Everything you need to know about basal temperature, including how to measure it, graph examples with decoding, and norm and variation.

It is useful for every girl who is planning a pregnancy to know how to keep a basal temperature (BT) chart. This is not difficult, but the process requires a lot of patience, because you will have to celebrate BT every day for at least two to three months. It is better to analyze the resulting graphs together with a gynecologist. However, with the help of this method and without a doctor, you can learn a lot about your health and ability to conceive. Our article, written together with an obstetrician-gynecologist, will help you with this.

What is basal body temperature

Basal body temperature and body temperature are not the same thing. BBT is measured not under the armpit, but in the vagina, in the mouth or (most often) in the anus. This is not the temperature of the surface of the body, but the temperature of the internal organs. Basal temperature changes noticeably even with a slight change in the level of some female hormones.

thermometer
Body temperature does not depend much on the day of the monthly cycle, but BT changes markedly when the phases of the cycle change. That is why OB/GYNs and women themselves have been charting BT for decades to figure out how the reproductive system works.

The method was invented in the 50s of the 20th century in Great Britain. Professor Marshall discovered that the hormone progesterone (one of the main hormones of the female reproductive system) can significantly affect the temperature of the female body. According to the basal temperature, fluctuations in the level of the hormone can be quite accurately determined. And since the amount of progesterone changes throughout the cycle, according to the BT schedule, you can understand at home how the ovaries work.

BT will even help to tell if conception has occurred. Of course, you will receive a clear answer to this question only after a delay with the help of special tests or analyses. But the graph will tell you that pregnancy is not excluded.

However, you should not think that the “thermometer in the ass” is a mandatory item in the program of all women who want to get pregnant. Not at all. When planning a pregnancy, it is completely optional to measure the basal temperature. It is much more important to undergo at least a minimal medical examination by a gynecologist and a therapist - to pass tests for infections, the level of basic sex hormones, a complete blood count, etc.

But there are situations when the method of measuring basal temperature will be really useful:

If you can not get pregnant for 6-12 months. If the "experience" is less, there is absolutely nothing to worry about yet. You just have to keep trying. If more - we can already talk about infertility, and you need to undergo a serious examination by a doctor. But in this time period, the schedule will help you navigate when ovulation occurs (and aim to “work” on a future pregnancy on these days). BT will also help you make sure that your reproductive system is working properly.
If you have been advised to measure BBT by a doctor. This method is not the main one in diagnostics, but as an auxiliary method it has been used for a long time and successfully. For example, it will help your doctor find out if your dominant follicle is maturing and if you are ovulating. However, as a rule, the doctor asks the patient to supplement the BBT measurement with ovulation tests. And keep in mind that no doctor has the right to diagnose and prescribe treatment only on the basis of BT schedules! This is an additional research method, but nothing more;
If you are in a hurry to get pregnant and want to know exactly when your fertile days come.

BBT measurement rules

To accurately plot a graph, you need to know how to measure basal temperature. For this, there are special rules for measuring basal temperature. If they are not adhered to, the BT schedule may be inaccurate.

They must be adhered to, especially if you are concerned about reproductive problems.

Choosing a thermometer and measurement method

So let's remember:

The first thing I wanted to highlight was the choice of a thermometer. In principle, it doesn’t matter which one you take electronic or mercury. The main thing is then to take the same thermometer throughout all the days of measurement. True, mercury is more preferred, it seems, as they are better and more accurate. Everyone else hesitates. But if you are confident in your other thermometer, then you should use it.
Basal temperature is measured in three ways: in the mouth, in the rectum or in the vagina. It is usually recommended to use the rectal method. It is considered the most accurate. And for determining ovulation, this is very important, because we need favorable days for pregnancy ?! The tip of the thermometer is inserted into the anus by 3-4 cm, after which minutes of measurement are expected. To measure the basal temperature in the mouth, it is worth putting a thermometer under the tongue for five minutes. Keep your mouth closed while doing this. The vaginal method involves inserting a thermometer halfway into the vagina.

And remember, you should always stick to one measurement method.

There is a debate around the world about how many minutes should be devoted to measurement. According to doctors, the lowest temperature will be in a person after 4-5 hours of sleep. That is, it turns out that those who go to bed early, for example at 22:00, should wake up at 2 a.m. and freeze for 10 minutes, and then sleep peacefully again. But everyone understands that this is almost impossible. Although, what can not be done for the sake of the unborn baby.

Therefore, everyone agreed that it is necessary to measure the basal temperature in the morning at about 6-8 o'clock in the morning. And you should follow this recommendation.

No need to take too long with the measurement. Let's say it's convenient for you to do this at 10 am. But then the human biorhythm affects the indicator. Therefore, we learn self-control and measure it at the right time.

Rules for measuring basal temperature

By adhering to strict rules for drawing up a clear BT schedule, you can know all the changes in your body.

To do this, you need to be patient and do this procedure for several months.

The basal temperature will tell you the exact day of ovulation, a possible pregnancy, or some kind of malfunction in the woman's reproductive system.

So the rules are:

It is better to start measuring basal temperature in the morning, when the body is in a state of calm for more than 5 hours. It is measured immediately after waking up for several minutes. At the same time, the woman moves minimally: she does not sit down, does not get out of bed, does not swing. In general, try to stay as much as possible in the position in which you woke up. Otherwise, the organs will begin to move, the blood supply will accelerate and the temperature will rise. This will not be the indicator that we need. Therefore, all experts and experienced ladies recommend putting a thermometer at the head of the bed from the night at the level of the outstretched hand, so that in the morning it is less drawn to it. Be sure to bring down its indicator to the minimum since the evening.
It is necessary to measure BT if the body has been stationary for 3-6 hours. Situations where a woman got up in the morning to use the toilet, and then lay down, slept for less than 3 hours, are not acceptable. Otherwise, the meaning of temperature measurement is lost, there will definitely not be accurate data.

After entering the thermometer, you need to wait about five minutes and only then remove it if the thermometer is mercury. If the thermometer is used electronic, then you need to wait a few minutes, and when the beep sounds, remove it.

It is always worth measuring the basal temperature at the same time. Even if the girl has a day off, and she can lie in bed longer, it’s still worth waking up and taking the temperature at the time it usually happens.

As for critical days, this process is done constantly, then the schedule will be reliable.

How to keep a schedule and what should be considered?

Many factors influence the BT score. First of all, any activity. That is why the body should be after sleep and in a state of complete rest.

Even a sleepless night due to stress or overexcitation of the body can make its own adjustments.

Try to account for each factor to plot an accurate basal temperature chart.

What you should pay attention to:

After measuring the basal temperature, the resulting readings should be immediately recorded in your schedule so as not to forget its data. You can build a schedule yourself, and you can also use special programs and sites to build it. The World Wide Web offers many sites where many girls build their schedules. There you can find photos of the charts, and then compare with your own, and you can also discuss the nuances on the girls' forums. Here you will see that you are not alone and you can share your story with someone else. The Internet has made life easier for many. He even offers a video where they tell, and maybe even show how to measure basal temperature correctly.
As for the schedule, it is worth making notes on it. For example, the day before you had a feast or you couldn’t sleep all night, or maybe you are stressed today in the form of an exam at the institute. You should also write down if you caught a cold, what medications you took. These are all worth noting because they affect your readings.
The schedule is made daily and for several months. Why how much? Because the more photo graphs, the more accurate the result will be.

By following simple recommendations for basal temperature, you can easily determine your own ovulation day, and you can also predict early pregnancy.

And if something is not clear in what is written, then you can find a video on the Internet where the luminaries of the world will tell you what needs to be done to measure the basal temperature.

Do you trust this method?

Let's make a reservation right away: many modern doctors consider this method obsolete. Even 10 years ago, BT scheduling was a mandatory item in the examination of patients who have difficulty conceiving.

Now a number of doctors have abandoned this study in favor of other, more accurate and less painstaking methods. For example, folliculometry (special ultrasound) and ovulation tests.

Indeed, in some situations, the BT schedule will be inaccurate and can be misleading:

If you measure the temperature incorrectly;
If you measure BBT for only one month. The only chart is not informative. It is necessary to carry out measurements at least three cycles in a row;
If there is a chronic or acute disease (not necessarily related to gynecology);
if you have hypo- or hyperthyroidism (thyroid disease);
You are taking sedatives or hormonal medications

and in some other situations.

However, if done right, BT can still serve as a free yet valuable diagnostic tool.

Of course, you yourself should not make any diagnoses and take medications based on the BBT schedule. This is an inaccurate method, and self-treatment is unacceptable!

Diagnosis of pathologies using BT

There are a number of diseases that directly affect the BT schedule, for example, with endometritis, the temperature rises to 37 degrees, keeping it that way even when menstruation occurs.

Adnexitis will also show an elevated temperature for several days in a row, then returning to normal values. The same result indicates the inability of the egg to fertilize.

Jumps in indicators when measuring BT will indicate the death of the egg due to stress, the use of pharmaceutical drugs or other factors.

If menstruation does not occur on time and BBT is reduced, then most likely it is ovarian dysfunction, to confirm which you will need to visit a gynecologist and undergo additional examinations.

Elevated temperatures in the proliferative phase mean a lack of estrogens, and low progesterone and corpus luteum.

How to measure basal body temperature correctly

There are three main ways to measure basal temperature:

in the mouth (orally);
in the vagina (vaginally);
in the anus (rectally).

Each of them has its pros and cons, while the third method is considered the classic and most accurate. Refrain from experiments: if you start measuring in your mouth, continue until the end of the cycle. In the next cycle, if the measurement method seemed inconvenient, it can be changed.

You can measure the basal temperature with a conventional (mercury) thermometer and an electronic thermometer, but always of high quality and accurate. After all, if you have, for example, a sore throat, then it does not really matter what temperature you have - 38.6 or 38.9. But when measuring BT, every tenth of a degree carries a lot of meaning. The mercury thermometer is held for 6-7 minutes, the electronic one - until the signal plus 2-3 minutes, it will turn out more accurately. During one cycle, you should not change the thermometer. For reasons of hygiene, the thermometer must be wiped with alcohol after measurement.

BT is measured early in the morning immediately after waking up, without getting out of bed and without even moving (the thermometer must be shaken off in advance and put on the nightstand next to the bed, but not under the pillow). It is important that you get at least three hours of uninterrupted sleep (without going to the bathroom or fetching water) before waking up.

The main rule for measuring basal temperature is to keep the thermometer lying down, in a relaxed state, almost half asleep, without moving. Record the result (put it on the chart) immediately - it is easy to forget.

If it was not possible to measure in the morning, it is pointless to do it in the afternoon. Indeed, during the day, the basal temperature is unstable, it jumps depending on the emotional state, physical activity, food, etc.

How long to keep a thermometer when measuring basal temperature

To determine the indicator of basal temperature, a conventional mercury thermometer is used. You can also use electronic, but it shows the temperature with small errors. When measuring an indicator, accuracy is very important.

To get accurate data for the chart, you need to know how many minutes you need to measure the basal temperature with a conventional mercury thermometer. Why are we talking about a mercury thermometer? Because it gives the most reliable readings, so doctors recommend using just such a thermometer. How long to keep the thermometer when the basal temperature is measured does not depend on the method of measurement.

The procedure should last five to seven minutes. During this time, you need to lie still, which will ensure the accuracy of measurements. It is recommended to put a thermometer near the bed in the evening, because any activity causes an increase in basal temperature. The thermometer must be knocked down after each measurement. The mercury thermometer must be carefully removed.

When asked which thermometer is better to measure basal temperature, the answer is unequivocal: ordinary mercury. If you want to see the most accurate picture of the processes that take place in your body during the cycle, then you should use only a mercury thermometer. Is it possible to mistakenly measure basal temperature with an ordinary thermometer? This situation can only happen if you entered the thermometer incorrectly or held it for an insufficient amount of time.

Since extreme care must be taken when using a mercury thermometer, some women prefer to measure their basal temperature with an electronic thermometer, but do not know if this can be done. An electronic thermometer shows the temperature with some errors. If you use it, then you should consider this nuance. Accuracy is still important for scheduling, especially if you are new to this business.

Why is the schedule falling apart?

Some conditions can affect your basal temperature and make the chart unreliable. Continue to measure BBT, but note the days when the following circumstances were in effect:

SARS or other viral, as well as bacterial diseases with a rise in temperature;
taking certain medications, such as hormonal or sedatives. When taking oral contraceptives, ovulation is suppressed, so measuring BBT is generally pointless;
injuries, surgical interventions, including minor ones (for example, your tooth was pulled out);
stress, insomnia;
alcohol intake;
indigestion;
moving, flight, especially with the change of time zones;
sexual intercourse.

Analyzing the graph, you need to make an adjustment for these factors.

How to build a graph

To plot your basal temperature, click on this template and save it to your computer (and fill it out right there) or print it out.

Click to enlarge the template. Download it to your computer and fill it out right there. Or print and fill out by hand.

The numbers in the upper column are the days of the menstrual cycle (not to be confused with the days of the month). Every day after measuring the temperature, put a dot in the appropriate column. To plot, at the end of the cycle, connect the points in sequence with a line.

After the chart is filled in, you need to draw an overlay line. To do this, you need to look at the temperature values \u200b\u200bin days 6 to 12. A line is drawn above them. This line is service, it is needed only for clarity.

Below, on an empty field, you can make notes. For example, "from 12 to 15 dts - a tooth ached, the temperature rose." “Cycle day 18 is a lot of stress.”

What should be the normal basal temperature

Normally, the basal temperature changes throughout the cycle, and the graph is two-phase.

The duration of the cycle and the length of each phase for each woman is different, so we give approximate, indicative figures.

During menstruation, BT is usually 36.7-37 degrees. When the bleeding stops, the temperature drops slightly. In the first phase of the monthly cycle (from 1 to 10-15 days), a woman has a high level of estrogen and a low level of progesterone. Immediately after menstruation, the normal basal temperature is low. In a healthy woman, it rarely rises above 36.6.

Before ovulation, it may decrease slightly. And after ovulation, it rises to 37 and above. The difference between the phases is 0.4-0.8 degrees.

The basal body temperature can normally drop slightly before the most monthly ones. If this does not happen, this may indicate both individual characteristics and a possible pregnancy.

Here is an example of a basal temperature chart.

If your schedule is similar to the one in the picture, then most likely you are ovulating and your ovaries are working properly. If there are deviations, if there is no clear rise in temperature in the second phase of the cycle, this may indicate (although not necessarily) some hormonal problems.

Basal temperature during early pregnancy: indications and definition

To determine the onset of ovulation, temperature measurement must begin at the beginning of menstruation. On the 4th day after the onset of menstruation, the basal temperature is in the range of 36.4 ° C - 36.8 ° C. Such indicators indicate that there are all the necessary conditions for the maturation of the egg.

The period that lasts until the onset of ovulation is characterized by a decrease in temperature, and during ovulation, it jumps sharply to 37.4 ° C. This is due to the fact that during pregnancy there is an increased production of progesterone, which ensures the full and normal growth and development of the egg . At the same time, progesterone increases the basal temperature, which suggests the onset of pregnancy.

Pregnant basal temperature graphs are characterized by an increase in temperature during and after ovulation, if conception does not occur, then the readings begin to decline. At the same time, progesterone will begin to be produced in smaller quantities and will reduce the basal temperature on the chart to a minimum value, which will be observed until the next menstruation.

It helps to determine the onset of pregnancy before the delay of menstruation. If you, having measured the basal temperature during ovulation, find increased indicators that will have stability over the next two weeks, then you can be congratulated on your pregnancy.

How to determine ovulation according to the schedule

By how the basal temperature changes, you can calculate ovulation - that important moment when the egg leaves the ovary, and fertilization is possible. A normal basal temperature chart suggests fairly sharp fluctuations. Before ovulation, BBT slightly decreases, and then, during ovulation, it rises quite sharply. On the chart, at least three points in a row must be above the overlapping line. The ovulation line is drawn vertically - it separates low temperatures from high ones.

If, for example, BBT was 36.5, and then the basal temperature was 37, then this means that ovulation has occurred. If you are planning to conceive, you need to have sex two days before ovulation, during it and two days after.

But keep in mind that you should not use this information as a method of contraception. The "danger days" method is extremely unreliable. It gives a high percentage of spontaneous pregnancies. If you use contraception only on "dangerous days", be prepared to get pregnant within a year with a 10-40 percent chance (this variation is due to the fact that the risk was analyzed using different methods).

The unreliability of the "dangerous days" method is due to the fact that viable spermatozoa can "hold out" in the female genital tract for several days. And wait for the covulted egg. In addition, the method of measuring basal temperature cannot determine ovulation with one hundred percent accuracy.

conclusions

So, faced with the choice of which thermometer is better for measuring basal temperature, photos and tips that have tried both types may suggest the answer. You can study the characteristics and design of electronic options, but everyone is familiar with the work of mercury. Having settled on the last option, it is worth purchasing a special one - for rectal measurements. It has a rounded tip, which is more comfortable and does not cause discomfort.

A mercury or electronic thermometer is suitable for measuring basal temperature. The first is more accurate and easy to maintain, the second is more modern, fast and does not require time control.

How to use a basal temperature thermometer correctly? How many minutes at least do you need to measure basal temperature? And also, the advantages and disadvantages of each device that you definitely need to know are described later in the article.

BT in various pathologies

Basal temperature can tell whether a woman is healthy and even help with a specific diagnosis.

We publish examples of basal temperature charts with decoding.

Anovulatory cycle

If the schedule is monotonous, if there is no rise in temperature in the second phase, we can talk about the absence of ovulation and that this cycle and schedule are anovulatory. That is, the dominant follicle does not mature or matures, but for some reason does not burst. Accordingly, a mature egg does not come out, and there can be no conception in this cycle. Normally, every woman has from 2 to 6 anovulatory cycles per year (the older the woman, the more of them). But if such a picture is observed for several months in a row, this can be a source of problems with conception. You need to see a doctor.

Estrogen-progesterone deficiency

If there is a rise in temperature, but it is small (01-0.3 degrees), this may indicate insufficiency of the corpus luteum phase (estrogen-progesterone deficiency). In this situation, ovulation occurs, fertilization may even occur, but the level of hormones is insufficient to support the pregnancy. This condition is corrected with hormonal drugs (they should be prescribed by a doctor).

Short second phase

The second phase of the cycle (after ovulation) is normally 12-16 days. If it is shorter than 10 days, this may indicate the insufficiency of the second phase. A covulted egg, even if it is fertilized, will not be able to penetrate the endometrium, and pregnancy will not occur. In this case, deciphering the basal temperature graph is not difficult: pregnancy is problematic. Contact your doctor.

The duration of the first phase is not so important: it depends on the individual characteristics of the woman and has little effect on the ability to conceive.

Estrogen deficiency

If in the first phase BBT is high (36.7-37 degrees), this may mean that you do not have enough estrogens - important female hormones. If this condition is confirmed by tests, then it must be corrected with special medications.

Inflammation

Also, a high temperature in the first phase can be triggered by inflammation of the appendages or other gynecological inflammatory diseases.

Signs of an inflammatory disease

Attention: these graphs can only suggest the presence of problems! This is not a diagnosis and not a reason to take medication.

Indicators for a frozen pregnancy

Unfortunately, pregnancy does not always end in childbirth, miscarriages, premature births and missed abortions occur. This happens in 15% of women, which is difficult to determine. It can occur at any stage of pregnancy, but most often during the initial period, up to 13 weeks.

And it is the measurement of basal temperature (low rates) that helps to see this process in a timely manner, when it can still be prevented. The causes of this condition can be infectious diseases and the endocrine system, hormonal imbalances, alcohol and nicotine abuse, as well as age after 30 years.

It happens that the basal temperature is kept at 37 degrees, and the development of a missed pregnancy has begun. This can be judged then by the sharp disappearance of all symptoms - suddenly the toxicosis disappeared, the chest does not hurt, you began to look at any food normally without any special changes. In this case, the lower abdomen may begin to hurt and blood may appear in the secretions. All this should force you to immediately consult a doctor.

If nothing can be done and the pregnancy has stopped, then the only treatment is an abortion, if the period is long, then curettage. Before the next fertilization after such procedures, it is necessary to wait six months, which will allow you to fully recover and conceive safely.

Regular and correct measurement of basal temperature will not only help you get pregnant, but also identify various abnormalities in your body. Health to you and your loved ones!

What deviations should be reported to the doctor

monotonous graphs, when the temperature is above or below 37 throughout the entire cycle, while the temperature drops are less than 0.4 degrees;

too short monthly cycle (21 days or less);
too long monthly cycle (more than 36 days);
if there is no clear ovulation on the chart, and such a picture is observed for several cycles in a row;
if during the cycle there are sharp unsystematic jumps in BT. However, this condition can be explained by various external and internal factors that affect the temperature (alcohol intake, stress, somatic diseases, etc.);
if the schedule is normal, but the desired pregnancy does not occur within 12 months.

BT during pregnancy

If at the very end of the cycle the temperature does not decrease, but remains high (37 degrees and above), there is a chance that you are pregnant. Normally, after a delay, BT will stay at the level of 37-37.5 for the entire first trimester. A sharp decrease may be accidental, or it may mean complications during pregnancy. You should not panic, but it is better to contact your gynecologist.

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