) and Tiera(17mos)

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-25-2003
Mon, 09-08-2003 - 6:40pm
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