Rules for measuring basal temperature to determine ovulation and pregnancy

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

During the menstrual cycle, the basal temperature is constantly changing. All these jumps occur under the influence of hormones, and by measuring the temperature, you can determine whether ovulation has occurred and whether there has been a conception. This temperature is an indicator of the phases of the menstrual cycle. And the measurement of BBT helps to plan pregnancy. Each phase of the cycle has its own temperature readings.

What is basal body temperature?

The temperature that is measured after sleep is called basal, since you can’t get out of bed. It is better to put a thermometer near you in advance before going to bed. In frequent cases, it is measured for three months, this is necessary for some gynecological indications, to identify the first days of pregnancy, or this information can be used as a means of contraception. If you measure basal temperatureevery day, you can determine the day of ovulation and plan a pregnancy, perhaps even the sex of the child. If pregnancy is planned, then it is measured in the vagina, and in other cases it can be measured in the mouth.

Advantages and disadvantages of the measuring method

Determining ovulation by measuring basal body temperature is one of the pregnancy planning methods. The essence of this manipulation is to establish the most favorable moment for conceiving a child. Method Benefits:

1. Simplicity and accessibility. BBT is measured using a conventional mercury thermometer. Its presence is a must in any home.
2. Low cost compared to other ovulation methods.
3. Safety and reliability.
4. When performed correctly and with a regular cycle, BT helps to detect the slightest change in the condition of the expectant mother.

Disadvantages of BBT measurement:

• The method is invalid. With any change in the hormonal background, the BBT indicators are considered invalid.
• May not recognize ovulation period. This is due to the special indicators of the individual norm in some women.
• Requires long-term control. The BBT measurement period is 3-4 months.
• May not show pregnancy, especially early.
• External factors influence the result: physical activity, alcohol and medication intake, stress.

Basal temperature beforeovulation

Ovulation usually occurs on a day when basal body temperature rises quite sharply. Right now, the mature egg leaves the follicle and awaits fertilization by the fastest and most tenacious sperm. As you know, the egg "lives" for a day, so it is very important not to miss the moment of ovulation for its successful fertilization.

Basal temperature in the first phase of the cycle is usually 36.3-36.5 ° C, but fluctuations may occur. Before the onset of the ovulation process, the temperature in the rectal zone rises sharply, on the day of its onset, the temperature is about 37.1-37.3 ° C. But still, these indicators can be different for different women and in different cases. The most important thing is the presence of a small gap in basal temperature, which indicates the onset of ovulation.

Basal body temperature for ovulation

To determine the time of ovulation, you need to plot your basal body heat. Let's consider what it should be when the egg is ready for fertilization, and we will understand some of the features of its measurement. You can conceive a child only in the middle of the menstrual period. This does not fit into the concept of one day.

• In order to accurately determine the moment of ovulation, it is necessary to measure basal temperature within 1-3 months, starting from the first day of the cycle, under identical conditions for measuring temperature changes.
• Perform manipulation when waking up in the morning without getting out of bed. Preferably at the same time.
• The thermometer can be ordinary mercury orelectronic. But a mercury thermometer shows more accurate numbers.
• The most correct indicators will be achieved when determining the degree of warmth in the anus. This can also be done in the vagina and in the oral cavity. It is important to choose one thing and not change throughout the entire period.
• To get the cleanest reading, you need to keep your body in a calm state. Therefore, everything you need to take measurements should lie next to the bed in advance.

Ovulation. Temperature readings

Basal temperature measurements to determine ovulation are as follows:

• Until the cell is mature, the temperature stays between 36.6 and 36.9 degrees.
• During the release of the egg from the follicle, the indicators usually increase.
• If the temperature did not rise above 37 degrees, then ovulation did not occur.

This condition is considered normal and can be 2 or 3 times a year. But in fact, everything is quite individual. We cannot determine the basal temperature strictly in degrees. It all depends on what the thermometer readings were earlier. Any deviations from the previous indicators are already talking about the beginning of ovulation. Normally, the temperature in the range of 37-37, 3 ° shows us that the moment of ovulation has come. In any case, it is more expedient to determine the day of egg maturation with the participation of a gynecologist.

Basal body temperature after ovulation

Before ovulation, the temperature is slightly lower and changes inin the range of 36.2-36.5 degrees, and 2-3 days before the release of the egg, the falling phase begins. After the follicle ruptures, the temperature begins to slowly rise until it reaches a maximum of 37.1°.

The second stage of the cycle after ovulation lasts on average from 2 to 16 days. In the absence of pregnancy, BBT decreases by the time of the onset of menstruation, since the corpus luteum disappears, this leads to a decrease in progesterone, which causes menstruation. In the case of conception, BT does not fall and remains at a high level. The temperature variation for each woman will be individual due to the different levels of hormones. Sometimes you can establish pregnancy before the delay using measurements. On days 5-12, there is a pause during implantation, during which the temperature drops, and then rises and already remains at the upper limit. In some cases, during conception, the rectal temperature drops and the pregnancy is terminated, this usually happens before the delay.

Making a schedule

To measure basal temperature to determine pregnancy, you need to make a chart.

Compilation purposes:

1. Determination of the ovulation period.
2. Predicting the day of the next menstruation.
3. Comparison of indicators of several cycles.
4. Determination of pregnancy.

Positive aspects of this method:

1. Availability.
2. Simplicity.
3. Ability to conduct at home.
4. High confidence.

Negative aspects of the method:

1. Notcan be used as a way to predict the next ovulation.
2. Cannot determine past ovulation time with 100% accuracy.
3. Requires the use of additional cycle research methods.

Temperature measurement technique

There are the following ways to measure temperature:

1. Vaginal.
2. Anal.
3. Sublingual.

Important! You cannot change the temperature measurement method during a single cycle.

Measure the temperature every day at the same time. This should be done immediately after sleep, in a horizontal position. You can measure the temperature with a conventional or digital thermometer. The latter gives more accurate readings. The measurement time is 1 minute with a digital thermometer and 5 minutes with a conventional thermometer. During the cycle, the type of thermometer does not change.

When keeping graphic records, record the thermometer readings daily. Be sure to indicate the time of the manipulation. As additional information, the presence of diseases, stressful situations, sleep disturbance, long trips, and alcohol consumption are indicated. The graph must show at least 5 indicators:

1. Date.
2. The day of the menstrual cycle.
3. Temperature indicator.
4. Presence of vaginal discharge.
5. Additional information.

The result of these observations will be the determination of the temperature rise schedule. The lowest temperature is observed on the eve of ovulation, the highest - after it has passed. The same temperature throughout one cycle indicates the absence of ovulation.

Basal temperature during pregnancy

A woman, after she realizes that she has a pregnancy, learns a lot of interesting and new things about her daily rebuilding body. Along with the body, the indicators of basal temperature also change. They enable the doctor to judge the condition of the pregnant woman. Basal temperature is the rectal body temperature, which is measured at rest, without getting out of bed, after waking up. Even minimal physical activity can make BBT indicators not significant for detecting pregnancy.

The important thing is that BBT indicators fluctuate in each individual phase of the cycle. This is due to the preparation of the woman's body for the conception of a child and the support of optimal conditions for carrying it. A sign that the egg is developing correctly is that when measuring basal temperature during pregnancy, the indicators are at least 37 ° C. An increase in temperature in the middle of the menstrual cycle to more than thirty-seven degrees indicates the onset of ovulation. The onset of pregnancy can be indicated by a regular increase in basal temperature over a long period of time. A decrease in rectal temperature indicates the possible development of certain disorders in the woman's body or in the fetus. Excessive boostBBT indicators are a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. A temperature of more than thirty-eight degrees during the bearing of a child indicates the presence of an inflammatory process.

Rules for measuring basal body temperature

In order for the measurement schedule to be as informative as possible, it is necessary to take readings correctly. The main condition in this case is discipline and responsibility. You should follow simple rules:

1. Diagnosis should be carried out immediately after waking up, without doing absolutely any unnecessary actions, as this will increase performance.
2. A thermometer for measuring basal temperature should be at hand. The duration of sleep before measurement should be at least 5-6 hours. It is best to use a mercury thermometer, which must be shaken in the evening. Replacement of the thermometer when measuring temperature is not allowed!
3. Temperature readings should be recorded several days in a row at the same time (time difference can be up to an hour).
4. Basal temperature measurement time is about 4 minutes.
5. Measuring methods: rectally, in the mouth or in the vagina.
6. The whole cycle must be used only one of the ways.
7. Medications and oral contraceptives may affect BBT.
8. For the most accurate BT charting, observations over the last 3 cycles are needed.

When the overall body temperature rises or illness occurs, the battle temperature indicators are not considered correct. Basal temperature is a very important indicator of the he alth of a pregnant woman. Its indicators will help to determine pregnancy at the earliest possible date and convince you that there are no deviations.