Who knows where their cervix is? Not you? That’s totally okay and you are not alone! Cervix height is one of those things that is easy to assume only your doctor can tell you. It is also certainly not a topic that is common to discuss over lunch with friends and it may not be a question that wakes you up in the middle of the night. So, why should we know it?
Your cervix is the lowest point of your uterus and is the narrow opening that releases your period flow. It's helpful to know your cervix height and position for a few reasons, one of which being that it can greatly help when using menstrual cups and discs. Cervix height helps with choosing the right size of cup or disc and cervix position tells you where to point your cup/disc during insertion.
So how do you measure it? It is actually a very simple process! Insert a clean finger into your vaginal canal until you feel your cervix (it kind of feels like the tip of your nose with a small hole in the center). It will feel shiny or smooth while the surrounding tissue will feel more spongy.
If you feel it just after inserting one knuckle, your cervix is on the lower side. Feeling it after two knuckles indicates a medium height cervix. And if you reach your third knuckle or you can't feel it at all, your cervix is high.
If you don't feel it at first, don’t worry! Try moving your finger around the vaginal canal. It is common for the cervix to not be straight up the vaginal canal. Your cervix might be tucked to the left or to the right, or to the front or to the back. It also may be tilted - everyone is slightly different! You can also bear down just a bit to see if that helps you locate it.
Your cervix can change position during your period and ovulation cycle, so if you are specifically checking your cervix height to find the best period cup or disc, it's best to check your cervix at the beginning of your period. Some find that their cervix changes height and position so drastically throughout their period that they like having two different sizes of cups or discs to switch between depending on their anatomy each day. Every body is beautifully unique, which is why knowing your own is so important.
And there you have it! We know it can seem a bit daunting at first, but just go slowly and take it one step at a time. And if you have any questions, just know our Saalt Coaches are happy to help. TMI is always welcome here!
