Cervical mucus plug
Encyclopedia
A cervical mucus plug is a plug that fills and seals the cervical canal
during pregnancy. It is formed by a small amount of cervical mucus
.
The mucus plug acts as a protective barrier by deterring the passage of bacteria
into the uterus
.
Normally during human pregnancy
, the mucus is cloudy, clear, thick, and sticky. Toward the end of the pregnancy, when the cervix thins, some blood is released into the cervix which causes the mucus to become bloody. As the woman gets closer to labor, the mucus plug discharges as the cervix begins to dilate. The plug may come out as a plug, a lump, or simply as increased vaginal discharge over several days. The mucus may be tinged with brown, pink, or red blood, which is why the event is sometimes referred to as 'bloody show'. Loss of the mucus plug by no means implies that delivery or labor is imminent.
Having intercourse
or a vaginal examination can also disturb the mucus plug and cause a woman to see some blood-tinged discharge, even when labor does not end up starting over the next few days.
Canal of the cervix
In the anatomy of the female reproductive system, the canal of the cervix is the spindle-shaped, flattened canal of the cervix, the neck of the uterus.It communicates with the uterine cavity via the internal orifice of the uterus, and with the vagina via the...
during pregnancy. It is formed by a small amount of cervical mucus
Mucus
In vertebrates, mucus is a slippery secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. Mucous fluid is typically produced from mucous cells found in mucous glands. Mucous cells secrete products that are rich in glycoproteins and water. Mucous fluid may also originate from mixed glands, which...
.
The mucus plug acts as a protective barrier by deterring the passage of bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
into the uterus
Uterus
The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...
.
Normally during human pregnancy
Pregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
, the mucus is cloudy, clear, thick, and sticky. Toward the end of the pregnancy, when the cervix thins, some blood is released into the cervix which causes the mucus to become bloody. As the woman gets closer to labor, the mucus plug discharges as the cervix begins to dilate. The plug may come out as a plug, a lump, or simply as increased vaginal discharge over several days. The mucus may be tinged with brown, pink, or red blood, which is why the event is sometimes referred to as 'bloody show'. Loss of the mucus plug by no means implies that delivery or labor is imminent.
Having intercourse
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
or a vaginal examination can also disturb the mucus plug and cause a woman to see some blood-tinged discharge, even when labor does not end up starting over the next few days.