Question

A nurse is providing education to a client with infertility concerns. Which statement by the client indicates appropriate understanding of the Spinnbarkeit Test?
A. at midpoint in my menstrual cycle, i need to come to the clinic for a cervical exam looking for color changes to my cervical mucus
B. i will need to purchase an OTC ovulation kit that will tell me when I am currently ovulating
C. I will need to purchase a microscope and look for a fern-like pattern from a sample of my cervical mucus to indicate when i am ovulating
D. halfway in my cycle I will need to check my cervical mucus to see if i can stretch it in to long strands, indicating i am close to ovulating

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer is D - "Halfway in my cycle I will need to check my cervical mucus to see if I can stretch it in to long strands, indicating I am close to ovulating."

Explanation:

Infertility refers to the inability to conceive or reproduce. Spinnbarkeit is a biomedical term that refers to the varying stringy quality that can be found in mucus, saliva, and similar fluids around the time of ovulation. It comes from a German word that means stretchable. This type of mucus is usually clear and slippery caused by high oestrogen levels. It is important to note that any mucus at the vulva area is noteworthy as it can signal ovarian activity which indicates potential fertility.  By stretching the mucus between your index finger and thumb, you will be able determine if your cervical fluid has the afore mentioned stretchy or stringy quality. This is when the mucus can stretch up to 4 or 5 inches before snapping. The appearance of this mucus means the woman has a greater chance of being impregnated as this is optimal for the survival of sperm, which could last for up to 72 hours.