How to measure basal temperature. Most of us are accustomed to measuring temperature traditionally - in the armpit, but it is the woman who needs to know not only about this method of measurement, but also how basal temperature (BT) is measured. After all, her testimony can be very useful for any woman.
Increased BT is one of the most obvious signs of pregnancy . For women planning their pregnancy and closely monitoring changes in hormonal levels, the basal temperature chart is the main source of such information.
How to measure basal temperature correctly
The basic rules that must be followed when measuring basal temperature include the following points:
- Of course, you can start measuring your temperature on any day, but it’s still better to start doing this with the onset of the first day of your menstrual cycle.
- The temperature must be measured in one place: vaginally, rectally, orally. You need to choose one of these methods since measuring the temperature under the armpit will not give an accurate result. Throughout the entire cycle, it is very important not to change the location of the temperature change.
- If you choose the oral method, then you need to place a thermometer under your tongue and measure the temperature for five minutes, while you need to completely close your mouth. If you choose the rectal or vaginal method, then the temperature measurement time can be reduced to three minutes.
- The temperature must be measured in the morning, before you get out of bed. In this case, you should sleep at least six hours for a more accurate result.
- The temperature must be measured at the same time, but if the deviation in time exceeds 30 minutes, then this result cannot be considered correct. This temperature will not be taken into account in the chart.
- You can use any thermometer of your choice to measure your basal temperature, but you should not change it throughout your cycle.
- If you choose a mercury thermometer, then knock it down immediately after measuring or before going to bed, as if you put effort into it in the morning, this can significantly affect the result obtained.
- Basal temperature can be affected by stress, anxiety, taking medications, long flights, and so on.
BT is determined immediately after waking up after several hours of rest, without getting out of bed or making sudden movements.
You should have a mercury thermometer on hand so that you can easily reach it. An electronic thermometer does not give such accurate indicators, and drawing a graph requires accuracy. Temperature measurements are taken every day at the same time of day for several months. Basal temperature is measured orally, rectally or vaginally. Measuring temperature through the anus is most preferable, as it provides more reliable information. BT is always measured in the same way in order to be able to build an accurate graph.
Before measuring basal body temperature, you must stop drinking alcohol and avoid overwork and stress. Insomnia, hormonal medications, colds, fatigue, sexual intercourse several hours before measuring BT - all this can affect basal body temperature. With such factors, there will be no temperature peaks on the graph, since hormones give equal readings throughout the entire cycle.
Examples of basal temperature charts with photos and transcripts
So that you can figure out how to make a baby plan basal temperature chart , we offer you several specific examples that will teach you how to independently determine the day of ovulation without purchasing special tests and ultrasound diagnostics.
Basal temperature chart before menstruation
To begin with, we suggest looking at the graph of the basal temperature of the menstrual cycle, in which pregnancy was not planned, in order to understand how the indicators will change in the second phase of the cycle after ovulation immediately before menstruation:
On this chart:
- The red line indicates the division of the entire menstrual cycle, consisting of 28 days, into two phases - follicular (shown on the left) and luteal (shown on the right). a normal basal temperature chart should look like for a healthy woman who did not plan to become pregnant.
- Considering the luteal phase - the period in which the next menstruation begins, we see that the basal temperature a couple of days before their onset begins to decrease from 37.5 to 37. That is, it should coincide with the temperature of the day on which the previous menstruation began menstruation (this is indicated by the pink line on the graph).
- During the entire period that menstruation lasts, the basal temperature should be the same.
Anovulatory basal temperature chart
Anovulatory is a menstrual cycle in which ovulation does not occur, that is, fertilization cannot occur because a mature egg has not been released from the ovarian follicle. This is how it is shown on the basal temperature chart:
It shows that:
- The temperature did not rise above 36.9 degrees (did not reach the pink line drawn on the graph). At ovulation, this indicator should be 37.1 degrees.
- The graph is monophasic - there is no red line indicating the release of a mature egg.
Normally, a healthy woman can have only two such cycles per year. If you find that you have more of them, this is a reason to contact fertility doctors who will solve your problem with the inability to conceive a child.
Basal temperature chart during ovulation
How to detect the day of ovulation on the chart? Let's consider this question using the example of this basal temperature graph:
It clearly shows that:
- On the 13th day of the menstrual cycle, the basal temperature increased sharply, and on the 14th day it sharply decreased from 36.2 to 37.1
- When this happens, it means that ovulation has occurred, and the most favorable time has come to conceive a child.
By the way, you can determine the implantation retraction on the basal temperature chart - the day when the fertilized egg attached to the wall of the uterus:
- On the day when implantation retraction occurs, the basal temperature drops sharply from 37 degrees to 37.7;
- The next day we see on the graph of basal temperature during pregnancy before the delay that the temperature began to rise again - it had already reached 36.9 degrees;
- In the following days, the basal temperature on only increases until the delay
Basal temperature chart during pregnancy
If pregnancy occurs, the ovary will contain a corpus luteum for 9 months, which should produce progesterone. This means that the entire period of bearing a child, the basal temperature will be 37.1-37.3 degrees, as shown in the graph below:
We hope that now you will be able to accurately decipher basal temperature charts in order to become a happy pregnant woman in the near future.
How to build a BT chart?
This is not difficult at all, you need to do the following:
- Take a sheet of paper in a cage,
- Draw the X and Y axis,
- Horizontal - days of the menstrual cycle,
- Vertical – temperature readings.
- or use our online service and build your own basal temperature chart - convenient, understandable, practical
The thermometer is held in the anus for an average of about 5 minutes. Mark a temperature point on the graph every day. Then all the points are connected by a line. The doctor will have a more accurate idea of the processes occurring in the female reproductive system if he builds a graph over several monthly cycles, at least three.
BT and the menstrual cycle
To measure BT, strict adherence to time is required; it is advisable to measure it at the same hour, and even during menstruation.
On “these days” temperature indicators are purely individual. There are, of course, average temperatures, we will take them as the norm: the normal temperature during menstruation is 37.0, and at the end it drops to approximately 36.4. This is due to changes in hormonal levels. In the middle of the menstrual cycle, before the upcoming ovulation, the temperature on average ranges from 36.4 to 36.6 degrees. As soon as a mature egg is released from the ovary, the basal temperature rises by half a degree. Such a jump in the graph will indicate that ovulation has occurred.
The other half of the cycle is characterized by a slight rise in temperature, to about 37.2 degrees. Before menstruation there is a decline (up to 0.3), this indicates the approach of critical days.
How to decipher data and is it possible to measure basal temperature in the mouth?
So, the answer to the question whether it is possible to measure basal temperature in the mouth is positive. A woman may see that the readings will vary significantly throughout the entire monthly cycle. In a significant number of cases, fluctuations in basal temperature in each patient will be strictly individual. That’s why they should focus on their own feelings, diet and other factors that help to somehow influence the results obtained.
If deviations are detected during the measurement, and the woman’s well-being worsens, it is recommended to urgently consult a therapist. It is prohibited to take medications on your own to correct hormonal imbalances or dysfunctions of the monthly cycle. It is necessary to normalize the daily routine and rest to avoid such disorders.
Rules for measuring basal temperature
If your goal when constructing a BBT chart is to determine the exact date of conception, then you need to learn how to analyze the chart.
If the temperature does not decrease before the upcoming menstruation, this may indicate pregnancy. For some women, the graphs do not show rises and jumps in temperature at all - this most likely indicates that there is no ovulation, and infertility can be assumed. If during a missed period the temperature is far from normal and is low, then most likely a miscarriage occurred before the missed period. If the temperature increases during menstruation, this indicates inflammatory processes in the female genital area.
Every woman who cares about women's health should know how to measure basal body temperature. This simple procedure, of course, requires a little effort and a little time, but you will always have accurate data about the functioning of your reproductive system.
Variations on the theme of measuring temperature
The baby’s temperature is measured in 3 ways, and the indicators should be within the following limits:
- rectally (in the rectum) – 37.5-38 C;
- orally (in the mouth) – 36.8-37.1 C;
- in the groin area or armpit 36.3-37.2 C.
You can complete the task of determining your baby’s body temperature using:
- a mercury thermometer, but at the same time you need to maintain the interval necessary to record the indicators (7-10 minutes);
- an electronic thermometer, the advantage of which is more or less truthful results with a minimum measurement time (3 minutes);
- silicone thermometer pacifier, however, not all natural science children are favorable towards sucking pacifiers;
- an infrared non-contact thermometer that allows you to quickly and effectively measure your baby’s temperature in just a minute.
Temperature measurement is a kind of preventive measure that allows you to timely detect problems in a newborn and begin treatment.
