Determination of Ovulation by Basal Temperature (Checked!). How to measure basal temperature to determine ovulation or pregnancy with a conventional thermometer Ovulation temperature chart

Reading 11 min. Views 1.4k. Published on 08.03.2019

Measurement of basal temperature is one of the most common ways to determine ovulation. The temperature indicator reflects the state of the hormonal background for a certain time period. But the measurement process contains a lot of significant nuances that every woman who monitors her health needs to familiarize herself with.

Due to the fact that the indicator changes throughout the entire menstrual cycle, it can be used to determine ovulation. It is practiced at the stage of pregnancy planning. To obtain the most reliable result, it is necessary to conduct research in accordance with a certain algorithm.

Clean chart of basal temperature

What is basal body temperature?

Basal temperature is a criterion that reflects the work of internal organs. It is measured by inserting a thermometer into the vagina, rectal opening (5 minutes in both cases) or mouth (Approximately 8 minutes or until the beep if the thermometer is digital). Measurements are made in the morning, without getting up from bed. At each stage of the menstrual cycle, BT is amenable to change. According to it, one can judge the usefulness of the processes taking place in the female body at the current moment.

How is basal body temperature different from body temperature?

Many are interested in whether the basal temperature depends on the overall body temperature. There is a connection between them. If one indicator goes up, the other goes up as well. But clear patterns in the differences are not observed. BT is determined exclusively at rest. It is influenced by internal processes, including hormonal levels. Its increase indicates the beginning of the inflammatory process, and the increase in BBT reflects the hormonal status.

Basal body temperature during ovulation

To understand what basal temperature should be during ovulation, it is enough to study the principle of its change at each stage of the menstrual cycle. This information will help increase the likelihood successful conception child. To make an accurate forecast, it is necessary to observe BT from 3 to 6 months. Women with irregular cycles experience particular difficulty in evaluating the result.

It will not work to determine ovulation by basal temperature the first time. After each measurement, the data is recorded in a special notebook. Based on the information received, a graph is built. BT on the day of ovulation will be depicted on it in the form of a retraction - the very minimum value. Most often, the oocyte becomes ready for fertilization on days 14-15 of the cycle, which is its middle. Therefore, on the schematic chart, the decline will be located in this area.

Basal temperature before ovulation

After the end of menstruation, a systematic decrease in the BBT indicator is observed. This is due to a reduced supply of progesterone in the follicular phase of the cycle. The dominant role at this time is given to estrogens. They stimulate the ovaries and keep the level of BT low.

What is the basal temperature during ovulation?

BBT before ovulation falls by 0.1–0.4 ° C, and after ovulation, the basal temperature is 37. This is due to an increase in progesterone. Indications may be distorted under the influence of the following factors:

• Excessive physical activity the day before;
• Hormonal disorders;
• drug therapy;
• sexual intercourse;
• Inflammatory process;
• Change of climatic conditions.

Basal body temperature after ovulation

After a viable egg leaves the follicle, an increase in progesterone begins in the female body. Under its influence, BT also increases. During the heyday PMS symptoms growth of progesterone stops. For this reason, temperatures also decrease. If strong jumps are observed during this period of time, hormonal disorders can also be discussed. BBT after ovulation, if conception has occurred, will increase further. It grows along with the hormone produced by the corpus luteum, holding the embryo in the uterus. If BT has fallen after ovulation, the cause may be a lack of progesterone caused by pathologies of the corpus luteum. In this case, treatment with hormonal drugs is required. The chance of pregnancy is reduced.

If fertilization has occurred, BT after ovulation will help to diagnose it far from immediately. It increases gradually. It is possible to judge a possible conception only directly during the period of the alleged menstruation. But the use of a pregnancy test will be more relevant.

How to measure basal temperature?

Every woman of reproductive age who decides to have a child should be aware of how. This will help to correctly determine the fertile period, thereby increasing the chances of a favorable fertilization. Measurement of BT is carried out immediately after waking up. The procedure is always carried out at the same time. To wake up on time, it is advisable to start an alarm clock. Since any physical activity can affect the final result, it is better to limit it.

It is necessary to analyze in detail how to measure basal temperature correctly. The measuring device is slowly introduced into the rectal opening for 4-5 minutes. After the specified time, the result is recorded in a notebook. The following factors may affect the effectiveness of the procedure:

• Intense sex at night;
• Decreased physical activity in the evening;
• Disruption of the digestive system;
• Change of time zone;
• Taking medications on a hormonal basis;
• The use of alcoholic beverages;
• Inflammatory process in the pelvis.

The evaluation of the results is carried out 3 months after the start of measurements. For the convenience of determining fertility, you can use programs that facilitate the process of plotting.

Features of measuring basal temperature

The study of BT will be indicative only if the measurements are taken correctly. Manipulations are carried out for at least 3 months. All this time, the data is recorded in a separate notebook. Based on them, graphs are built to identify the exact day the egg is released in each individual case. During measurements, the following rules must be observed:

1. When choosing a thermometer, it is better to give preference to mercury. It shows the most reliable result.
2. Measurements must always be taken at the same time. It is advisable to use an alarm clock.
3. After waking up, you can not make active movements. The study is carried out without getting out of bed. For convenience, you should place the thermometer as close to the bed as possible.
4. The thermometer should be kept in the rectal opening for at least 5 minutes (Longer is better and more accurate).
5. The duration of uninterrupted sleep on the eve of measurements should be more than 6 hours.
6. Immediately before going to bed, it is advisable to refrain from intimacy.

BBT measurement in the mouth

When the basal temperature is measured through the mouth, you should not take unnecessary gestures and conversations. After waking up, quickly place a mercury thermometer under the tongue and wait 5 to 8 minutes. When using an electronic thermometer, wait until the beep sounds.

There should be no pain, pressure, or other discomfort from the thermometer. Since this can stimulate the flow of excess blood and increase the temperature

How is BBT measured in the vagina?

1. After waking up and moving as little as possible, lie on one side;
2. Insert a pre-prepared thermometer by about 3–4 cm;
3. After 5 minutes, you can get a thermometer.

When measuring with a mercury thermometer, it is necessary to evaluate the results immediately, since over time the mercury column can drop by 0.05 degrees.

Thermometer for measuring basal temperature

The main question that worries women concerns which thermometer to measure basal temperature. For this procedure, the mercury version is more suitable. But as an alternative, you can use digital. It is considered more convenient, but it should be remembered that the error in case of its use is 0.2-0.3°C. A mercury thermometer allows you to get a more reliable result. Where to insert a thermometer when measuring basal temperature, everyone chooses independently. The device is inserted into the oral cavity or rectal opening. The second option is the most preferable and the most accurate in the results.

The norm of basal temperature

In the first phase normal counts BT within 36.6-37°C. Its regulation is carried out by estrogen. With significant deviations in the result of the study, the root of the problem may lie in hormonal disorders. During the period of rejection of the endometrial layer, BT in women is in the range of 36.3 - 36.5 ° C.

Basal temperature at conception

Knowing what the basal temperature should be after conception, it is possible to diagnose an interesting situation according to the constructed schedule. Often, everything becomes clear in the days of the start of the alleged menstruation. Normally, if conception has occurred, the basal temperature increases as long as the vital activity of the corpus luteum continues. BBT during early pregnancy averages 37-37.3 ° C. If pregnancy has already been confirmed by a test or ultrasound, BBT deviations in the first trimester help to detect pathologies in the development of the baby in time.

Basal temperature during early pregnancy

BBT analysis is often performed at the initial stages of an interesting situation in order to detect various pathologies early. The basal temperature during pregnancy in the 1st trimester is located at the upper limits. Basal temperature after ovulation if fertilization has occurred can exceed 37 ° C. With an ectopic pregnancy, it does not change, so it is impossible to diagnose a pathology with its help. If the indicator decreases, then the woman should wait for the next menstruation. There is also the possibility of a miscarriage.

Basal temperature before menstruation

In the second half of the menstrual cycle, it is very difficult to diagnose pregnancy according to the BT schedule. An increase in indicators can indicate both a successful conception and an early onset of menstruation. Which BT dominates before menstruation depends on the characteristics of the body and factors affecting the body from the outside. As a rule, it is less than 36°C. Basal temperature during menstruation ranges from 36.3 to 36.5 ° C. BBT after menstruation begins to gradually increase, but does not exceed the mark of 37 ° C.

Basal temperature after IVF

The course of pregnancy after in vitro fertilization is not much different from conventional conception. All processes in the female body during this period proceed according to a certain pattern. The only difference is that a woman needs support in the form of drugs with the presence of hormones in the composition.

BBT after embryo transfer after IVF is reduced to minimal values. During this period, the attachment of the fetal egg is carried out in the body. This process may take 1-2 days. BBT after IVF is tracked by day for the dynamics of the engraftment of the embryo in the uterine cavity.

How does alcohol affect basal body temperature?

At the stage of planning a child, it is better to refrain from drinking alcohol. But sometimes a woman allows herself a glass of wine before going to bed. Be aware of the effect of alcohol on basal body temperature. It increases the temperature indicators, which can distort the reliability of the results of the study.

Basal temperature with ovarian cyst

Cystic formations in the appendage can be a serious obstacle to pregnancy. Therefore, it is necessary to detect them as early as possible, preventing possible complications. One of the signs of deviation is an increase in the level of BT. On the finished chart, it will be high throughout the cycle. Menstruation will be delayed. With cystic formation in the corpus luteum, an increase in BBT can be significant. This is due to the intensive production of progesterone.

Implantation drop in basal temperature

On a graph based on BT, one can trace the period of implantation of the fetal egg into the endometrium. This will help to diagnose pregnancy in time and track the growth of hCG. On which day the implantation retraction of BT occurs depends on the speed of the embryo and on when ovulation occurred. On certain graphs, it is quite difficult to detect implantation retraction of BT. By how many degrees the indicator decreases, it is impossible to predict. Usually there is a range of 3-5°C.

Duphaston and basal temperature

When planning a child, some women are prescribed Duphaston. This drug contains progesterone, which helps keep the fertilized egg in the uterus. It acts on the body by analogy with the hormone produced by the adrenal glands and the corpus luteum. It’s easy to guess whether duphaston affects basal temperature. It increases significantly, as the drug introduces the ovaries into a state of the luteal phase.

Basal temperature during menopause

With the onset of menopause, hormonal changes occur in the female reproductive system. It affects the operation of all life support systems. Therefore, many women face the question of what kind of BT with menopause. Ideally, it should be located approximately at the same level, in the range from 36.8 to 37 ° C. A sharp increase in the temperature mark can provoke the following factors:

• endocrine diseases;
• Jumps in blood pressure;
• Lack of sleep;
• Inflammatory processes;
• Colds and SARS.

In rare cases, ovulation occurs during menopause. In this case, characteristic changes in BT will be observed. We can also talk about gynecological diseases. During menopause, the risk of developing fibroids, warts and infectious diseases increases. This is due to a decrease in the body's defense mechanisms.

Chart decoding

BT is decrypted according to the schedule. Horizontally indicate the days of the menstrual cycle, and vertically indicate the temperature. After each measurement on the graph, you need to put a dot in front of the corresponding number. After the end of the cycle, the points are connected, forming a curved line.

If you count 14 days from the end of the cycle, you can get the day of ovulation. It is highlighted with a red horizontal line. Immediately 1-2 days before the rupture of the follicle, the temperature should decrease by 0.1-0.4 ° C. If ovulation occurs without any problems, an increase in BBT will be detected on the right side of the graph. After 3 cycles of observations, the average value of BT should be derived.

BBT during ovulation is evaluated in conjunction with other research results. The effectiveness of diagnostics is increased by ultrasound monitoring, analysis of cervical mucus and the use of specialized tests.

When a family is planning a pregnancy, it is very important to keep track of the state of the body of the expectant mother. Those who have already encountered this issue know that the chances of fertilization increase precisely during the period of ovulation.

The modern medical market offers special tests to determine this period, but they are expensive and not always accurate. The chart of basal temperature during ovulation with explanations will help you learn how to determine it yourself.

How it all works

The female monthly cycle is divided into two phases. During the first phase, maturation of female germ cells (follicles) occurs in the female ovaries. One of the follicles (dominant) matures earlier than the others, after which it bursts, and a mature egg comes out of it - this is the ovulation period, which usually occurs in the middle of the cycle.

After ovulation, the second phase begins, during which a special gland is formed in the place of the burst follicle in the form of a corpus luteum, which produces hormones (including progesterone). During this period, the lining of the uterus becomes loose and ready to receive a fertilized egg. If this does not happen, menstruation begins in about two weeks.

In the first phase, the hormone estrogen “dominates” in the female body, in the second phase progesterone appears, and its appearance is reflected on the graph when measuring temperature - it rises. When the corpus luteum dies, temperature indicators gradually decrease. If fertilization has occurred, progesterone continues to be produced, and then the temperature indicators remain high.

Why keep a schedule

1. Determine the most favorable day for conception

Basal temperature is measured in the morning immediately after waking up until the moment the woman got out of bed. If you plot graphs for several months in a row, you can know exactly the day of ovulation and, therefore,

2. Find out the days when you are more likely to get pregnant

If you are not yet striving to become a mother, the chart will help you identify the most “dangerous” days, when the probability of conception increases several times. On such days, you need to be as careful as possible and protect yourself from unwanted pregnancy.

3. Learn more about your health

Monthly charts will help you understand if you have health problems, hormonal disruptions, inflammation or diseases of the genitourinary system. With their help, you can find the answer to the question why for a long time it is not possible to conceive a child. To find out if everything is in order with your health, it is advisable to start keeping a schedule at least 3-4 months before the expected date of conception.

4. Plan the gender of the unborn child

It is believed that if you plan sexual intercourse on the day on which ovulation occurred, the likelihood of conceiving a boy increases. If the family dreams of a girl, it is advisable to make love 2-3 days before the expected date.

How to measure basal temperature to determine ovulation

To get the right readings, it's important to stay in bed throughout the night and take your temperature as soon as you wake up. The measurement must be taken rectally or vaginally. Hold the thermometer for at least 5-10 minutes. It is important to completely relax, close your eyes and immerse yourself in a state close to sleep.

It is better to give preference to a more accurate mercury thermometer, since even tenths of a degree are very important when measuring basal temperature before and after ovulation.

Here are some more important clarifications:

• Measurements must be started from the first day of menstruation.
• You cannot change the selected method of determination and the type of thermometer during one cycle.
• It is important to measure indicators at the same time (permissible deviation - no more than half an hour).
• Before measuring, the duration of sleep should be at least 5-6 hours in a row. The most accurate indicators are obtained precisely after a night's sleep.

There are many factors that affect the performance and can change them:

• climate zone change;
• changes in lifestyle and diet;
• lack of sleep in the last two days;
• sexual intercourse the day before;
• stress;
• bad habits(smoking and alcohol);
• taking antibiotics and / or hormonal pills;
• colds.

Please note that when taking contraceptives, measuring basal temperature does not make sense at all, since these drugs generally block the maturation of eggs.

How to keep a schedule

Take a sheet of squared paper and draw two axes: vertical and horizontal. On the vertical axis, plot temperature values ​​from 36 to 38 degrees so that one cell equals 0.1 degrees. Under the horizontal axis, write down the dates and days of the menstrual cycle. From 37 degrees, draw a horizontal line across the chart (for convenience, highlight it in a bright color - for example, red or green).

After each measurement, it is necessary to put a point at the intersection of the temperature indicator and the day of the menstrual cycle. Then the points need to be connected to each other. At the same time, under the horizontal axis opposite the date, you must write all the factors that could affect the result, as well as make notes about your own well-being.

It is important not to miss a single day so that the observing gynecologist can see the most accurate picture.

Norm or not: decoding indicators

In the first days of the cycle (during menstruation), temperature indicators usually fluctuate around 36.9-37.2 degrees. Further, at the end of menstruation, the temperature indicators decrease to 36.2-36.7 degrees. They remain at this level throughout the first phase - that is, during the first week and a half. It is important to understand that the indicators will not be the same every day: they may remain within the normal range, but will almost always fluctuate at least a couple of tenths of a degree.

How to determine ovulation by basal temperature? Before its onset, the value on the thermometer drops sharply by 0.5 degrees, and sometimes a little more. Such a change cannot be overlooked. When ovulation occurs, the indicators rise sharply to 37 and above (up to an average of 37.4).

If fertilization has not occurred, then no later than in a couple of days, the indicators will begin to gradually decrease and will soon reach the values ​​that were in the first phase. If conception has occurred, the indicators will remain at a level slightly above 37 degrees.

Why doesn't basal body temperature rise after ovulation?

Due to various health reasons, ovulation may not occur in the middle of the cycle. This phenomenon has received a completely logical name - anovulation. With this phenomenon, the egg is absent and.

As you know, right after ovulation, which going on approximately in the middle of the cycle, the temperature should rise, but during anovulation it remains approximately at the same level and does not rise above 36.9 degrees. Although the absence of this phenomenon is considered a pathology, it passes almost asymptomatically: menstruation is regular and the patient does not have any complaints.

There can be quite a few reasons for anovulation, here are the main ones:

• young age (from 15 to 18 years);
• postpartum period;
• period breastfeeding;
• the use of oral contraceptives;
• the use of certain hormonal drugs;
• great physical activity;
• stress;
• serious deviations from the norm in weight (wasting or obesity).

However, you should not worry ahead of time, because the temperature chart does not always provide accurate information. There are many stories when a woman, despite the anovulatory schedule of basal temperature, ( forums for expectant mothers are often full of such happy headlines). The fact is that the increase (or, conversely, the lack of it) can be influenced by many factors:

• incorrect measurement (maybe you got up at night to go to the toilet, but forgot about it, or you don’t hold the thermometer long enough);
• sexual intercourse immediately before or on the eve of the measurement;
• colds.

In addition, you need to know that even a completely healthy woman can have up to 4 anovulatory cycles per year. After the age of 40, the number of ovulations varies on average from 3 to 5 per year.

Of course, in some cases, the absence of ovulation may indicate the presence of inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system or diseases of the thyroid gland and some other internal organs. It is highly recommended in such a situation to take tests for hormones, to conduct an ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland and pelvic organs, and some other studies that will be prescribed by the attending physician.

However, do not forget that the measurement of basal temperature to determine ovulation This is just an auxiliary diagnostic method. It is far from always accurate, and it is necessary to measure the temperature for three cycles in a row in order to talk about any suspicion of a pathology. It is better, in addition to this method, to acquire and use both methods of determining the appropriate day of conception.

How to track ovulation by basal temperature? Is it possible to accurately determine the moment when the egg leaves the follicle? How to read the basal temperature chart and find the ovulation period on it? Can basal temperature not show ovulation?

To increase the likelihood of pregnancy, it is necessary to calculate the period of ovulation. This can be done using various methods, but the most popular is the measurement of basal temperature, this method is best suited for determining ovulation at home. The essence of the method is to measure the basal temperature (BT) every morning and enter it into a special schedule. Based on BBT fluctuations, you can get ahead of when ovulation occurs. The method also helps to identify the presence of problems with the genitals. It is used to determine pregnancy in the early stages.

How to determine ovulation by basal temperature

Based on the basal temperature, it is quite simple to calculate ovulation: you need to observe how the temperature changes and know the optimal values ​​\u200b\u200bfor a particular period. You can track ovulation in a specific cycle by basal temperature using a special chart where you enter your BBT values ​​from the first day of the cycle. In the first phase, as a rule, minimum values ​​are observed. It is necessary to measure the basal temperature on the first day of menstruation, these indications are important for the further detection of ovulation. After the first day of the cycle, BT remains within 36.3 - 36.5 degrees (indications are individual). You can determine ovulation using a jump in basal temperature. First, BBT stabilizes, which indicates an early ovulation, and then drops by about 0.1-0.2 degrees.

A sharp decrease in temperature readings before the release of the egg from the follicle allows you to calculate ovulation quite accurately, so even the day of ovulation can be known from the basal temperature. However, not all women have a pronounced jump, which complicates the task. In some cases, it is completely impossible to recognize ovulation by basal temperature, this is not common, in most women, according to the schedule, all the processes that occur in the body are clearly read.

If the temperature in the first phase is important to determine ovulation, then it is necessary to measure the basal temperature in the second phase to detect the onset of pregnancy. If BBT stays above 37 degrees for 12 or more days, then in most cases this indicates successful fertilization.

How to determine ovulation according to the basal temperature chart

How to read the basal temperature chart? How to find the ovulation period on it? These questions are asked by many women who use the BT method to identify the optimal days for conception. According to the basal temperature chart, determining ovulation is easy. Find the minimum value in the table, then count six days from that day (the day with the minimum value will be the first). Among these days, you need to find those in which the maximum basal temperature was observed. We draw a horizontal line through these values, which will help determine the day of ovulation. This is the middle line, below it and on it are the first-phase values, normally they are low. The measurements recorded in the second phase are above the midline, since they are high in the absence of pathologies. Ovulation is indicated by the intersection of the graph and the middle line: the day where they stopped can be considered the day of ovulation.

To determine from the schedule whether there was ovulation in a given cycle, it is necessary to take into account the second phase. Ovulation in the cycle took place if, after the expected day of the release of the egg, an increase in temperature was recorded, displayed in the graph by values ​​above the horizontal line.

Can basal temperature not show ovulation

Basal temperature may not show ovulation in the cycle, although it has occurred. Most often, this error is due to incorrect BT measurements. Many women forget that the temperature must be measured at the same time, in the morning, before the start of any activity. The indications are affected by insomnia, stress, medication, colds, etc. Also, during the cycle, it is impossible to change the method for determining BT and the thermometer with which measurements are made.

If BT did not show ovulation, then this may indicate a so-called infertile cycle. Even in healthy women, this phenomenon occurs. Infertile cycles can be up to four times a year, and this is considered the norm. Exceeding the number of anovulatory cycles and their appearance in a row is an alarm signal that requires an urgent trip to the antenatal clinic.

Basal body temperature (BT) is the lowest body temperature per day, which is reached during sleep. It is measured rectally, at rest, immediately after waking up.

Keeping a schedule and measuring basal temperature after ovulation helps in planning and diagnosing pregnancy.

What is basal body temperature

Measurement of BBT helps to determine the state of the hormonal background, as well as the fertile phase of the cycle.

Many factors influence its performance:

• poor sleep (lack of sleep, frequent awakenings, etc.);
• psycho-emotional tension, stress;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (for example, diarrhea);
• alcohol intake;
• physical exercise;
• sexual intercourse;
• cold;
• taking certain medications;
• climate change.

These factors must be taken into account when drawing up the schedule.

BBT is essential for assessing the menstrual cycle. Knowing the norms and comparing with your indicators, you can determine the violations and even the presence of diseases of the reproductive system.

1. In the first (follicular) phase of the cycle, the BT level ranges from 36.1 to 36.7 degrees;
2. The day before ovulation, there is a drop in temperature by 0.5 degrees;
3. During and after ovulation, the indicator reaches 37-37.4 degrees;
4. The basal temperature after the day of ovulation and the rest of the time before menstruation is kept at around 37 degrees;
5. It drops to 36.7-36.8 a couple of days before the start of menstruation.

Deviations from the above figures are also possible. This indicates the normal course of the cycle. The main thing is that there is no difference between the phases over 0.4 degrees.

Know! Even in healthy women, the temperature can be at the same mark for the entire cycle. This indicates an anovulatory cycle, that is, a cycle without ovulation and a phase of development of the corpus luteum.

Menstruation in this case comes on time. This is a rare occurrence, which is more characteristic of puberty or menopause.

Basal temperature charts

To build a reliable graph, you need to know how to measure basal temperature:

• It is necessary to measure the temperature immediately after sleep, you can not get up. Usually measured after a night's sleep, it should be at least 4-5 hours;
• Measured rectally. There are also vaginal and oral methods, but they are not standard;
• Use the same thermometer to measure. Prepare it in the evening (knock down and put closer). Extra movements before the measurement are not needed;
• Hold the thermometer by the top so as not to bring down the readings.

The graph must be maintained daily, marking the result with a dot, and then connecting all the dots with a line. Usually, a schedule is drawn up not for one cycle, but for several. The schedule of one cycle is uninformative.

A graphic image will help track changes in hormonal levels during the cycle. To build, you can use a ready-made chart, of which there are many on the network. And you can draw yourself.

On the horizontal x-axis, cycle days are marked, and on the vertical y-axis, temperature. The result is marked on the graph with a dot, and then the dots are connected to each other.

How to determine ovulation

In the first part of the cycle, the dominant hormone is estrogen.

1. It stimulates the restoration of the functional layer of the endometrium, its thickening, increases the secretion of mucus in the cervix;
2. The increased content of estrogen in the blood stimulates the contraction of smooth muscles, the microvilli of the fallopian tubes, facilitating the movement of spermatozoa to merge with the egg;
3. The normal indicator for this phase is 36.1-36.7 degrees.

During the ovulatory period, luteinizing hormone is released.

• This hormone is responsible for the appearance of an egg (for ovulation);
• When this hormone is released into the blood, there is a decrease in estrogen and BBT (by 0.5 degrees). This goes on for 24 to 48 hours;
• A longer drop in temperature may indicate problems in the work of the ovaries;
• This is the best time to conceive.

How else can you determine ovulation:

1. for pain in the ovary;
2. changes in cervical fluid.

After ovulation, the basal temperature rises to 37 degrees. Its increase is affected by progesterone. It is he who prevails in the second part of the cycle, preparing the uterus for the implantation of the zygote.

Basal body temperature after ovulation

If fertilization has occurred, the basal temperature after ovulation is kept at around 37-37.4 degrees. In some cases, the indicator allows you to determine the conception before the delay.

There is such a thing as "implantation retraction". This is a decrease in BBT at 5-12 days after fertilization. After that, the indicator returns to normal and no longer falls.

Important! If conception has occurred and the temperature has dropped, there is a high risk of abortion.

Sometimes the temperature drops after ovulation. It might say:

• About the lack of a corpus luteum;

The problem in this case is low progesterone levels. It is this hormone that is responsible for raising the temperature, preparing the endometrium of the uterus for implantation of the fetal egg.

Progesterone also prevents menstruation.

• About the death of the egg;

If the fusion with the sperm does not occur, the egg dies. Its viability is only 12-24 hours (less often up to 48).

Due to the absence of a zygote (fertilized egg), the level of the hormone drops, and the BBT indicator decreases.

Important! If BBT remains at the same level after ovulation, this may indicate hormonal problems. Progesterone deficiency can be a symptom of incorrect ovarian function.

There are many factors that cause progesterone deficiency and luteal phase dysfunction. They may be associated with pathologies of the organs of the reproductive system, violations of its functions, etc. Only a doctor can determine this, based on additional diagnostics and test results.

Symptoms indicating low progesterone:

1. problems with conception;
2. short menstrual cycle;
3. early termination of pregnancy.

How to determine conception according to the basal temperature chart

In order to determine pregnancy using a chart, it is necessary to conduct it continuously for several cycles.

If the basal temperature rises after ovulation, there is no usual decrease in the indicator, pregnancy can be assumed. Usually the indicator is kept at around 37-37.4 degrees.

Important! A temperature above 37 degrees in the first phase and 37.5 in the second phase may indicate an inflammatory process occurring in the body. For diagnosis and treatment, you must consult a doctor.

It is possible to measure BBT to determine conception, but this is not the most reliable way, since many third-party factors can affect it.

This method will be more useful for determining ovulation and favorable days for conception.

To learn how to prepare for pregnancy and conceive a healthy baby, see the online course

Ovulation is a process that takes place in the body of a healthy woman, which is associated with the release of an egg into the fallopian tube for further fertilization. Knowing when you ovulate can help you plan your pregnancy or prevent unwanted conception. There are several methods for determining it, but the most accessible and simple is the measurement of basal body temperature.

What is it?

Basal body temperature (BBT) is an indicator that is measured in a state of complete rest, in the anus, immediately after waking up in the morning. It is a reflection of the hormonal background of a woman and allows you to identify problems in the work of the sex glands. However, more often BTT is used to determine the days favorable for conception.

Many gynecologists advise women to keep their own basal temperature chart. Especially for those who are planning to replenish the family. The schedule of basal temperature during ovulation has its own characteristics. It allows you to calculate the most suitable day for getting pregnant. The basal temperature directly depends on the hormonal processes in the woman's body.

and its phases

Created for procreation, therefore, all the processes occurring in it are aimed at ensuring conception and preparing the body for pregnancy and childbirth. The menstrual cycle has three consecutive phases: follicular, ovulatory and luteal.

The first phase begins with menstrual bleeding, then the formation of a follicle in the ovary and the formation of a new endometrium. Its duration can suggest a graph of basal temperature. Its normal duration is 1-3 weeks. In this phase, the follicle-stimulating hormone and estrogen play a role. It ends with the maturation of the follicle.

The second phase is ovulation itself. The walls of the follicle rupture, and the egg passes through the fallopian tube towards the sperm. The phase lasts about 2 days. If fertilization occurs, then the embryo attaches to the endometrium, if not, the egg dies. On a normal day, ovulation is at its lowest level for the entire cycle.

In the third phase, the production of progesterone begins. It is produced by the corpus luteum, which formed at the site of the ruptured follicle. The basal temperature after ovulation changes upwards - by 0.4-0.6 ° C. During this period, the female body prepares for bearing and preserving the fetus. If conception does not occur, then the concentration of female sex hormones decreases, and the circle closes, the follicular phase begins. Its duration is normal for all women is about 2 weeks.

Why do temperature fluctuations occur?

The measurement of basal temperature during ovulation as a method characterizing hormonal changes in a woman's body was proposed in 1953 by the scientist Marshall. And now approved by WHO as an official method for detecting fertility. Its basis is a regular change in the concentration of progesterone in the blood. This hormone affects the thermoregulatory center in the brain, which causes a local increase in temperature in the organs and tissues of the small pelvis. That is why a sharp increase in temperature in the anal region occurs in the luteal phase.

Thus, ovulation divides the menstrual cycle into two parts: in the first, the average temperature is approximately 36.6-36.8 ° C. Then it drops by 0.2-0.3 ° C for 2 days, and then rises to 37-37.3 degrees and stays at this level almost until the end of the cycle. A normal basal temperature chart during ovulation is called biphasic.

Measuring your BBT can help you pinpoint a fertile day with high accuracy. According to statistics, it is known that the highest probability of getting pregnant will fall on the day before and after the temperature rise - 30% each. 2 days before the jump - 21%, 2 days after - 15%. Pregnancy can occur with a 2% chance if fertilization occurs 3 or 4 days before the temperature rises.

What is this method used for?

If you constantly draw up a graph of basal temperature, the norm and pathology begin to be traced literally after 2-3 cycles. The resulting curves can answer many questions. Therefore, gynecologists strongly recommend this method to solve the following problems:

• Definition have a good day for conception.
• Early diagnosis of pregnancy.
• As a method of contraception.
• Identification of malfunctions in the work of the sex glands.

Basically, basal temperature is measured to calculate the day the ovulatory phase of the cycle begins. This is the easiest and cheapest way. It is very easy to determine ovulation by basal temperature if you take measurements regularly and follow all the rules.

Correct measurement is the key to the effectiveness of the method

In order for the results of the method to be true, it is necessary to follow all the instructions when measuring BBT, because it is very important that the basal temperature chart during ovulation includes only accurate and reliable data. There is a set of basic rules:

• Temperature measurement is carried out daily at the same time (optimally - 7.00-7.30) in the rectum.
• You must sleep for at least 3 hours before the procedure.
• If a woman needed to get out of bed before the measurement time, then the readings should be taken before taking a vertical position.
• The thermometer must first be prepared and placed near the bed. Shake it off before bed.
• You can measure the temperature only in a horizontal position, lying motionless on your side.
• During the cycle, you can not change the thermometer.
• It is better to enter readings in the graph immediately after the measurement.

For measurements, both a digital and a mercury thermometer are suitable. But an infrared thermometer is absolutely not intended for this method, since it has a high probability of an error in the results. Since the basal temperature before ovulation and on the day it starts differ by only 0.2-0.3 ° C, such a thermometer may not show this difference. An electronic thermometer gives large errors if you do not follow the instructions for its use. The most accurate readings can be obtained using a mercury thermometer, but it requires special care when handling.

When the received indicators may be incorrect

It must be remembered that the basal temperature during ovulation, the norm of which is individual for each woman, can fluctuate depending on the influence of various factors. Often, external influences on the body lead to the fact that BBT indicators are highly distorted and have no informative value. These factors include:

• Flights, transfers, business trips.
• Stress.
• Excessive intake of alcohol.
• Taking psychotropic and hormonal drugs.
• Inflammatory processes in the body, fever.
• Increased physical activity.
• Short sleep.
• Failure to follow measurement instructions.
• Sexual intercourse a few hours before the measurement.

If something from the above list happened, then you should not trust the measurements. And the day on which there was a violation can be ignored in the construction of the schedule.

How to plot a basal temperature chart

To build a graph of basal temperature, it is necessary to take measurements every day and make notes in a specially designated notebook. The graph is the intersection of two lines at a right angle. The vertical axis contains data on temperature, for example, from 35.7 to 37.3 ° C, and on the horizontal axis are the days of the menstrual cycle. Each cell corresponds to 0.1 °C and 1 day. After making the measurement, you need to find the day of the cycle on the graph, mentally draw a line up and put a dot in front of the desired temperature. At the end of the cycle, all points of the graph are connected, the resulting curve is an objective display of hormonal changes in the female body.

In the chart, you should indicate the current date and build a column for special notes. In order for the data to be sufficiently complete, you can describe your state of health, the symptoms that appear, or situations that could be reflected in a change in basal temperature.

If it is not very clear to a woman how to draw up a schedule of basal temperature, then a gynecologist from the antenatal clinic will definitely explain how to do this, and also help to decipher the data obtained.

Now there are many programs with which you can create an electronic schedule that will always be at hand. In this case, the woman just needs to enter the temperature. The program will do the rest.

Chart decoding

In this method of determining fertility, it is important not only to build, but also to decipher the basal temperature graphs. The norm for each woman is individual. However, there is an approximate view of the graph, which should be obtained if the gonads are working properly. To analyze the resulting curve, you need to build the following elements: overlapping line, ovulation line, duration of the second phase.

The overlapping (middle) line is built over 6 points of the follicular cycle without taking into account the first 5 days and days when the indicators deviated greatly due to external factors. This element has no meaning. But it is necessary for clarity.

The basal body temperature decreases on the day of ovulation, so in order to determine the day for a successful conception, you need to find successive points that are under the overlapping line. In this case, the temperature values ​​of 2 out of 3 points should differ by at least 0.1 °C from the midline, and at least 1 of them should have a difference of 0.2 °C with it. The next day after that, you can observe a jump of the point up by 0.3-0.4 degrees. In this place, you need to draw an ovulation line. If there are difficulties with this method, then you can use the "finger" rule to plot. To do this, it is necessary to exclude all points that differ by 0.2 degrees from the previous or subsequent indicator. And based on the resulting schedule, build an ovulation line.

The basal temperature after ovulation in the anus should be kept above 37 ° C for 2 weeks. Deviations in the duration of the second phase or a small jump in temperature indicate ovarian dysfunction or low productivity of the corpus luteum. If 2 cycles in a row the duration of the second phase does not exceed 10 days, then it is necessary to consult a gynecologist, since this is the main sign of progesterone deficiency of the luteal phase.

The basal temperature chart during ovulation should also correspond to the norm for such a parameter as the temperature difference between the follicular and luteal phases. This indicator should be equal to more than 0.4 ° C.

What does the schedule look like in the presence of ovulation and pathologies

The normal ovulatory schedule consists of two phases. In the first one, an average temperature of 36.5-36.8 °C can be observed for 1-3 weeks, then a drop by 0.2-0.3 °C and a sharp rise to 37 °C and above. In this case, the second part of the schedule should be no shorter than 12-16 days, and before the onset of bleeding, there is a slight decrease in temperature. Graphically it looks like this:

You should also give examples of basal temperature charts in which pathology is traced. The curve in this case will differ from the norm in various ways. If there is, then the temperature jump will be no more than 0.2-0.3 ° C. This condition is fraught with infertility, therefore, it requires an appeal to specialists.

If the second phase on the graph is shorter than 10 days, then this is a clear sign of progesterone deficiency. Usually, there is no decrease in temperature before the onset of menstrual bleeding. In this case, pregnancy is possible, but under the threat of interruption.

If there is a lack of estrogen in a woman's body, then the schedule will be chaotic, strikingly different from the norm. It may also be due to the influence of external factors (flights, excessive alcohol intake, inflammation, etc.).

When the curve does not have sharp jumps in temperature and is a monotonous graph, then this is called This happens in healthy women, but not more than 1-2 times a year. If this is repeated from cycle to cycle, then this may be a sign of infertility.

If, after the second phase, there is no decrease in temperature, then most likely the woman is pregnant.

Deciphering the basal temperature charts, examples of which are presented above, require specialist knowledge. Therefore, you should not independently draw conclusions, diagnose yourself and prescribe treatment.

Advantages and disadvantages of the method

The advantages of the method are its absolute availability, simplicity and complete absence of costs. When the basal temperature chart during ovulation is maintained by a woman regularly, this makes it possible to determine the days of ovulation, recognize early pregnancy in time or detect hormonal abnormalities and consult a gynecologist.

However, there are also downsides to the method. This method is not very accurate due to the individual characteristics of each organism. Here are its main disadvantages:

• It does not make it possible to predict when the ovulatory phase will come.
• Does not give accurate information about when ovulation occurred.
• It does not guarantee, even in the presence of a normal two-phase schedule, that ovulation really took place.
• Cannot give specific information about the quantitative content of progesterone in the blood.
• Does not provide data on the normal functioning of the corpus luteum.

In order to know exactly how informative the method is, it is necessary to take blood tests for female hormones and do an ultrasound in the first couple of cycles. If the data of the graph and research coincide, then the woman can easily keep a graph of basal temperature. The norm and deviations displayed on the curve, in this case, will correspond to reality.

This method is convenient, simple and does not require financial expenses. If you follow all the rules exactly and know how to decipher the basal temperature chart, then finding out the day of ovulation and planning conception is very easy. However, if there are any deviations from the norm, it is worth contacting a specialist to prevent the development of pathological processes.