What is the purpose of the cervix?

ASK AN EXPERT

[.highlighted] Q: Dear Teal, [.highlighted] The cervix is a bit of a mystery to me. What is its purpose?

‍

A: The cervix produces cervical mucus that cleans and hydrates the vagina. Because it responds to hormonal changes, cervical mucus changes throughout the menstrual cycle. Perhaps if you’ve tracked your cycles or tried to conceive, you’ve noticed or looked for changes in your cervical mucus. Near the time of ovulation, the mucus is thin and slippery, promoting sperm to pass through. It can also be a source of sexual stimulation for some women during intercourse.

‍

The cervix also plays an important part in pregnancy and birth. During pregnancy, it develops a protective thick mucus plug which helps prevent infections. It is the part of the uterus that opens/dilates during labor, allowing the fetus to move through the birth canal during a vaginal delivery. “Fully dilated” means your cervix is fully open.

‍

Back to Q&A

Get Teal Health in your inbox

Liz Swenson, MD, FACOG, MSCP
Medical Director & OBGYN

Liz Swenson is a board-certified OB/GYN who has been providing care to women for more than 20 years. She has learned that women are genuinely interested in their own health and want to understand the science behind their medical conditions. Originally from Iowa, she completed her medical training in Northern California where she still lives with her husband and two daughters. She has worked in a busy multispecialty practice in Palo Alto and has taught OBGYN residents as an Adjunct Clinical Faculty Member of Stanford University. Now, with a focus on helping all women have choices and access to the gynecological care they need, she is excited to use her clinical experience to help improve the lives and longevity of all Teal patients.

‍

Featured articles and stories

HPV is very common but remains stigmatized, which can affect how people experience cervical cancer diagnoses and care. To better support health outcomes, we need to rethink HPV risk and move away from stigmatizing sexual behavior.
Read more
Today at the Hlth conference, we’ve announced that we’ve submitted to the FDA and shared results from our compiled report on our nationwide study which revealed that 94% of women – across all demographics, backgrounds, and locations – prefer at-home cervical cancer screening over traditional in-office Pap smears.
Read more
It’s been almost 2 years since I was diagnosed with breast cancer, and a year and a half since my medical team declared me cancer-free. I was 29 years old, had just been married, and was in the final stretch of my doctorate program. Life stopped in that moment.
Read more

Your experience matters

Signup to be the first to know when we’re available in your state.

Thank you!
Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Cervical cancer screening