Silvia Azaña, embryologist at inviTRA, tells us in this video what infertility due to cervical factor means:
The cervix, or cervical canal, is the channel that connects the vagina to the uterus. Its approximate measurement is 3 cm, and it has two main functions related to reproduction.
It is the place where sperm enters on its way to fertilize the egg after intercourse, and it is part of the passage through which the baby is born after 40 weeks of gestation during a vaginal delivery. Any alteration in the cervix could imply a fertility problem.
But in addition to the structure of the cervix itself, inside the cervical canal, we find a key component for female fertility: cervical mucus. Cervical mucus is a mucous substance released by the cervix whose appearance and consistency vary depending on the time of the woman's menstrual cycle due to the effect of sex hormones.
The main functions of cervical mucus are as follows. Change its consistency from thicker to more watery to allow the passage of sperm at the time of ovulation, protect sperm from the vaginal environment, and select the most suitable sperm for fertilization, leaving behind those that are defective and have impaired motility.
In summary, cervical mucus acts as the first filter for the entry of sperm into the uterus.
