Feeling your cervix at different times can give you an idea of how it changes during your menstrual cycle, and how it responds to touch and sexual arousal. The cervix sits at the back of your vaginal canal. It can feel like the tip of a nose with a dimple in the middle, and it kind of looks like a tiny donut.
Feel for a round, raised circle with a dimple in the middle — it's most likely to be at the top of the front vaginal wall (closer to your belly button than to your back) (1, 5).
Insert the pointer finger into the vagina gently. You have a low cervix is you can reach it by the first knuckle. An average one can be reached by the second knuckle. If you can only reach it by the highest knuckle or can't reach it at all, yours is high.
Start by slowly reaching your finger upwards until you touch your cervix. “Contrary to popular belief, your vagina is not a never-ending tunnel,” she explains. “The vagina does come to an end, so to speak, and it is at this end that you will find your cervix.” You could also use a mirror as a guide.
Carefully insert two fingers.
Push your index and middle finger as far as you can into your vaginal canal to reach your cervix. Be as gentle and slow as possible to avoid causing any internal cuts or bruising, and use a water-based lubricant if needed.
Sometimes the nurse may not be able to see your cervix. This could be because you have a tilted cervix, cervical stenosis (where the vagina narrows) or something else. It does not mean there is anything to worry about.
The Cervix is the lower portion of the uterus. It's narrow and tubular in shape and connects the uterine cavity to the vaginal canal. The tip of the cervix can be seen from inside of the vagina during exams and can be reached and felt by a fingertip.
The opening is tiny and normally closed with mucus. So the cervix may be touched during sex, but it cannot be penetrated. Some people find cervical stimulation pleasant. Others find it uncomfortable or even painful.
The midwife will insert a finger into your vagina and reach for the cervix. Once she has reached the cervix she will do a circular 'sweeping' motion around the cervix to help separate the sac from the cervix. This can release hormones in the body that will help your body to go into labour.
The texture of the cervix also changes in early pregnancy due to increased blood flow. If the woman has not conceived, the cervix will feel firm to the touch, like the tip of a nose. If she has conceived, the cervix will feel softer, more closely resembling the lips.
The cervix also begins to soften. If you were to feel your cervix when pregnant, it would feel like puckered lips. During labor, your cervix will become so soft and thin that you won't be able to feel it at all.
Once ovulation occurs, the cervix drops lower and becomes more firm, once again feeling like the tip of your nose.
Your cervix — the doughnut-shaped gate between your vagina and uterus — might spill the tea first. Your cervix usually feels kinda like a firm ball at the top of your vag. When you're pregnant, it changes. Keeping tabs on your cervix's position and texture could help you figure out whether or not you're pregnant.
Sometimes the cervix is not readily apparent when the speculum is first opened. When the cervix is not easily visualized, we recommend a bimanual examination to determine cervical location. If the cervix is deep in the vaginal vault and almost beyond reach of the examiner's fingers, a longer speculum will be needed.
For lots of women and people with a cervix, smear tests (cervical screening) are something that might feel a bit uncomfortable or embarrassing, but is over and done with quickly. But, for some with conditions such as endometriosis, a smear test can be more painful and can be a really daunting prospect.
Both tests can be done in the healthcare provider's office during a pelvic exam. The HPV and Pap tests may feel uncomfortable, but they shouldn't hurt. It takes just seconds to do them. The healthcare provider uses a tool called a speculum to open your vagina and examine the upper part of your vagina and cervix.
The obstetrician places two fingers inside the vagina and measures the width of the opening of the external os of the cervix using fingers to approximate the distance. In simple terms, 1 cm is about one finger's width, and 3 cm is the width of two fingers.
Insert your index and middle finger and push your fingers deep inside as far as you can to reach your cervix. Be as gentle as possible to prevent bruising or complications. Assess dilation. You're considered 1 centimeter dilated if one fingertip fits through your cervix, or 2 centimeters if you can fit two fingers.
3 While you can check your cervix yourself, don't check too often, and always make sure your hands are very clean. Find a comfortable position. Your body position should allow you to easily reach your cervix. That may be sitting on the toilet, putting one leg up on the edge of the bathtub, or squatting.
It's the lowermost part of your uterus and is usually located 3-6 inches inside your vagina. It generally feels like a small donut with a tiny hole in its center. Now that you know what you'll be looking for, pay attention to the following steps to check the position of cervix in early pregnancy.
During early pregnancy your cervix is likely to feel soft and rise up. The feeling of softness comes as during pregnancy your cervix will contain more blood due to rising levels of estrogen in your body.
Checking cervical position involves gently inserting a clean finger into the vagina to feel for the cervix; it should feel like a firm, smooth button. During pregnancy, the cervix will be higher, softer, and more open, but this method should not replace home or blood tests for confirming pregnancy.