How to measure basal temperature to determine. How to measure basal temperature to determine pregnancy and ovulation with a regular thermometer? Diagnosis of pathologies using BT

After conception has occurred, the female body immediately begins to undergo some changes that occur according to a certain plan. Thanks to clear physiological rules, you can predict possible fertilization even before your missed period, and also check whether your pregnancy is proceeding normally. This can be done using the usual measurement of basal temperature (BT). Its level is significantly affected by a sharp surge and decrease in the concentration of sex hormones. Let's look at the principles of measurement and the rules for deciphering the obtained basal temperature standards from the moment of planning to the end of gestation.

Basal is the body temperature measured under conditions of complete rest immediately after waking up. Its level changes cyclically during the menstrual cycle under the influence of two main hormones - estradiol and progesterone.

In gynecology, the BT chart is considered an indicator of women's health. Studying several graphs can determine whether a woman is normal hormonal background, whether there are inflammatory pathologies, whether ovulation occurs normally and whether it exists at all.

At the planning stage, BT allows you to “catch” ovulation without special expensive tests or undergoing a diagnostic ultrasound. But the effectiveness of the technique is observed with regular measurement of BT while adhering to the prescribed rules for the procedure.

The principle of determining BT is based on temperature fluctuations based on the phases of the female cycle. As you know, the cycle consists of two phases, and the equator between them is ovulation. The essence of observations comes down to daily entering temperature indicators into a simple graph. In the first half the temperature is low performance, and in the second, under the influence of progesterone, higher.

Ovulation is characterized by a sharp drop - the temperature drops, and on the second day it rapidly rises. And as menstruation approaches, it begins to decrease again. If fertilization has occurred, the graph will display a steadily increased basal temperature during pregnancy, before the delay it will exceed 37⁰C. In the absence of fertilization, BT before menstruation will drop to 36.7⁰C or even lower.

In obstetric practice, scheduling BT is used if:

• There has been no pregnancy for more than 12 months without obvious reasons.
• It is necessary to establish the correspondence of hormone production relative to the phases of the menstrual cycle.
• It is necessary to clarify the present pathology of the woman’s hormonal background.
• Need to calculate favorable days for conception when it is not possible to constantly be sexually active.
• There is a suspicion of a latent course of endometritis.
• It is necessary to establish the fact of fertilization before the delay due to the possible threat of interruption against the background of alarming symptoms ( brown discharge, lower abdominal pain).

Important! If there is no temperature jump during the ovulatory period, and the difference between the average BT of the two phases is less than 0.4⁰C, it means that the woman has hormonal pathologies and ovulation does not occur.

How to measure basal temperature to determine pregnancy

An accurate BT is obtained by inserting a rectal thermometer into the anal lumen. The manipulation must be carried out every day at the same time. Which thermometer to use is your personal decision, the main thing is to do it according to the rules.

How to measure basal temperature during pregnancy:

• You need to monitor your BT in the morning. At the same time, it is forbidden to sit down suddenly or leave the bed. Sleep preceding measurement should be more than 6 hours. Waking up frequently at night will morning temperature uninformative.
• IN daytime BT is changing a lot. This is affected by activity, anxiety, and fatigue. Therefore, BT is measured in the morning, while the body is still “sleeping”. And checking your basal temperature during pregnancy in the evening is pointless, since the result will be unreliable.
• The duration of the procedure is 5-6 minutes. In case of use electronic thermometer you need to hold it for another 3-4 minutes after the beep.
• It is better to start recording the temperature from the first cyclic day, otherwise it will be impossible to assess the ratio of indicators between the phases. If the measurement is carried out for the purpose of diagnosing hormonal levels, it will take at least three months to draw competent conclusions.
• All received figures should be noted on a special chart.

Important! A graph of basal temperature during pregnancy will be uninformative if it was compiled during a period of acute illness, or against the background of stress, alcohol abuse, taking hormonal pills, frequent flights and trips. BT readings will also be false if they are obtained less than 6 hours after intercourse.

Norms of basal temperature during pregnancy

The entire cycle is based on a certain dynamics of BT. To understand whether pregnancy has occurred, you need to focus on the usual indicators before and after conception:

• The follicular phase lasts approximately 11-14 days, but this is just a guideline, because every woman's cycle is different. To navigate the phases, count from last day cycle for two weeks and get the approximate date of ovulation. Given that normal condition health, BT in the first half ranges from 36.1 to 36.8⁰ C.
• The moment of ovulation is the climactic moment: the egg is released from the proovulated follicle, which is accompanied by a sharp production of hormones. The graph shows a jump in BT to 37.0 – 37.7⁰С.
• Then comes the luteal phase, which lasts until the onset of menstruation. At this stage, the temperature remains high, and only a few days before menstruation begins to decrease by 0.3-0.5⁰С. If such a decrease does not occur, there is a high probability that fertilization has occurred.

Advice! The level of BT during gestation is very individual and in some women pregnancy proceeds well even at 36.9⁰C. For this reason, there are no clear indicators of what the basal temperature should be during pregnancy. Therefore, the only diagnostic criterion is the absence of a decrease in BT after ovulation.

In order for the fertilized egg to be fully implanted into the endometrium and further develop, the body creates for this special conditions. To do this, it begins to produce large quantities of progesterone. This hormone provokes a persistently high BT, which remains elevated until a certain period.

Depending on the characteristics of the hormonal system in different women basal temperature during pregnancy early stages equal to 37.0-37.4⁰С. Such values ​​indicate that the pregnancy is developing well and there is no threat of miscarriage. In individual cases, BT can even rise to 38⁰C, which is also considered normal.

Pathological basal temperature after conception: causes of deviations

Basal temperature during gestation does not always correspond to prescribed standards. There are exceptions, because every woman’s body is different. In some cases, there is no reason to worry, and minor deviations are considered a variant of the norm. Unfortunately, the majority of cases of pathological fluctuations in BT are caused by various complications during pregnancy.

Basal temperature in case of threat of miscarriage

Instead of the ovulating follicle, a corpus luteum appears. It produces a huge amount of progesterone, which ensures the safety of the fetus. If a woman had hormonal problems before conception, the resulting corpus luteum may not function correctly. As a result, progesterone deficiency develops, which increases the risk of pregnancy termination.

On the BT chart it is very difficult to miss such a pathology: the temperature remains at a too low level, below 37⁰C. Therefore, if the basal temperature is 36.9 during pregnancy, it is necessary to determine and eliminate the cause of this condition.

A very high BT level can also indicate a possible termination of pregnancy. Thus, a temperature of 38⁰C is often caused by an inflammatory process in the uterine cavity, which can provoke egg rejection. A one-time rise is rarely a threat to the fetus, but if such an indicator persists for more than three days, you need to see a gynecologist.

Basal temperature during frozen pregnancy

When the embryo stops developing, the corpus luteum begins to regress and progesterone production stops. As a result, BT gradually drops to 36.4-36.9⁰С. By the way, low temperature does not necessarily indicate fetal freezing. There is a high probability of measurement errors or the aforementioned state of progesterone deficiency. Therefore, do not rush to diagnose yourself before visiting a doctor.

Advice! It happens that anembryony (embryo freezing) has occurred, and the temperature is persistently high, so there is no need to focus only on BT indicators. In case of uncharacteristic pain, pathological discharge, or poor health, you should immediately visit a gynecologist.

Basal temperature during ectopic pregnancy

Implanted in fallopian tube ovum does not block the functioning of the corpus luteum. For this reason, progesterone is fully produced and the BT schedule looks quite normal. That is why it is simply impossible to judge an ectopic pregnancy only by basal temperature figures.

However, as the embryo grows, an inflammatory process develops in the fallopian tube, which provokes an increase in BT. On the graph, the temperature can rise even above 38⁰C. But at this stage, other symptoms indicate the presence of ectopic implantation - sharp pain in the abdomen, fever, vomiting, loss of consciousness, sometimes internal bleeding.

How to correctly draw up and decipher a BT schedule: a detailed guide

A graph for maintaining basal temperature can be easily drawn on a piece of paper or you can print a ready-made template.

The graph shows several values ​​at once:

• Menstrual cycle by day (from 1 to 35 days, taking into account the length of your cycle).
• Daily temperature readings.
• Special notes (poisoning, stress, insomnia, ARVI, etc.)

To record BT, the table is marked as follows:

• The checkered sheet is divided into two axes: the X axis is the day of the cycle, the Y axis is the BT indicator.
• An indicator is indicated daily, all points are connected by a line.
• A solid line is drawn through the top six indicators in the first phase, with the exception of menstruation days, then the line continues until the end of the second cycle.
• On the day of expected ovulation, a vertical line is drawn.

To understand what it might look like temperature graph, look at how basal temperature fluctuates during pregnancy in the photo:

The figure clearly shows ovulation and an increase in BT in the second phase. On the 21st day of the cycle, a jump in temperature is noticeable as a result of implantation of a fertilized egg, and from 28-29 days the third phase begins - gestational. Pregnancy can also occur at low basal temperatures. Even if BT does not rise above 36.8⁰C, and the delay has been present for several days, you need to go to the doctor.

This photo shows a graph with full phases of the cycle inherent in a healthy woman outside of pregnancy. In the first phase, BT confidently remains below 37⁰C, after ovulation it begins to rise and remains at this level for 11-14 days, and three days before menstruation it begins to return to its original values.

The next type of BT schedule is anovulatory. The follicle does not grow, does not ovulate, and the egg, accordingly, has nowhere to come from. Throughout the cycle, it is clear that BT “jumps” chaotically without a natural change in values ​​and an ovulatory jump. In appearance, the graph resembles a monotonous straight line, the points of which range from 36.4⁰С to 36.9⁰С. Such a schedule is quite possible once or twice a year and is considered the norm. But if such a picture appears regularly, the woman definitely has gynecological or endocrine problems.

You can determine estrogen deficiency using a schedule. For this reason, in the first phase there is a pathological increase in BT to 37.4⁰C. Should be produced in the follicular phase a large number of estrogens that suppress BT to a level below 36.5⁰C. Lack of estrogen also causes high temperature in the second cycle (above 37.5⁰C), which has nothing to do with ovulation and conception.

Judging the state of women's health or the onset of pregnancy using the BT schedule is not entirely correct, because there is a risk of false readings if the rules for measuring temperature are not followed. And the influence of all external factors is also impossible to completely exclude. Therefore, plotting a graph serves as an additional diagnostic tool.

Now you know how to measure basal temperature to determine pregnancy, so you definitely won’t have any difficulties. Carefully measure your BBT, keep a chart, and then you will definitely guess about your pregnancy even before the delay.

Video “Top 5 rules for accurately measuring basal temperature”

Basal temperature - This body temperature at rest after at least 6 hours of sleep. During different phases of the menstrual cycle, a woman’s basal temperature constantly changes under the influence of hormonal changes in the female body.

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

Why do you need a basal temperature chart?

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

1. If you want to get pregnant and cannot predict when ovulation occurs, the favorable moment for conceiving a child is the release of a mature, fertilizing egg from the ovarian follicle in abdominal cavity;
or vice versa - you don’t want to get pregnant, thanks to basal temperature (BT) you can predict “dangerous days”.
2. To determine pregnancy in the early stages with a delay in menstruation.
3. By regularly measuring basal temperature, you can determine the possible cause of a delay in menstruation: pregnancy, lack of ovulation or late ovulation.
4. If your gynecologist suspects that you have hormonal disorders, you or your partner are infertile: if after one year of regular sexual activity pregnancy has not occurred, the gynecologist may recommend that you measure your basal temperature (BT) to determine possible reasons infertility.

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

How to measure basal temperature (BT) correctly

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

Firstly, you need to immediately understand for yourself that no matter what the basal temperature (BT) values ​​obtained are, this is not a reason for self-diagnosis, and even less so for self-medication. Only a qualified gynecologist should decipher basal temperature charts.

Secondly, there is no need to draw any quick conclusions - basal temperature (BT) needs at least 3 menstrual cycles to more or less accurately answer the 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 basal temperature (BT) in the mouth, vagina or anus, the latter is more preferable. Many gynecologists believe that the rectal method is more reliable and produces fewer errors than all others. You need to measure the temperature in the mouth for about 5 minutes, in the vagina and rectum for about 3 minutes.
If you measured your basal temperature (BT) in one place, then the next time you take a measurement, the location of the thermometer and the duration of the measurement cannot be changed. 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. Basal temperature (BT) cannot be measured under the armpit!

3. You need to measure your 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 you use mercury, remember to shake before use.

5. Write down the results immediately, and make notes if there was anything on that day or the day before that could affect basal temperature (BT): 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 basal temperature and make the study unreliable.

When taking oral contraceptives, measuring BT makes no sense!

Thus, to create a complete graph of fluctuations in basal temperature (BT), you will need to mark the indicators:
- date of the calendar month;
- day of the menstrual cycle;
- basal temperature indicators;
- the nature of discharge from the genital tract on a certain day of the cycle: bloody, mucous, viscous, watery, yellowish, dry, etc. It is important to note this to complete the picture of the chart, since during ovulation the discharge from the cervical canal becomes more watery;
- notes as necessary to on a certain day: there we add all the provoking factors listed above that can 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.

In general, your basal temperature records should look something like this in table form:

Date Day mts BT Highlights Notes

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

Normal basal temperature chart

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

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

Let's look at examples of basal temperature (BT) graphs, what they should be normally and in pathology. The graph of basal temperature (BT), which 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, ending in pregnancy. The black line is the ovulation line. Burgundy line-mark 37 degrees, serves for clarity of the graph.

Now let's try to decipher this basal temperature graph. 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, BT sharply drops by 0.2 degrees, which is a harbinger of the beginning of ovulation. On the 13-14th day, a rise is visible immediately after the fall - ovulation occurs. Then, 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) remains until the end of the menstrual cycle and before the start menstruation drops on the 25th day of the cycle. On the 28th day of the cycle, the line is interrupted, 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 most likely a woman with a light green line on the basal temperature (BT) chart is pregnant. False-positive results of measuring basal temperature (an increase in basal temperature in the absence of the 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 for a healthy woman ranges 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, conversely, longer than 35. This is a reason to contact a gynecologist. Perhaps this is ovarian dysfunction.

2. The basal temperature (BT) chart should always clearly reflect ovulation, which divides the first and second phases. Always immediately after a pre-ovulatory drop in temperature 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. Using this graph as an example, the most favorable days For conception there will be 12,13 and 14 days of the cycle. And one more nuance: you may not detect a pre-ovulatory decrease in basal temperature (BT) immediately before ovulation, but only see an increase - there is nothing wrong with that, 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 your second phase is shorter than 10 days, this may be a sign of insufficiency of the second phase and requires 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 average values ​​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 basal temperature BT-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 BT temperature lasts more than 18 days, this may indicate a possible pregnancy (light green line on the graph). If menstruation does occur, but the discharge is quite scanty and the basal BT temperature is still elevated, you urgently need to see a gynecologist and take a pregnancy test. Most likely these are signs of an incipient miscarriage.

6. If the basal BT temperature 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 graphs of basal BT temperature for various gynecological pathologies:

The schedule is monophasic, i.e. almost without significant temperature fluctuations of the curve. If the rise in basal temperature (BT) in the second phase is weakly expressed (0.1-0.3 C) after ovulation, then these are possible signs of a lack of hormones - progesterone and estrogen. You need to have 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 monotonic: there are no pronounced jumps or falls - ovulation does not occur, and accordingly, a woman with such a basal temperature (BT) curve cannot become pregnant. An anovulatory cycle is normal for 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 repeats from cycle to cycle, you definitely need to contact a gynecologist. The doctor will prescribe you hormonal treatment.

The basal temperature of the BT increases several 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 basal temperature (BT) schedule, but there is a high probability of miscarriage. We remember that normally the hormone progesterone is produced in the second phase. If the hormone is synthesized in insufficient quantities, BT rises very slowly and the pregnancy may be terminated. With such a basal temperature (BT) schedule, it is necessary to take a progesterone test in the second phase of the cycle. If progesterone is low, then hormonal drugs - gestagens (Utrozhestan or Duphaston) must be prescribed in the second phase. For pregnant women with low progesterone, these drugs are prescribed for up to 12 weeks. If the drugs are abruptly stopped, a miscarriage may occur.

In the first phase, the basal BT temperature under the influence of estrogens remains within the range of 36.2-36.7 C. If the basal BT temperature 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 estrogen. In the second phase we see the same picture - ups and downs. On the graph, in the first phase, the basal temperature of the BT rises to 36.8 C, i.e. above normal. 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 such patients is sharply reduced. For the purpose of treatment, gynecologists prescribe hormonal therapy. Having seen such a graph, there is no need to rush to draw conclusions - such a picture can also be observed with inflammatory gynecological diseases, when everything is in order with estrogens, for example, with inflammation of the appendages. The graph is presented below.

You can see in this graph with sharp declines and rises that, due to the inflammatory process, it is problematic to determine when ovulation occurred, since the basal BT temperature can increase both during inflammation and during ovulation. On the 9th day of the cycle, we see a rise, which can be mistakenly taken for an ovulatory rise, but this is most likely a sign of the onset of an inflammatory process. This basal temperature (BT) chart once again proves that you cannot 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 body temperature is lowered. If the temperature at the end of the previous cycle decreased, and then sharply rose to 37.0 with the beginning of menstruation and does not decrease, as can be seen on the graph, it is possible we're talking about about a terrible disease - endometritis and you urgently need treatment from a gynecologist. But if you have a delay in your period and your basal BT temperature 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 in the graph 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:

Basal temperature (BT) charts with low or high temperature throughout the entire 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 by more than 10 days, while there is no pregnancy;
- if you observe a shortening of the second phase according to the graphs;
- if the graphs are anovulatory or the manifestations of ovulation are not clearly expressed on the graph;
- 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 charts are absolutely normal: ovulation occurs, both phases are full, but pregnancy does not occur within a year with regular unprotected sexual activity;
- 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 your own based on the obtained graphs. This can only be done by a qualified gynecologist, and then only after additional research.

Obstetrician-gynecologist, Ph.D. Christina Frambos.

Basal temperature allows you to determine the time of ovulation, early pregnancy, and the presence of inflammatory gynecological pathologies. With correct and regular measurements and scheduling, you can identify the most favorable days for conception; any deviations indicate a malfunction in the body.

You need to know your basal temperature to determine ovulation

What does basal temperature mean?

Basal temperature (BT)– lowest temperature human body at rest. Measurements can be taken orally, in the armpit, but the most accurate values ​​are rectal, when the thermometer is inserted into the rectum.

Why do you need to measure BT:

• – the method is suitable for long, short, standard and irregular cycles;
• you can determine pregnancy even before the delay;
• identify inflammatory pathologies of the pelvic organs early stages before symptoms appear;
• for pregnancy planning.

To measure BT, it is better to use a regular mercury thermometer and use the same thermometer throughout the entire cycle.

How to measure BT?

In order to correctly draw up a schedule and avoid errors, when measuring basal temperature, you must strictly follow the sequence of actions.

Measurement Rules:

1. In the evening, prepare a thermometer, knock it down, put it next to the bed so that you can easily reach it.
2. In the morning, without getting out of bed, insert the tip of the thermometer 5 cm into the rectum.
3. Measure the temperature for 5-7 minutes, try not to get nervous, breathe evenly and calmly.
4. Before taking your temperature, you should have at least 5–7 hours of restful sleep.
5. BT must be measured at the same time; deviations of 1 hour up or down are allowed. The indicators are recorded from the first day of the menstrual cycle, the data is entered into a special chart.

You can measure BT during the day after 4 hours of sleep, but such data is often unreliable. The method is suitable for women who have been working at night for many months; their body has had time to adapt to a new sleep and wakefulness pattern.

At correct drafting graphics, after just 3 cycles you can learn to plan a pregnancy at home; signs of the inflammatory process will be noticeable after 1–2 months. In gynecology, average BT temperature values ​​are used to assess the state of the reproductive and genitourinary systems, but deviations often occur that are caused not by pathologies, but by the individual characteristics of the body.

How to build a graph correctly:

1. Draw 2 lines on a checkered sheet of paper; they should start from the same point and be perpendicular.
2. On the vertical axis, make markings for temperature indicators - write down the numbers from 36, 0 to 37.5, each cell is equal to 0.1 degrees.
3. You need to mark the days of the calendar on the horizontal line.
4. At the level of 37 degrees, draw a red horizontal line, draw a vertical line between 12-14 days, it conditionally divides the two-phase cycle into periods I and II.
5. Every day at the intersection of date and temperature values put a dot, when they are connected, a curve of the monthly cycle is formed.
6. On the graph, the day of ovulation is the highest point.
7. The optimal difference in indicators in phases I and II is 0.4–0.5 units.
8. The length of the cycle is also clearly visible on the graph; normally it is 28 days; doctors do not consider pathologies if the interval between menstruation is 21–35 days. But a long or short cycle may be a sign of ovarian failure.

Thanks to the BT chart, you can understand how well your menstruation is proceeding

Decoding the BT schedule allows the woman, and, if necessary, the gynecologist, to check how normally the cycle is proceeding, whether maturation and ovulation are occurring, and whether pregnancy has occurred.

In addition to temperature indicators, the graph should display the amount and nature of discharge and general well-being. If the day before a woman drank alcohol, had sex, was very nervous, or showed signs of a cold, all these factors are also recorded in the table, since they can distort the BT values.

How does the BT indicator change?

Changes in basal temperature indicators are influenced by the state of hormonal levels, so fluctuations in values ​​​​in different phases of the cycle are normal.

BT value by day of the cycle

When measuring BT, the length of the cycle is also important; the ideal duration is 28 days, but intervals between menstruation of 21–35 days are considered normal. The length of the first phase may vary, but the normal luteal period should always be 12–14 days.

Basal temperature phases

When drawing up a BT schedule, several types of curves are distinguished, which makes it possible to assess the state of the reproductive system.

Types of curves:

1. I – temperature indicators in the second phase increase by at least 0.4 units, the luteal period lasts 12–14 days, the values ​​decrease before ovulation and menstruation. This schedule corresponds to a normal two-phase cycle lasting 28 days.
2. II – luteal phase lasts 12–14 days, during this period the temperature rises by no more than 0.2–0.3 degrees, and decreases slightly before the release of the egg from the follicle and before the onset of menstruation. Such a curve indicates a lack of estrogen and progesterone, which often causes infertility; special tests will help to assess the level of hormones in each phase of the cycle.
3. III – an increase of 0.4 degrees is observed only shortly before menstruation, the second phase lasts 10 days or less, and BT does not drop before menstruation. Such a graph indicates luteal insufficiency, which is fraught with the development of infertility and miscarriage; correction is carried out using hormonal therapy.
4. IV – there are no ups and downs on the curve, the entire cycle, the rectal temperature is in the range of 36.1–36.7 degrees, there is no ovulation, the cycle is considered anovulatory. In a healthy woman of fertile age, such a deviation occurs 1-2 times a year, if more often, it is necessary to undergo hormonal tests.
5. V – the BT curve looks chaotic; an increase and decrease in values ​​occurs regardless of the phase of the cycle. This graph indicates low estrogen levels, and the chances of getting pregnant are minimal. Single jumps in indicators can occur due to stress, after a long flight, or during exacerbation of any chronic diseases.

Knowing the exact day of ovulation, you can plan the sex of the unborn child - if fertilization occurs directly on the day the egg is released, there is a high probability of giving birth to a boy. Girls are born after sex, which took place 48–72 hours before ovulation.

Reasons for deviations from the norm

Minor fluctuations in BT values ​​occur during stress, climate change, after sexual intercourse, and while taking certain medications. Strong deviations of the curve from the norm are a sign of endocrine pathologies, inflammatory processes; using the graph, the primary cause of infertility can be established.

Uterine fibroids are one of the causes of basal temperature failure

Why deviations occur:

1. Problems in the luteal phase - ovarian diseases, pathologies of the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, polyps and tumors in the genital organs. Progesterone deficiency occurs when inflammatory processes in the uterus and appendages, diseases of the liver and gastrointestinal tract, after exhausting diets and excessive physical exertion.
2. Frequent anovulatory cycles are observed in adolescence, indicating the approach of menopause, endocrine diseases, and ovarian pathologies.
3. An increase in temperature before menstruation to 38 degrees or more – endometritis, adnexitis, endometriosis, cystitis, intestinal infections, ectopic pregnancy. Additional symptoms– sharp pain in the lower abdomen, discharge mixed with pus, discomfort during bowel movements Bladder, vomiting, weakness.

During pregnancy, an increase in BT indicates inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs and infectious pathologies in the body. A decrease in indicators occurs with a miscarriage or frozen pregnancy.

Measuring BT is a simple and accessible method for self-diagnosis of the state of the reproductive system and hormonal levels, allowing you to track disorders of various origins in the early stages. Minor and short-term deviations from the norm occur under the influence of external factors - overwork, stress, regular fluctuations indicate endocrine and inflammatory diseases.

A woman who wants to get pregnant is looking forward to the coveted positive test.

But how to determine pregnancy if the test does not show its presence? In this case, a graph with basal temperature readings can help, which helps give one hundred percent results if all the rules are followed. Basal temperature in early pregnancy is quite reliable and exact way definitions of conception. A pregnancy test is effective only 3-4 weeks after conception, and basal temperature shows it almost immediately.

Therefore, many representatives of the fair sex are interested in how to measure basal temperature to determine pregnancy. This is not easy to do, but the effectiveness of the indicators is worth the time it takes to create a special schedule.

In order to determine signs such as the onset of ovulation, a disorder or change at the hormonal level, as well as the time for conception, it is necessary to measure basal temperature - this is a low temperature indicator that is determined in the body at rest. Basal temperature is measured rectally, vaginally or orally.

How to measure basal temperature to determine pregnancy as correctly as possible?

Before you start keeping a schedule, you need to figure out how it works. A graph of basal temperature during pregnancy, the photo of which is a scale with temperature indicators, will be most reliable if you comply with a number of important requirements when measuring it. Any external and internal factors that affect a woman’s life, including:

• changes in diet, lifestyle;
• hormonal imbalance;
• bad habits;
• stress;
• change climate zone or moving;
• various diseases of internal organs;
• colds and viral diseases.

In addition, constant measurements over several months make it possible to identify possible hormonal abnormalities that prevent pregnancy. This allows you to take timely measures to normalize hormonal levels, which means that the possibility of getting pregnant increases significantly.

So, according to the graph, you can trace the deficiency of estrogen in a woman’s body. It manifests itself in elevated basal temperature values ​​in the period before ovulation. If you see reduced temperature readings on the graph during ovulation, this indicates poor estrogen production. Timely detection of disorders of the reproductive function of a woman’s body allows us to solve problems with conception. In this case, you need to contact a gynecologist and receive adequate treatment.

If the graph contains identical readings that do not change over time, then they indicate the absence of ovulation. In this case, the woman is unable to become pregnant. Based on examination and diagnosis, a gynecologist can give recommendations on how to eliminate disorders that negatively affect a woman’s ability to conceive a child. A basal temperature chart during pregnancy is not only an excellent opportunity to find out about your pregnancy, but also reliable way identifying disorders in a woman’s genitourinary function.

Basal temperature in early pregnancy will be most accurate and correct if the measurement is carried out:

• early morning, before the woman got out of bed;
• at the same time, and the error between daily measurements should not exceed half an hour;
• at the same measurement location, so you need to select one measurement method in advance, for example, orally or vaginally.

In order not to get out of bed in the morning, you need to put a thermometer so that it is always at hand. In this case, the duration of sleep should be at least 5 hours a day. This means that getting out of bed at night to drink water is undesirable, since the readings will be distorted. To get the correct readings, in this case you need to take them after waking up for the first time during the night.

If you are interested in the question of what the basal temperature should be during pregnancy in the first few weeks, then this indicator varies between 37.1 o C - 37.2 o C. These indicators may change if the woman took alcoholic drinks the day before, had sexual intercourse, suffered from insomnia or suffered from any illness, including colds, acute respiratory infections.

Also, basal temperature readings are significantly affected by intake. hormonal drugs, so the graph will be uninformative. Any factor can distort the data, so if you want to get accurate information, you need to exclude all factors that affect hormonal levels.

Each measurement method has several nuances. For example, when introducing a thermometer orally, it must be kept under the tongue for at least 4-5 minutes. If the temperature is measured rectally, then the thermometer must be inserted 5 centimeters into the rectum, and it must be lubricated. With the vaginal method, you need to insert the thermometer halfway into the vagina. A regular thermometer should be held for 5-8 minutes, and an electronic thermometer should be held for at least 10-15 seconds or until the signal.

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 within the range of 36.4 o C - 36.8 o C. Such indicators indicate that all the necessary conditions are present 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 o C. This is due to the fact that during pregnancy there is an increased production of progesterone, which ensures full and normal growth and development eggs. At the same time, progesterone increases basal temperature, which suggests pregnancy.

Pregnant basal temperature charts are characterized by an increase in temperature during and after ovulation; if conception does not occur, then the readings begin to decrease. In this case, progesterone will begin to be produced in smaller quantities and will reduce the basal temperature on the graph to a minimum value, which will be observed until the next menstruation.

It helps determine the onset of pregnancy before a missed period. If you measure your basal temperature during ovulation and find increased performance, which will be stable over the next two weeks, then you can be congratulated on your pregnancy.

How to correctly chart your basal temperature?

First, you need to figure out what data is needed for the graph. To obtain reliable information, the following data is required:

• day of the start of the cycle;
• date of measurement day;
• reading of the thermometer used to measure basal temperature;
• the presence of discharge, as well as its nature;
• a list of provoking factors that could change the indications.

Basal temperature during pregnancy should be elevated before the delay. At the same time, you can track its growth using a special graph, which reflects all the data and indicators. To compose it correctly, you should adhere to clear rules.

So, while maintaining a schedule, a woman’s vaginal discharge may change. For example, they may be bloody, sticky or mucous, yellowish, or complete absence. Taking notes about the nature of the discharge is necessary in order to represent full picture. So, during ovulation, a woman experiences watery discharge from the vagina.

In addition, when drawing up a graph, you need to note all the factors that can change the temperature. If a woman did not sleep well or had sexual intercourse immediately before measuring her temperature, then such moments must be reflected on the graph. At the same time, the basal temperature during the day during pregnancy is unreliable, since the measurement must be carried out in the morning, before the woman gets out of bed.

Making a schedule is not difficult, the main thing is to do it correctly. All you need to draw up is a sheet of paper on which you need to mark two lines: vertical and horizontal. This creates a coordinate axis. The first axis indicates the days of the menstrual cycle, and the other indicates the degree of basal temperature. Degrees are indicated based on the calculation - 1 cell of the sheet is equal to 0.1 o C. On the sheet with the graph, you need to indicate the measurements obtained daily.

To obtain the most reliable and correct information, the schedule must be maintained for at least 2-3 months; if necessary, this period can be extended. This will help to understand whether there are any deviations in the woman’s health and how the nature of basal temperature and discharge changes.

What do you need to know to make a schedule correctly? Firstly, a healthy woman has a menstrual cycle of 21-35 days. If it is shorter or longer than the specified norm, then this is a good reason to consult a gynecologist, since a woman may have ovarian dysfunction or other disorders of the genitourinary system or diseases.

The graph reflects the onset of ovulation, which divides it into two phases. In this case, the middle of the graph is ovulation. The most optimal time for conceiving a child is the day of ovulation and a few days after it. There are situations when, during the preovular period, the value does not decrease before ovulation, but increases. There is no need to worry about this, as this phenomenon is normal. Most likely, ovulation has already occurred.

Do you want to know what the basal temperature is during pregnancy? Each woman is individual and has her own menstrual cycle, so these values ​​can be observed within the range of 37.1 o C - 37.3 o C. In this case, you need to pay attention to the difference in basal temperature between the phases. If it exceeds 0.4 o C, then these increased values ​​indicate a hormonal imbalance. Therefore, you need to take a blood test to measure the level of progesterone and estrogen, which will help identify the cause of the deviation, and therefore increase the chances of conception.

Frozen pregnancy is extremely rare. But such a phenomenon does happen. If you trace the readings of the graph in the early stages, then there are significant visual differences between a normal and frozen pregnancy. So, when the development of the embryo stops, the level of progesterone decreases, which means that the basal temperature will be significantly reduced. If it drops to 36.9 o C and below, then this indicates a frozen pregnancy.

It can occur due to many unfavorable factors, among which:

• Availability infectious diseases genitourinary system;
• hormonal imbalance, which causes progesterone levels to decrease;
• increased production of male hormones;
• stress;
• bad habits;
• in vitro fertilization.

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

What does basal temperature show?

Basal temperature (BT) is the temperature of a sleeping person . Its indicators are very closely related to the level of hormones in the blood. Female hormones, produced by a woman’s ovaries, affect thermoreceptors and create cyclic fluctuations in BBT.

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

Throughout the entire monthly cycle, hormonal levels undergo sharp changes, but in general they have a certain consistency. With the help of regular measurements of basal temperature, a woman can essentially find out how correctly and stably her reproductive system is working .

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; failure to comply with them can significantly reduce the result obtained.

Therefore, before you start charting rectal temperature, you should thoroughly study all the intricacies of this procedure:

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

Factors influencing BT indicators

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

So, what reasons can cause 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.
• Severe physical fatigue, exhaustion.
• Cold either chronic illness, general rise in temperature.
• Taking medications - sedatives, sleeping pills, hormonal drugs.
• Sleep less than 6 hours.
• Severe stress.
• Intense mental work.
• Climate change, time zone change.
• Smoking.

In order to be able to track how this or that factor affected the temperature and not be misled by false indicators, you need to make appropriate notes on the side of the graph itself. In addition, doctors recommend entering data on discharge into a table: color, consistency, quantity .

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

In medicine, there are five types of temperature curve. The very first type is characteristic of a normal cycle. The remaining four indicate a deficiency of one or another hormone.

Provided that a 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 ovulation, it drops sharply to 36.3-36.2. Then the indicator grows rapidly and within a day rises to 36.6-36.7.

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

When taking oral contraceptives, BT 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, you should definitely see a doctor, but only if the woman is sure that she did everything correctly and the BT measurements were carried out without violations.