What is a cervical mucus plug

I believe that many friends don’t know much about cervical mucus plug. In fact, for the majority of female friends, it is very necessary to understand the relevant knowledge about cervical mucus plug. So what is cervical mucus plug? Next, this article will introduce you to the relevant knowledge about cervical mucus plug. If you want to know what cervical mucus plug is, please continue reading!

What is a cervical mucus plug? The cervical mucus plug is a very sticky, colorless or yellow, transparent liquid secreted from the cervix. It is a special protective substance produced by people during pregnancy. When a woman is pregnant, the cervix will become softer and longer, and the mucus plug is secreted to block the opening of the uterus, that is, the opening of the cervix, otherwise bacteria will enter the uterus and affect the normal development of the fetus.

The glands of the cervical mucosa can secrete alkaline mucus, forming a mucus plug that blocks the cervical canal, isolating the cervix from the external environment and reducing the chance of bacterial invasion. There have been studies that show that bacteria can be detected in the lower 1/3 of the cervical mucus plug, but no bacteria can be detected in the upper 2/3 of the mucus plug, proving that it is very effective in preventing bacteria from infecting upwards.

For pregnant women, the cervical mucus plug acts as a natural barrier between the developing fetus and bacteria that can cause premature birth and other obstetric complications. Now, a new study suggests that the mucus plug itself may also have antimicrobial properties that can kill bacteria such as Group B Streptococcus and E. coli.

In fact, the antimicrobial proteins found in cervical mucus are similar to those in nasal fluid. The researchers point out that both cervical mucus plugs and nasal fluids act as sterile barriers, isolating the uterine cavity and lungs from the bacteria-filled external environment. The findings suggest that women who are susceptible to uterine infection or other related complications are more likely to have an inadequate uterine mucus plug.

When a woman is pregnant, the normal mucus in the uterine cavity thickens and forms a plug between the uterus and the vagina. To test whether the protective effect of this plug is simply a natural barrier, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles analyzed the cervical mucus plugs of 60 healthy women (28 to 33.5 years old, full-term) and the cervical mucus of non-pregnant women. It turned out that both contained proteins that are part of the immune system that fight infection.

The above is an introduction to what cervical mucus plug is. I believe that after reading the above introduction, you will have a certain understanding of the relevant knowledge about cervical mucus plug, and know the definition and function of cervical mucus plug. From the above introduction, we can know that cervical mucus plug is only produced during pregnancy and plays a good protective role for the fetus. Therefore, pregnant friends must learn more about this aspect!