Is it possible to measure basal temperature during the day or in the evening. How to measure basal temperature to determine pregnancy and ovulation with a regular thermometer? Where is basal temperature measured?

Measurement basal body temperature body (BTT or BT) - homemade diagnostic method, which allows you to get information about the phase menstrual cycle, the approach and onset of ovulation, the state of the hormonal background, confirms pregnancy and gives an idea of the nature of its course. It is also used as natural way contraception. BT is the lowest temperature mark that the body reaches in a state of complete rest, in particular during sleep.

Today, the measurement of basal temperature and the analysis of the graphs obtained during ovulation are rarely used in medical practice. Modern equipment, the availability of ultrasound reduce the relevance of this study. However, the method is suitable for self-control, is easy to use at home. Reviews of women confirm this.

What is the method based on?

The body temperature of a woman depends on many factors, the main of which is the change in the concentration of sex hormones during the menstrual cycle. Moreover, fluctuations can be observed not even by weeks, but by hours and minutes.

First phase of the cycle. It is caused by the work of estrogen, under the influence of which the egg matures. During ovulation, levels of these hormones, regulated by luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), peak. As a result, a mature egg leaves the follicle for fertilization. An increased concentration of estrogens inhibits metabolic processes. Accordingly, the temperature in the tissues of the pelvic organs decreases.
Second phase of the cycle. regulated by progestins. After ovulation, the concentration of these hormones increases and affects the formation of the endometrium. Also, progesterone is responsible for the normal course of the gestation period, for which it received the name “pregnancy hormone”. It stimulates thermoregulatory processes, which causes an increased basal temperature during pregnancy, before menstruation.

By measuring your basal temperature regularly over several months, you can determine how the phases of the menstrual cycle change, when ovulation occurs and the most likely days of conception. And also to find out if it took place.

For this, BT indicators are recorded every day in a special schedule. You can compose it yourself or use separate calendars, electronic applications.

Basal temperature indicators are rather relative, since the concentration of sex hormones is constantly changing in absolute terms. But this does not prevent this method from being one of the most common when planning a pregnancy due to its accessibility and information content. Also, knowing how the basal temperature changes, a woman can calculate “safe” for intimacy days. Of course, subject to the stability of the cycle.

What does basal temperature show?

BT data are informative not only for the patient, but also for doctors. With the correct interpretation of the basal temperature graph, pregnancy can be determined, as well as:

the relative concentration of estrogens and progestogens;
approaching and onset of ovulation;
deviations in the menstrual cycle;
gestation pathology in the 1st trimester:
suspicion of infertility;
inflammatory processes in the genital organs.

6 rules for accurate results

Basal temperature is a very sensitive indicator, it can be affected by various factors. Therefore, the reliability of the conclusions depends only on the accuracy of the measurements. To achieve this, it is necessary to prepare for the construction of a BT schedule. Here are the main recommendations:

limit sex - a few hours before measuring BBT;
avoid stress- physical and emotional at the time of measurements;
follow a diet - it is useful to limit the consumption of salty, fatty, fried foods;
rest - before measuring basal temperature, you need to sleep for at least three hours.

It is necessary to measure basal temperature to determine ovulation by adhering to the following six rules.

Measurement frequency. Temperature readings should be recorded every day at the same time, marking them in a special graph (table). BBT measurement before and during menstruation should also be carried out.
Method . BTT is measured rectally - in the rectum. Oral and vaginal methods are not standard for this procedure and do not give accurate results.
Times of Day . The procedure is carried out in the morning. Before her, a woman must be in a state of complete rest (preferably sleep) for at least three hours. If there was a night shift at work the day before, a note should be made, as this may affect the result. It is pointless to conduct research in the evening - it is not informative at this time. Any physical activity should be limited. It is not even recommended to shake the thermometer before taking a measurement. Any activity changes the readings of the basal temperature, so the procedure is carried out at the moment of waking up and before getting out of bed.
Thermometer. Measurements should be carried out with the same thermometer, without changing mercury to electronic and vice versa. The most reliable readings are given by a mercury thermometer. It must be brought down to the minimum mark the night before, so as not to make efforts immediately before the procedure.
Duration. It is acceptable if a woman does not ovulate every month, especially closer to 40 years. Therefore, measurements should be carried out over a long period of time (at least 12 weeks). During pregnancy, it makes sense to measure up to the 2nd trimester, in the 3rd - the hormonal profile "at its discretion" changes the temperature.
Fixing indicators. It is best to mark the result immediately in the graph: since the difference in performance can be tenths of a degree, it is easy to forget or confuse them. As the points-marks of the basal temperature are put down, it is recommended to connect them with each other with lines. The graph should also note any factors that could affect the changes and validity of the data.

BT indicators: normal ...

There are relative norms of basal temperature, according to which it is possible to calculate, without the help of a specialist, what phase the cycle is in and the days of the highest female fertility.

First phase (downgrade). Regulated by estrogen. It falls on days 1-13 of the cycle. Immediately after menstruation, the basal body temperature drops to 36.6-36.2°C.
Ovulatory phase (oscillations). Peak activity of estrogens, FSH and LH. Lasts up to three days. A day or two on the eve of ovulation, BBT reaches 36.6-36.7 ° C. Basal temperature during ovulation rises by 0.1-0.4 ° C. After the rupture of the follicle and the release of the egg, the indicator is 37-37.4 ° C.
Second phase (upgrade). It is regulated by progesterone and falls on days 16-28 of the cycle. During this period, BT is increased, its indicators vary between 37-37.4°C.

A few days before the onset of menstruation after ovulation, the level of progesterone rapidly decreases and a low basal temperature is again noted (within 36.8-36.6 ° C).

… and deviations

The basal temperature chart is a kind of indicator of a woman's health status. Deviations from the norm of BT indicators may indicate the following.

Inflammation . If an elevated basal temperature is recorded before and during menstruation, this may indicate an inflammatory process in the organs of the reproductive system.
The disadvantage of the second phase. BBT indicators in the luteal phase of the cycle below the norm indicate a progesterone deficiency.
Individual characteristics of the organism. Small deviations (in tenths of a degree), which persist throughout the cycle, may be individual manifestations of the body's work.
Offset ovulation. Moving the BT jump horizontally according to the chart (to the right or left side) indicates early or late ovulation. Only a specialist can judge its success.
double ovulation. It is characterized by two peaks of temperature increase. Moreover, the second one is possible in the late second phase, it is superimposed on the main value and therefore it is difficult to notice it.

no ovulation

If the cycle passed without ovulation, there are several options for basal temperature charts.

High temperature in the first phase. When in the first half of the cycle the temperature is more than 36.6 ° C, this indicates that the level of estrogen is lowered. They are not enough to keep the temperature down, so the egg cannot mature.
Smooth, not rapid rise in temperature. Such dynamics of BT during ovulation indicates the inferiority of the egg, which is why the follicle does not rupture.
Sudden drop and then rise in temperature. In the second phase, this indicates that the egg has died.
Consistent temperature readings throughout the cycle. The complete absence of a jump in basal temperature indicates the absence of ovulation.

The use of hormonal drugs (for example, Duphaston, oral contraceptives) changes the basal temperature. Jumps depend on what type of hormones were used.

Values during pregnancy

Often women resort to the method of measuring basal temperature in order to increase the chances of conception. Many rely on BBT readings to determine if a pregnancy has taken place and how it is progressing. This method is effective (including with twins, triplets), but only for early dates- already from the 2nd trimester, more modern and reliable methods diagnostics.

Basal temperature during pregnancy may have the following indicators.

Successful pregnancy. If fertilization has occurred, after ovulation, until the delay in menstruation, an increase in basal temperature is observed, which will continue to be kept at a high level. This is due to the influence of progesterone. If menstruation does not occur, and the temperature value has decreased, this indicates a cyclic failure. The norm of basal temperature in the early stages of pregnancy is in the range of 37-37.5 ° C.
Frozen pregnancy. If the fact of conception is established, but there is a sharp decrease in BT during early pregnancy, which subsequently remains at the same level, this indicates the death of the embryo.
Ectopic pregnancy. Most often, in the early stages, such cases do not affect the basal temperature and the schedule corresponds to the developing pregnancy.
Risk of miscarriage . Often the cause of a miscarriage is progesterone deficiency, as indicated by a low basal body temperature both before and after the delay. If at the same time there were bloody issues, you need to sound the alarm and seek medical help.

Many factors can affect the basal temperature chart during pregnancy, so it should only be an auxiliary, and not the main method of monitoring health during this period.

Content

Basal body temperature (BBT) shows a woman when pregnancy and ovulation can occur. They measure it in a certain way: early in the morning, just waking up, at rest. Any thermometer is suitable for measurements, the time required is 3-6 minutes. Everything is simple, and the results clarify many points.

What is basal temperature and how to measure it

BBT is body temperature, which is measured in the rectum early in the morning, without getting out of bed. This will let you know if the this moment ovulation or egg maturation, on which days conception is possible. Basal temperature will indicate the imminent onset of menstruation, changes in the cycle, help in planning and detecting pregnancy or diagnosing some gynecological problems in the body.

How to measure basal temperature at home:

It is necessary to measure BBT from the first day of the arrival of menstruation.
The thermometer should be placed in the rectum, not in the vagina. rectal method gives accurate data.
The device should be held for 3 minutes.
Measurements must be taken daily for 2-3 months at one hour.
It is better to do it in the morning, after waking up, right in bed. BBT may differ by 1 degree if you measured it in the evening.

Why you need to measure basal temperature

When menses come hormonal background women undergoing change. The increase in the amount of progesterone is immediately displayed in numbers on the thermometer:

When the egg matures (with high estrogen levels), BBT is low.
After this phase, it rises again.
On average, an increase in thermometer readings reaches 0.4-0.8 degrees Celsius and indicates that ovulation has occurred.

The days before and during ovulation are favorable for conception. You need to know how to correctly measure basal temperature to determine ovulation. It is important to first clarify all the points for yourself in order to keep a schedule, entering indicators into it with the necessary regularity. Such records will help the doctor to get a picture of what is happening, and over time, the woman herself will understand the numbers.

How to measure basal temperature to determine pregnancy

How to measure basal temperature to determine pregnancy? The measurement should be made during the period of maximum rest, which is sleep. Since this is impossible, you need to get as close to the ideal as possible and measure it early in the morning when you are extremely calm. It makes no sense to find out the data if you accept hormonal preparations or antidepressants, and even against the background of alcohol consumption.

What thermometer to measure basal temperature

There are three types of thermometers for these purposes: electronic, mercury and infrared. The latter are least suitable for such a measurement. With mercury, you should be extremely careful, because during the measurement early in the morning, being sleepy, you can break it. It is unacceptable to change the measuring device, otherwise errors cannot be avoided. Do you want to use a regular thermometer or change it to a more advanced one? No problem, but choose the device for a long time.

How to measure basal temperature with a mercury thermometer

Accurate data can be achieved using a mercury thermometer, but even in this case it is possible to measure incorrectly. The thermometer can be entered incorrectly or removed too quickly. Given the danger of mercury, this type of thermometer is less commonly used. How to measure basal temperature with a regular thermometer:

the tip of the thermometer can be lubricated with ordinary oil (vegetable) or petroleum jelly;
then gently insert the device into the anus;
wait 5 minutes lying down with eyes closed in a state close to sleep.

How to measure basal temperature to determine ovulation with a digital thermometer

Electronic devices are easy to use but have a bad reputation for not being accurate enough. To achieve the desired result, follow the instructions: so, using the oral method, close your mouth as tightly as possible so that the thermometer does not show a value less than it actually is. As a rule, the end of the measurement is indicated by a sound signal.

The greatest advantage of such devices (and the reason for the recommendations of doctors) is their safety:

If you drop it while you are asleep or it breaks in your hands, it will not cause you any harm.
The flexible tip makes the instruments comfortable to use, they are waterproof and take measurements faster.

How long does it take to take a temperature

Regardless of the method you choose, the time for this process will remain the same. How to measure basal temperature correctly? It's simple:

The thermometer lasts 5-7 minutes. All this time you should remain motionless.
The thermometer itself must be prepared in advance and placed near the bed so that in the morning you do not make any unnecessary movements that could affect the data.
The time when the temperature will be measured must be observed to the nearest quarter of an hour.

Based on the basal temperature, doctors can judge how the female reproductive system is working. The popularity of this method is also due to the fact that many women use it to plan pregnancy. But in order to correctly decipher its readings, you need to know what factors affect its fluctuations and how to correctly measure the basal temperature.

What does basal body temperature show?

Basal temperature (BT) is the temperature of a sleeping person . Its indicators are very closely interconnected with the level of hormones in the blood. Female hormones produced by a woman's ovaries act on thermoreceptors and create cyclical fluctuations in BBT.

At the time when progesterone reaches its maximum level, the basal temperature begins to rise in unison, and vice versa, the increase in estrogen reduces the rectal temperature. The peculiarity of the blood supply to the ovaries makes it possible to catch these fluctuations primarily in the rectum, therefore, in other places (in the armpit, in the mouth), these indicators may not be so accurate.

Throughout the entire monthly cycle, the hormonal background undergoes sharp changes, but in general it has a certain sequence. With the help of regular measurements of basal temperature, a woman, in fact, can find out how correctly and stably her reproductive system works. .

Why is basal temperature measured?

The process of measuring temperature is very painstaking, so many women wonder why they need to spend a lot of time on this activity.

Most often, the BBT measurement method is used as a home ovulation test. But you need to completely rely on this method only if the woman does not have any pathologies of the menstrual cycle. .

Thermometry technique

The rules for measuring basal temperature are quite strict, and failure to comply with them can significantly reduce the result.

Therefore, before starting to plot a rectal temperature, it is worth thoroughly studying all the subtleties of this procedure:

BT is measured while lying down immediately after waking up. Three hours before this, the woman should not get out of bed. Only in this case the indicator will be accurate. The thermometer should be at hand, since, upon waking up, you do not need to make sudden movements and turns.
Basal temperature is measured in the rectum. It is also allowed in the vagina, in the armpit or in the mouth. Every time you need to measure in the same place.
The temperature is measured for 5 minutes, after which the exact data must be recorded in a special table.
For measurements, it is better to use a mercury thermometer. Its indicators, unlike electronic ones, are always more accurate. You need to shake off the mercury thermometer immediately before measuring, this will affect the accuracy.
The readings of a mercury and electronic thermometer may differ, so you should always use the same thermometer.
Basal temperature must be measured at the same time of day - in the early morning from 6 to 8 hours.
The procedure is carried out daily, even during menstruation.
It is necessary to fix the readings without delay, as there is a risk that the data will be forgotten.

Factors affecting BT indicators

One of the most serious disadvantages of this method is the fact that the basal temperature is sensitive to certain changes in the body. In this case overall picture graphics may be distorted.

So, what causes fluctuations in rectal temperature:

A few hours after intercourse, BBT may be higher than normal, especially if measured in the vagina.
Alcohol taken the day before.
Imbalance in the gastrointestinal tract.
Great physical fatigue, exhaustion.
cold or chronic illness, general rise in temperature.
Medications - sedatives, sleeping pills, hormonal.
Sleep less than 6 hours.
Strong stress.
Intensive mental work.
Climate change, change of time zones.
Smoking.

In order to be able to track how one or another factor affected the temperature and not be misled by false indicators, you need to make appropriate notes on the graph itself on the side. In addition, doctors recommend entering data on discharges into the table: color, consistency, amount .

For those who are accustomed to using the Internet in all areas of life, there are special services for plotting online graphs that automatically make calculations and notify you of possible deviations.

Basal temperature norms

Measuring and recording the temperature is only half the battle. To understand these numbers and graphs, you need to know what a standard graph should look like, and based on this, draw conclusions about the state of your body.

There are five types of temperature curve in medicine. The very first type is characteristic of a normal cycle. The remaining four indicate the insufficiency of one or another hormone.

Provided that the woman's body works without deviations, the basal temperature during menstruation will be in the range of 36.4-36.7 degrees. After their completion, shortly before the onset of ovulation, it drops sharply to 36.3-36.2. Then the indicator grows rapidly and rises to the level of 36.6-36.7 in a day.

After ovulation, it stays at 37 degrees for another 10 days. And before menstruation, it drops again to 36.6.

When taking oral contraceptives, BBT will be approximately the same throughout the entire cycle.

This is what a normal curve should look like

If the graph shows strong deviations from the norm, it is imperative to see a doctor, but only if the woman is sure that she did everything right, and the BT measurements were carried out without violations.

Basal body temperature (BT or BBT) allows you to determine those days on which there is the greatest likelihood of conceiving a child. In addition, you can check the work of the ovaries, timely identify endometritis, determine the cause of infertility.

Measurement Rules

To take a statement, a woman must:

Stay calm after waking up.
Move as little as possible.
It is forbidden to sit or get out of bed.
The procedure should be carried out at the same time of day, the difference can be no more than half an hour. This should be done in the morning, as well as on the days of menstruation.

If you ignore the rules for measuring basal temperature, then the blood will run faster, and the readings will increase. To do everything right, you need to put a thermometer near the bed before going to bed. Moreover, you will need to shake it in advance, because if you do it in the morning, you will not be able to get a reliable result.

As a rule, the temperature is measured for the first time at the beginning of menstruation, but in extreme cases this can be done on the 2nd or 3rd day of the cycle.

How to measure basal temperature as accurately as possible? If you take readings with an ordinary thermometer, then the measurement of basal temperature begins as follows:

Put the tip of the device under the tongue.
Close your mouth.
Wait 5-10 minutes.

With the vaginal method, it is necessary to place the edge of the device in the vagina. Only if the thermometer is inserted into the rectum can the most reliable readings be obtained. So doctors often recommend measuring rectal temperature. The main thing to consider is to always choose the same method.

What thermometer to measure basal temperature? It is better to give preference to a mercury device. It is the most accurate, and electronic models often provide a rather large error.

Everything must be done not only correctly, but also in a timely manner. For example, it is better to write down all indications at once and not to postpone. There is a high probability of just forgetting the numbers awake. If you are wondering which thermometer is better to measure basal temperature, then choose a mercury device.

Exact time

How to measure basal temperature correctly? It is better to do this no later than and before six hours of calm and uninterrupted sleep. For those who go to bed only after 24:00, the lowest rates can be observed as early as four in the morning.

How many minutes does it take to take readings? It is recommended to do this for five (preferably 6-10) minutes and immediately after sleep.

How to measure basal temperature correctly? Not everyone can get up so early. This fact, fortunately, is taken into account in medicine. The norm is data collection at six or seven o'clock. If the basal temperature is measured with an ordinary thermometer at 12:00, then the information will be definitely unreliable. Human biorhythms function normally and always obey the laws of nature. If you are a "night owl", then use the alarm clock and the problem will be solved by itself.

Schedule

How to measure basal temperature correctly? First you need to build a graph on a sheet of paper in a cage. For detailed data analysis, the following must be specified:

Month and days.
BT index.
The nature of the discharge (watery, bloody, dry, mucous, viscous, with yellowness).
Comments. Here you need to enter information about such factors as the amount of alcohol taken the day before, the quality of sleep, sex before measurements (indicating the time of day). Even insignificant notes can be very important in the subsequent analysis of the doctor.

Before drawing up a BT schedule, it is imperative to take into account the indications that should be normal. The menstrual cycle can be divided into two phases: follicular or luteal. In the first case, estrogens are better produced, and a follicle develops, and subsequently an egg comes out of it. Temperatures below 37°C may occur during this period.

Ovulation occurs in the middle of phase number 2, somewhere on the 12-16th day of the cycle. Then there is a release of progesterone, and the temperature increases by an average of 0.5 ° C. Phase 2 can last approximately 14 days, and in the absence of conception of a child, menstruation occurs at the end. During this period, the level of estrogen and progesterone is balanced. At the same time, the temperature is kept within thirty-seven degrees or a little higher. Before menstruation, BBT again decreases by 0.3 ° C, and the process is repeated.

Regarding the ovulation period, the schedule is divided into two phases. In the first case, the indicators should fluctuate between 36.2-36.5., And in the second cycle, an increase in temperature is noted.

Sometimes ovulation on the chart can be poorly expressed. In this case, you will need to add 1 more line to the “additional information” column to analyze the state of cervical mucus.

How to measure basal temperature quickly? Thanks to modern technologies, you can not draw a graph on a piece of paper, but use a program or a special application. With their help, it will be very easy to calculate the day of ovulation at home, and besides, it will be possible to learn about important nuances.

Graph analysis

It is recommended to measure basal temperature during pregnancy only at 16-20 weeks. Then this need disappears, and it is necessary to use another method to control the condition of the fetus.

At the end of the cycle, you need to draw one solid line through all points. If the temperature line takes the form of a zigzag, then it is also better to consult a doctor. Self-diagnosis is strictly unacceptable. When analyzing graphs, the following should alert:

Cycle less than 21 or more than 35 days.
Monophasic graphs or sharp jumps in temperature.
Delay of menstruation for more than ten days, while there is no conception of the fetus.
Phase 2 has become shorter.
Manifestations of ovulation are poorly expressed on the chart.
Full-fledged and the first and second phases, there is ovulation, but pregnancy with regular sex does not occur throughout the year.

If in phase No. 1 a period of precisely low temperatures is well monitored, and then a jump upwards is observed, then this is considered the norm. You will need to undergo an additional examination, as well as be treated in cases where BT:

In phase No. 1 it is high or in phase 2 it is low.
Throughout the cycle, menstruation remains high.
Randomly rises and falls.

If at the end of the cycle the curve descends, then fertilization has not occurred. Some couples take this pattern into account in order to isolate themselves from unwanted pregnancy.

There are many thematic sites that can help with filling in the schedule and analyzing the results. There is a lot of informative information on the Internet, including images of ideal curves. If you find significant changes during the analysis, then you should contact your gynecologist for advice. As a rule, to clarify such issues, testimony will be required for at least three months, with all the comments.

If you do everything right, you can discover a lot of new things. You don’t need to take any conclusions on your own, it’s better to consult a doctor.

External, internal factors

How to measure basal temperature so that the readings are as accurate as possible? The causes affecting BT are divided into internal and external. In the first case, it is worth noting the intake of various medications, contraceptives, alcohol consumption in large quantities and the influence of inflammatory processes. External causes include:

too high or low temperatures in the room where the woman sleeps.
Very active sex.
Stress.
Anxious dream.
Changing the time of taking readings and the type of thermometer for measuring basal temperature.

The chart must have a line for different comments. In fact, basal temperature depends on many factors: moving, physical activity, illness, climate change, insomnia or sleep less than six hours, stress, alcohol, medications. It is better to write down all the nuances so as not to make mistakes.

Hypothermia, problems gastrointestinal tract, exacerbation of chronic or appearance infectious diseases can greatly distort the measurement data.

If a painful condition is observed for about a week before the planned ovulation, then it is better to forget about conceiving a child in the near future. With a slight indisposition, you should continue to fill out the schedule, only you need to indicate everything in the comments. In addition, when planning pregnancy, as well as detecting ovulation, it is necessary to monitor vaginal discharge.

Measurement of basal temperature helps not only to calculate the time of ovulation, but also to determine the causes of hormonal failure. BBT is the lowest during the day. In women, this indicator can change throughout the menstrual cycle.

How to measure basal temperature to determine pregnancy? If the patient has previously experienced cases of miscarriage or freezing of the embryo, then it is better to measure the basal temperature regularly during the period of bearing the child. If the indicators are close to thirty-seven degrees or slightly higher, then it is considered that the fetus is developing normally. In the opposite case, it is better to contact your gynecologist as soon as possible. Indeed, at such a basal temperature during pregnancy, the hormonal background often changes, which sometimes leads to a miscarriage.

Basal temperature - this is resting body temperature after at least 6 hours of sleep. In different phases of the menstrual cycle, the basal temperature in a woman is constantly changing under the influence of hormonal changes in the female body.

Measurement of basal body temperature BT - a simple functional test that every woman can learn at home. The method is based on the hyperthermic (temperature) effect of progesterone on the thermoregulatory center located in the hypothalamus.

Why you need a basal temperature chart

By drawing up a graph of fluctuations in basal temperature, you can absolutely accurately predict not only the phase of the menstrual cycle at the moment, but also suspect possible deviations from the norm. Let's list what exactly you might need basal body temperature measurement skill in everyday life:

1. If you want to get pregnant and cannot predict when ovulation occurs - a favorable moment for conceiving a child - the release of a mature, fertile egg from the ovarian follicle into abdominal cavity;
or vice versa - you do not want to get pregnant, thanks to the basal temperature (BT) you can predict “dangerous days”.
2. To determine pregnancy in the early stages with a delay in menstruation.
3. With regular measurement of basal temperature, you can determine the possible reason for the delay in menstruation: pregnancy, lack of ovulation or late ovulation.
4. If your gynecologist suspects that you have hormonal disorders, infertility in you or your partner: if pregnancy has not occurred after one year of regular intercourse, the gynecologist may recommend that you take a basal body temperature (BT) to determine possible causes infertility.

5. If you want to plan the gender of your unborn child.

How to measure basal temperature (BT) correctly

As you can see, the correct measurement of basal temperature (BT) helps to answer many important questions. Most women know why they need to measure basal temperature (BT), but few know how to properly conduct a study. Let's try to deal with this issue.

Firstly, you need to immediately understand for yourself that no matter what the obtained indicators of basal temperature (BT) are, this is not a reason for self-diagnosis, and even more so for self-treatment. Only a qualified gynecologist should deal with the interpretation of basal temperature charts.

Secondly, there is no need to draw any fleeting conclusions - basal body temperature (BT) needs at least 3 menstrual cycles to more or less accurately answer questions - when do you ovulate, do you have hormonal disorders, etc. d.

Basic rules for measuring basal temperature (BT)

1. It is necessary to measure basal temperature (BT) from the first day of the menstrual cycle (from the first day of menstruation), otherwise the graph will not reflect the full dynamics of changes.

2. You can measure your basal body temperature (BT) in your mouth, vagina, or anus, the latter is more preferable. Many gynecologists believe that it is the rectal method that is more reliable and gives fewer errors than all the others. In the mouth, you need to measure the temperature for about 5 minutes, in the vagina and in the rectum for about 3 minutes.
If you measured your basal temperature (BT) in one place, then the location of the thermometer and the duration of the measurement cannot be changed the next time you take a measurement. Today in the mouth, tomorrow in the vagina, and the day after tomorrow in the rectum - such variations are not appropriate and can lead to false diagnosis. Underarm basal temperature (BT) cannot be measured!

3. It is necessary to measure the basal temperature (BT) at the same time, preferably in the morning, immediately after waking up, without getting out of bed.

4. Always use the same thermometer - digital or mercury. If using mercury, be sure to shake well before use.

5. Write down the results immediately, while making notes if there was something on that day or the day before that could affect the basal temperature (BT) indicators: alcohol intake, flight, stress, acute respiratory infections, inflammatory diseases, increased exercise stress, sexual intercourse the night before or in the morning, reception medicines- sleeping pills, hormones, psychotropic drugs, etc. All these factors can affect the basal temperature and make the study unreliable.

When taking oral contraceptives, measuring BBT does not make any sense!

Thus, in order to make a complete chart of basal body temperature (BT) fluctuations, you will need to label the indicators:
- date of the calendar month;
- day of the menstrual cycle;
- indicators of basal temperature;
- the nature of the discharge from the genital tract on a certain day of the cycle: bloody, mucous, viscous, watery, with yellowness, dry, etc. It is important to note this for the sake of completeness on the chart, as the discharge from the cervical canal becomes more watery during ovulation;
- notes as necessary by a certain day: we enter there all the provoking factors listed above, which may affect the change in BT. For example: I took alcohol the day before, didn’t sleep well or had sex in the morning before the measurement, etc. Notes must be made, even insignificant ones, otherwise the resulting graphs will not correspond to reality.

Generally speaking, your basal temperature records should look like this in a table:

Date Day mts BT Highlights Notes

5 July 13th 36.2 Watery, transparent Drank wine the day before
July 6 14th 36.3 viscous, transparent _________
July 7 15th 36.5 white, viscous _________

Normal basal temperature chart

Before you start drawing up a schedule for basal temperature (BT), you need to know how the basal temperature should normally change under the influence of hormones?

The menstrual cycle in a woman is divided into 2 phases: follicular (hypothermic) and luteal (hyperthermic). In the first phase, the follicle develops, from which the egg is subsequently released. In the same phase, the ovaries intensively produce estrogens. During the follicular phase, BT is below 37 degrees. Then ovulation occurs - in the middle of 2 phases - approximately on the 12-16th day of the menstrual cycle. On the eve of ovulation, BBT drops sharply. Further, during and immediately after ovulation, progesterone is released and BT rises by 0.4-0.6 degrees, which is a reliable sign of ovulation. The second phase - luteal, or it is also called the corpus luteum phase - lasts about 14 days, and if conception does not occur, it ends with menstruation. In the phase of the corpus luteum, very important processes take place - a balance is maintained between low levels of estrogen and high levels of progesterone - thus the corpus luteum prepares the body for a possible pregnancy. In this phase, the basal body temperature (BT) is usually kept at around 37 degrees and above. On the eve of menstruation and in the first days of the cycle, the basal body temperature (BT) again drops by about 0.3 degrees and everything starts anew. That is, normally, every healthy woman should have fluctuations in basal temperature (BT) - if there are no ups and downs, then we can talk about the absence of ovulation, and as a result, infertility.

Consider examples of basal temperature (BT) graphs, as they should be in normal and pathological conditions. The basal temperature (BT) graph that you see below reflects two normal physiological states that a healthy woman can have: 1-lilac curve - basal temperature (BT), which should be during a normal menstrual cycle, ending with menstruation; 2 - light green curve - basal temperature (BT) of a woman with a normal menstrual cycle, we will end in pregnancy. The black line is the ovulation line. The burgundy line is a mark of 37 degrees, it serves for visualization of the graph.

Now let's try to decipher this chart of basal temperature. Please note that a mandatory sign of basal temperature (BT) is normally a two-phase menstrual cycle - that is, both the hypothermic and hyperthermic phases should always be clearly visible on the graph. In the first phase, basal temperature (BT) can range from 36.2 to 36.7 degrees. We observe these fluctuations on this chart from days 1-11 of the cycle. Further, on the 12th day, BBT drops sharply by 0.2 degrees, which is a harbinger of the onset of ovulation. On the 13-14th day, a rise is visible immediately after the fall - ovulation occurs. Further, in the second phase, the basal temperature (BT) continues to rise by 0.4-0.6 degrees compared to the first phase - in this case, up to 37 degrees, and this temperature (marked with a burgundy line) is kept until the end of the menstrual cycle and before the start menstruation falls - on the 25th day of the cycle. On the 28th day of the cycle, the line breaks, which means that the cycle has ended and a new menstrual cycle has begun. But another option is also possible - the light green line, as you can see, does not fall, but continues to grow to 37.1. This means that a woman with a light green line on the basal temperature (BT) chart is most likely pregnant. False-positive results of measuring basal temperature (an increase in basal temperature in the absence of a corpus luteum) can occur with acute and chronic infections, as well as with some changes in the higher parts of the central nervous system.

Important to know when charting your basal temperature!

1. Normally, the menstrual cycle in a healthy woman is from 21 to 35 days, most often 28-30 days, as in the graph. However, for some women, the cycle may be shorter than 21 days, or vice versa, longer than 35. This is a reason to contact a gynecologist. Maybe it's ovarian dysfunction.

2. The graph of basal temperature (BT) should always clearly reflect ovulation, which divides the first and second phases. Always immediately after the preovulatory temperature drop in the middle of the cycle, a woman ovulates - on the chart this is the 14th day, marked with a black line. Therefore, the most optimal time for conception is the day of ovulation and 2 days before it. On the example of this chart, the most auspicious days for conception there will be 12,13 and 14 days of the cycle. And one more nuance: you may not detect a preovulatory decrease in basal temperature (BT) immediately before ovulation, but only see an increase - there is nothing to worry about, most likely ovulation has already begun.

3. The length of the first phase can normally change, lengthen or shorten. But the length of the second phase should not vary normally and is approximately 14 days (plus or minus 1-2 days). If you notice that the second phase is shorter than 10 days, this may be a sign of insufficiency of the second phase and requires a consultation with a gynecologist. In a healthy woman, the duration of the 1st and 2nd phases should normally be approximately the same, for example, 14 + 14 or 15 + 14, or 13 + 14, and so on.

4. Pay attention to the temperature difference between the averages of the first and second phases of the graph. If the difference is less than 0.4 degrees, this may be a sign of hormonal disorders. You need to be examined by a gynecologist - take a blood test for progesterone and estrogen. In approximately 20% of cases, such a monophasic graph of BT-basal temperature without a significant temperature difference between the phases is a variant of the norm, and in such patients the hormones are normal.

5. If you have a delay in menstruation, and the hyperthermic (increased) basal temperature of BT lasts more than 18 days, this may indicate a possible pregnancy (light green line on the graph). If menstruation nevertheless came, but the discharge is rather meager and at the same time the basal temperature of BT is still elevated, you urgently need to contact a gynecologist and take a pregnancy test. Most likely - these are signs of a miscarriage that has begun.

6. If the basal temperature of BT in the first phase rose sharply for 1 day, then fell - this is not a sign of concern. This is possible under the influence of provoking factors that affect changes in basal temperature (BT).

Now let's look at examples of BT basal temperature charts for various gynecological pathologies:

The graph is monophasic, i.e. almost without significant temperature fluctuations of the curve. If the rise in basal temperature (BT) in the second phase is mild (0.1-0.3 C) after ovulation, then these are possible signs of a lack of hormones - progesterone and estrogen. You need to take a blood test for these hormones.

If ovulation does not occur and the corpus luteum produced by progesterone does not form, then the basal temperature (BT) curve is monotonous: there are no pronounced jumps or drops - ovulation does not occur, respectively, and a woman with such a basal temperature (BT) schedule cannot become pregnant. An anovulatory cycle is normal in a healthy woman if such a cycle occurs no more than once a year. Accordingly, during pregnancy and lactation, the absence of ovulation is also the norm. If all of the above does not apply to you and this situation is repeated from cycle to cycle, you definitely need to contact a gynecologist. Your doctor will prescribe hormone therapy for you.

The basal temperature of BT rises a few days before the end of the cycle due to hormonal deficiency and does not decrease immediately before menstruation, there is no characteristic preovulatory retraction. The second phase lasts less than 10 days. It is possible to get pregnant with such a schedule of basal temperature (BT), but there is a high probability of miscarriage. We remember that the hormone progesterone is normally produced in the second phase. If the hormone is not synthesized in sufficient quantities, then BT rises very slowly, and the pregnancy may be terminated. With such a schedule of basal temperature (BT), it is necessary to pass an analysis for progesterone in the second phase of the cycle. If progesterone is lowered, then hormonal preparations - gestagens (Utrozhestan or Duphaston) are necessarily prescribed in the second phase. Pregnant women with low progesterone are prescribed these drugs for up to 12 weeks. With a sharp withdrawal of drugs, a miscarriage may occur.

In the first phase, the basal temperature of BT under the influence of estrogens is kept within 36.2-36.7 C. If the basal temperature of BT in the first phase rises above the indicated mark and if you see sharp jumps and rises on the graph, then most likely there is a lack of estrogens. In the second phase, we see the same picture - ups and downs. On the graph, in the first phase, the basal temperature of BT rises to 36.8 C, i.e. above the norm. In the second phase, there are sharp fluctuations from 36.2 to 37 C (but with a similar pathology they can be higher). Fertility in these patients is drastically reduced. For the purpose of treatment, gynecologists prescribe hormone therapy. Seeing such a graph, there is no need to rush to draw conclusions - such a picture can also be observed in inflammatory gynecological diseases, when everything is in order with estrogens, for example, with inflammation of the appendages. The chart is shown below.

You see in this chart with sharp declines and rises that due to inflammatory process it is problematic to determine when ovulation occurred, since the basal temperature of BT can increase both during inflammation and during ovulation. On the 9th day of the cycle, we see a rise, which can be mistaken for an ovulatory rise, but this is most likely a sign of an inflammatory process that has begun. This basal temperature (BT) chart proves once again that it is impossible to draw conclusions and make diagnoses based on the basal temperature (BT) chart of one cycle.

We remember that at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, the basal temperature of BT is lowered. If the temperature at the end of the previous cycle decreased, and then rose sharply to 37.0 with the onset of menstruation and does not decrease, as can be seen on the graph, it may be a formidable disease - endometritis and you urgently need treatment from a gynecologist. But if you have a delay in menstruation and at the same time the basal temperature of BBT remains elevated for more than 16 days from the start of the rise, you are probably pregnant.

If you notice that during 3 menstrual cycles you have stable changes on the chart that do not correspond to the norm, you need to consult a specialist.

So, what should alert you when compiling and deciphering basal temperature (BT) charts:

Graphs of basal temperature (BT) with low or high temperature throughout the cycle;
- cycles less than 21 days and more than 35 days. This may be a sign of ovarian dysfunction, clinically manifested by bleeding in the middle of the menstrual cycle. Or there may be a different picture - the cycle is always lengthened, which is expressed in constant delays in menstruation for more than 10 days, while there is no pregnancy;
- if you observe a shortening of the second phase according to the charts;
- if the schedules are anovulatory or the manifestations of ovulation are not clearly expressed on the schedule;
- graphs with high temperature in the second phase for more than 18 days, while there is no pregnancy;
- monophasic graphs: the difference between the first and second phase is less than 0.4 C;
- if the BT schedules are absolutely normal: ovulation occurs, both phases are complete, but pregnancy does not occur within a year with regular unprotected intercourse;
- sharp jumps and rises in BT in both phases of the cycle.

If you follow all the rules for measuring basal temperature, you will discover a lot of new things. Always remember that you do not need to draw any conclusions on the basis of the obtained graphs. This can only be done by a qualified gynecologist, and then only after additional research.

Obstetrician-gynecologist, Ph.D. Christina Frambos.