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A new scientific study has served to verify the properties of cervical mucus as they have previously been understood to influence the symptoms observed at the vulva and applied in the rules of the Billings Ovulation Method. The study was conducted using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy on cervical mucus gathered from 195 women aged between 24 and 36. Two types of sample were taken. One was taken from the lumen of the cervix which revealed a heterogeneous entity containing the four different types of mucus (L,S,P and G), and varying in proportional content over the phases of the ovulatory cycle as observed previously by Odeblad. The second type of sample was taken from the crypts of the individual secretory zones of the cervix verifying the local origin of each mucus type. In their conclusion the authors state: "The main difference between our study and all the others is that we used the 'spread-out' technique which allowed us to observe the four different types of mucus very clearly. Furthermore. we did not consider the cervical mucus to be a homogeneous entity, but a mosaic of the four mucus types in various proportions during the cycle. Our results agree with the assumption that the cervical crypts producing each specific mucus type seem to be located in its specific area or zone of the cervix. In conclusion, the zones of the cervical crypts are very specific areas of mucus synthesis where different mucus types are produced, which will then combine to constitute what we know as cervical mucus." "The distribution of the crypt zones in the cervix depends on age, number of pregnancies and use of contraception. In a non-pregnant woman, aged 25-30 years and not having used contraception, the cervix averages 22mm in length and 6mm in diameter at ovulation. The crypt distribution starting from below and moving upwards is a follows: the G crypts dominate in the lowest 4-5 mm; then there is a zone of L crypts occupying the next 9-10 mm; this is followed by the S zone, for 5-6 mm; and the highest 3-4 mm contains the P crypts. The borderlines between the zones are not clearly defined, as there is some overlap." |
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