When planning a baby, every girl can think about how to measure the basal temperature. According to this indicator, it is possible to judge ovulation or successful fertilization. Moreover, BT is able to indicate certain diseases in humans. Therefore, further we will find out how to correctly measure this indicator. In fact, this is not the most difficult task. And even a teenager can handle it.
About basal temperature
First, a few words about what indicator we will have to deal with next. What is BT?
Basal body temperature is the natural temperature of the human body. This component can only be obtained at rest. Physical activity distorts the real picture.
By BT, you can track the phases of the menstrual cycle, judge pregnancy or the presence of any diseases (most often tumors).
Important: in different phases of the menstrual cycle, the studied indicator will also be different. That is why you need to understand the rules for measuring BBT.
When to take readings
How to measure basal body temperature?This process does not require any special preparation. But in any case, a woman will have to remember some rules. In addition, it is necessary to deal with the decryption of the received data.
Measure the temperature only in the morning. In the evening or in the middle of the day, the readings on the thermometer will be inaccurate. And then the BT schedule will be distorted. Up to the point that a woman cannot determine pregnancy or ovulation.
Moreover, when obtaining data on basal temperature, you need to remember one simple rule - all manipulations are performed daily at the same time. It is advisable to do this at 6-7 in the morning, immediately after waking up.
Important: if a woman works the night shift and sleeps in the morning and afternoon, then it is allowed to measure in the daytime. The main thing is to rest for about 6-8 hours. Only proper sleep and lack of physical activity will help to get the most accurate information.
Methods of taking readings
How to measure basal body temperature correctly? Every modern girl will have to choose a method for solving the task.
For example, BT can be obtained:
- vaginally;
- oral;
- rectal.
The most accurate way to determine the studied indicator is the rectal measurement of body temperature. But you can also keep a thermometer in your mouth or in your vagina.
Important: when keeping records of BT, a woman will only have to stop at one of the suggested methods. Otherwise, there will be no result from the actions taken.
How long to keep a thermometer
How long to measure basal body temperature? The answer depends on the chosen method for solving the problem.
At the moment, you need to keep the thermometer in your mouth for 5 minutes. If a woman prefers measurements in the vagina or in the anus, you will have to wait 3 minutes. It is not recommended to remove the thermometer and record the results before.
Important: electronic measuring devices must be held until the "call".
How long to keep records
How to correctly measure the basal temperature to determine "day x" or pregnancy? Not every woman realizes that the task will have to be taken extremely responsibly.
The thing is that a single entry will not give any result. You will have to record changes in BBT daily throughout the entire menstrual cycle. It is necessary to start from the first day of the next critical days.
To correctly determine pregnancy or ovulation according to basal temperature readings, it is required to observe changes in several menstrual cycles. You can get by with just 3 months, but it’s better to take readings for six months.
Important: It is best if a woman constantly keeps records of BT. The more of them, the clearer the picture of the state of the girl's body is in the end.
About record keeping
In order to correctly measure the basal temperature to determine ovulation or pregnancy, you must be guided by some simple rules. About whatis it?
The thing is that after taking readings from the thermometer, you will have to write them down in a notebook. Next, you need to build a BT chart and note the body temperature on a particular day of the cycle.
It is a visual drawing that helps to judge the onset of ovulation or pregnancy. You can also navigate by ordinary notes in a notebook, not doing this is not as easy as it seems.
Important: at the moment, BBT is offered on various women's sites and forums. It is enough to enter the received readings on the corresponding service daily. The system itself will build a schedule and highlight ovulation, as well as favorable days for conception. This trick will save you a lot of hassle.
Using thermometers
How to measure basal body temperature? Use the same meter all the time to avoid misreadings.
What if you need to replace the thermometer? It is enough just to put the corresponding mark on the BT chart and continue to take readings further. It is advisable (for the purity of the "experiment") to measure the temperature for several menstrual cycles more than the scheduled time.
Important: the need to use the same thermometer is due to the fact that measuring instruments have different "sensitivities". And a deviation of 0.1 degrees Celsius can seriously distort the reality of what is happening in the body.
Step by step instructions
How to measure your bas altemperature to determine pregnancy? In the same way as in the case of tracking ovulation. There will be no difference in the processes.
If you briefly imagine the manual for measuring BBT, it will look like this:
- From the evening of the previous day, put the thermometer close to the bed.
- Sleep.
- Waking up, without getting out of bed, take a thermometer and measure BBT in one way or another.
- Record readings and plot them on a graph.
That's it. After the done actions, you can continue your normal day. The procedure is repeated daily. The operation does not provide any special skills. Take measurements without physical activity.
About graphics
Thinking about how to measure basal temperature to determine ovulation, girls need to understand the phases of the menstrual cycle and how the BBT chart looks like. This component plays a huge role in the whole process.
As we have already said, according to the corresponding drawing, it will be possible to understand when ovulation occurs. On the BT chart you can see:
- cycle day;
- body temperature.
Daily noting changes in BBT and connecting neighboring points with each other, a woman will get a broken line. This is the basal temperature chart. It can be divided into several parts.
Namely:
- follicular phase;
- ovulation;
- luteal stage of the menstrual cycle;
- menstruation.
If you need to track the pregnancy, it will be visibleaccording to the luteal stage of the monthly cycle. Below we will talk about the decryption of the received data.
Impact on BT
We figured out how to correctly measure the basal temperature to determine certain changes in the body. It should be noted that the studied indicator is subject to strong external influence. And therefore the data received is not always valid.
Doctors say that the following factors influence basal body temperature:
- bad habits;
- shift work;
- illness;
- presence of gynecological diseases;
- too much sleep;
- insomnia;
- intermittent sleep;
- stress;
- overwork;
- change timezone;
- acclimatization;
- dramatic weather change;
- long journeys;
- recent sexual intercourse (if it took place less than 4 hours before measurements);
- women have tumors or inflammation.
This is not a complete list of what can affect BT. But these factors are most often encountered in practice. It is advisable to avoid them during pregnancy planning. After all, ovulation under the influence of these may occur earlier or later. Or disappear altogether.
Important: if a woman faced the above circumstances the day before, she is recommended to make a corresponding note on the BBT chart. Then there will be no problems with data analysis.
Before ovulation
Now it's clear how to measurebasal temperature. It's time to talk about decrypting the received data.
As already mentioned, a woman's body temperature changes depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle. Before ovulation, during the follicular stage, BBT will be normal.
What does this mean? The readings on the thermometer will reach 36.3-36.7 degrees Celsius. The closer to ovulation, the higher the temperature will be.
On the BT chart, one can note a gradual increase in readings. No sudden jumps in one direction or another.
Day X
How to correctly measure the basal temperature to determine various changes in the body, we found out. It remains to understand the results.
During ovulation, the temperature rises sharply to 37.2-37.5 degrees. These indications will be stored for about 2-3 days. This is how you can determine ovulation.
Important: some girls have a sharp drop in body temperature a day or two before the favorable time for conception. This is quite normal.
After ovulation
If conception does not occur, then the menstrual cycle enters the luteal phase. The body is preparing for critical days.
After ovulation and before the onset of menstruation, the body temperature will be slightly elevated. It reaches 36.8-37 degrees Celsius. There will be no sharp drops or jumps on the chart.
During menstrual bleeding, BBT drops to 36.3-36.6 degrees. Most often, there is a low body temperature. This is quite normal.
Important: menstruation is the beginning of a newloop.
BT Pregnancy
And how can you understand if a woman is pregnant, if you rely only on the testimony of BT?
The thing is that after a successful conception, BBT will remain slightly elevated. Same as ovulation.
As we have already said, when "Day X" comes, BT rises by 2-3 days. If it keeps elevated for 5-6 days, pregnancy should be suspected. Especially if there were no such adjustments before.
