www.beautifulcervix.com/cervix-photo-galleries/photos-of-cervix -> www.beautifulcervix.com/cervix-photo-galleries/photos-of-cervix/
cervix might look different throughout the cycle in the absence of vaginal infections and to understand speculum exams. Each photo was taken at approx 10:00 pm every day starting the first day of my menstrual cycle.
For the duration of this project, we used condoms as our birth control method so as not to introduce semenal fluid into the photoshoot. I did not use tampons or mooncups during my bleeding time either.
Image from Wikimedia This cycle I photographed is of normal length for me, about 33 days. My cycle's follicular phase (variable number of days preovulation) lasts until about day 20 or 21. My fertile phase lasts from days 13 to 21 with ovulation on day 20. My luteal (postovulation) phase is 13 days long (12-16 days is the norm and is not variable in a normal cycle). picture-1 Above is a graph of my basal body temperature for this cycle. As you can see, after ovulation on about day 20, my temperature began to rise due to the heat-inducing hormone progesterone produced by the corpus luteum. This temperature shift signifies that ovulation has already occurred.
Fertility Awareness Method of birth control to learn more about cyclical temperature changes. You may notice on the right side of some photos, some jagged looking skin, which is the remnants of my hymenal ring. My os (opening to the cervix) is round because I have never given birth; On the sides of the photos, you can see my vaginal rugae, which are the ridges that make the elastic muscular canal of the vagina able to open/expand dramatically during arousal and childbirth. I also tracked the depth/movement of my cervix in my vagina. These gradual shifts are not really distinguishable in the photos, but was a tangible change as the depth I needed to reach a finger inside to touch my cervix varied slightly each day. I also noted the firmness of the cervix and openness of the os that was again a change I was feeling with my finger. My uterus is tipped backward (retroflexed), so you may notice that the cervix is pointing upwards in some photos. This is an anatomical variation that is present in about 20-30% of the population, and is most often a genetic trait. It means that the body of the uterus lies more towards my back than over my bladder. May this site be educational for you and may you feel inspired to discover more about your body... Below, you will find photos taken every day during one menstrual cycle. Thephoto is above the Day Number and details of that Day. Please do not reproduce these images without my permission. Due to the overwhelming positive response I have gotten from people, I have decided to expand the vision of this project. Please email me if you would prefer to send a donation by check or money order and I will send you a mailing address. Together we can create a world where women's bodies are understood, respected and appreciated!
Please know that I censor' the comments, so you needn't bother saying something mean, derogatory, pornographic, or sexist as posting such comments does not further the vision of my project or the health of the world.
I can't believe how ignorant I have been about ovulation -- I honestly thought I had a yeast infection athough had no other symptoms except similar discharge when I should have been ovulating anyway.
Its easy to mis-diagnose normal secretion as infection and these days it is becoming more and more difficult for students to learn intimate examinations. Also they are far more likely to be shown the abnormal and these make up the vast bulk of text-book images. Incidentally, I found your site linked to a reputable medical information site I use frequently. Any other women will to publish a similar set of images would indirectly be doing their sisters a service.
Thank you for sharing this very intimate part of yourself. Which is your posterior vaginal wall and which is your anterior vaginal wall? For some reason I think the top of the pictures are your posterior vaginal wall.
From Women's Health News comes this link to a website where a young woman took pictures of her cervix every single day from the day menstruation starts all the way through the day before her next menstrual cycle starts. It's pretty fascinating, and I think continues our conversation about urine/menstrual blood. For those people who found that conversation gross/disturbing, please be forward, the pictures are very graphic.
Thank you so much for posting this online and for doing what many women wouldn't have the guts, interest, or ability to do. For as many people who may hate on you for this project, there are multiple more who find your work empowering and truly helpful. Your site is the only one I know of that has such pictures every day throughout a woman's cycle, not just a few special days. So, this may sound cheesy, but thanks for your service to womankind.
Thanks so much for emailing me to let me know your site was back up. I found the photos simply fascinating and will share your site with friends. It is really sad that your original site had problems due to "inappropriate content." What does that say about society's acceptance of women's bodies?
I too was absolutely dumbfounded (in a very good way) the very first time I saw my own cervix. I wish more women could see this beautiful part of their body more often. Thank you for posting such an amazing learning tool for all of us. I promise you, I will put it to good use with my clients!
I had seen my own cervical mucus and obviously menses but never had I thought of what the actual cervix itself looks like (despite having had a vaginal birth) through these various stages!
As a medical student but more, as a woman myself, I'd really like to thank you for taking these images. Being able to see a cervix throughout the entirety of a cycle is extremely informative and gives me more insight into my own body as well.
As an ex-midwife, seeing these images brought back vivid memories of all the time I spent giving women exams with speculum and flashlight, LOL! These pictures are wonderful and will be especially valuable to women who don't yet understand how their bodies work. And I second your recommendation for _Taking Charge of Your Fertility_ - it's an amazing resource and a book that every woman should read.
I am an acupuncture student, and the amount of variance of women's flows is rather stunning. You know, ideally, if all the energy is flowing "correctly," women should have NO cramps and blood should AlwAys be a fresh red color that's not too thick or thin? i would be very interested to see this after some consistent acupuncture.
It raises a question for me though - when trying for a baby women are told that the rise in body temperature coincides with the most fertile time of the cycle. I had therefore assumed this occurred during ovulation, but here the temperature rise occurs a couple of days after ovulation is felt. So if not ovulation itself, what then is the cause of the temperature rise?
I wish I could see my own cervix like this everyday, especially after trying to conceive for a year. I even sent a link to my best friend who is just now graduating from nursing school, and she passed the link along to some of the people in her class.
as an ex GUMed Nurse in Charge I found this absoulutely fascinating. Whilst we were taught about normal vis-a-viz abnormal' cervix's, we never had the opportunity to learn pictorally ALL the changes throughout the whole of the cycle. Thank you for sharing, I am sure it will assist many of thsoe that work in fields that require an in depth knowledge of a womans cervix & cycle.
Incredible- I have always been fascinated with the female body/reproductive system and your informative, well photographed website is a refreshing look into our beautiful domain. I get paid next week and will be sending you some dollars to support your project- A sincere thank you, for your insight and courage!
I am aware of the natural fertility method of checking your cervix, basal body temperature and cervical fluid, but it was wonderful to see photos of this process. I sat here with my husband and showed him what happens to my cervix during my cycle each month and as a man he nev...
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