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Part 1: Basal Body
Temperature
| Basal body temperature (referred to as
BBT) is the temperature the body is at rest. BBT can tell a woman a lot about
her fertility cycle. Charting temperatures helps a woman to know when she has
ovulated, and possibly even if she is pregnant. |
Digital Basal Thermometer
$8.75
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It can also tell a woman if she has a problem,
such as not ovulating - called anovulatory and low progesterone
and thyroid dysfunction.
First of all, let
me explain what the temperature is suppose to do in a normal
cycle. The first two weeks or so the temperature is in the
low range - anywhere from 96.0 to 98.0 - though some women will
be a little higher. This is due to the hormone estrogen. After ovulation
occurs the temperature has what is called a shift upward, usually about .4. This
is indicating that the egg has been released and usually by the time you see the
temperature shift - the egg has either been fertilized or has died. Progesterone
is the hormone released after the egg has moved into the fallopian tubes. The
higher temps will stay this way for the length of the luteal phase - the time
from ovulation to menstruation. This will vary from woman to woman. Usually it
averages around 12 to 14 days.
In order to effectively chart your temperatures, you need to have a good basal
body thermometer. A fever thermometer is not good to use because it won’t tell
the temperature to the .1 degree like a basal body thermometer will. In my
experience, I think the digital ones are as good as the glass ones - however I
have read conflicting advice on this. It’s very important to take your
temperature every morning at the same time. And it’s very important that you
have slept at least three hours prior to taking your temperature. Take your
temperature before rising, before moving around very much -as these things tend
to affect the true temperature. Be sure to start your chart on the first day of
your cycle - the first day of actual bleeding.
A good rule of thumb to use is if you wake up earlier or later than your
scheduled time, is to add .1 degree for every half hour early you awaken and to
subtract .1 for every half hour you awaken late. This is because the basal body
temperature will creep up as the day gets started.
There are factors that can affect your BBT such as sleeping with your mouth
open, having your feet outside the covers, having it too cold or too warm in the
room, snuggling with your partner and/or being sick. If any of these occur -
note it on your chart.
You will not really know when ovulation occurs until after the fact when you see
the temperature shift upward. Have a good chart handy to record the temperatures
on every day. A good chart will have areas to record other fertility symptoms as
well, which I plan on covering in upcoming weeks.
Once you see the temperature shift - look at the last six temperatures that were
taken right and draw a line .1 a degree above the highest of the previous six.
This is called your coverline. Your temperatures should stay above this line
post ovulation. If pregnant, the temperatures will stay high. The rule for
pregnancy is 18 days of high temperatures indicates pregnancy. Usually when the
menstrual cycle is due the temperatures may start to drop down a day or so
before the bleeding starts.
Lori Ramsey's website:
Stages in Pregnancy
© 2006-2008 by Lori Ramsey
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