How To Take The Basal Body Temperature Bbt

The basal body temperature (BBT) measures the rise in body temperature that occurs at ovulation and stays elevated until the beginning of the period. There are special thermometers that can be used that have a shorter degree range on them or a regular thermometer can be used. The BBT should be taken first thing in the morning before getting out of bed and should be taken at exactly the same time everyday. The BBT can be taken orally or vaginally. Many women have determined through experience that the vaginal temperatures are more accurate.

To chart the BBT, the woman can simply make a chart by writing down the temperature each day and plotting it or there are many websites that have free temperature tracking programs that can be downloaded and used. When looking for the most fertile time of the menstrual cycle it is important to note as little as a .4 degree temperature rise that begins several days of higher temperatures. In the first part of the cycle the temperatures will be lower and at ovulation the temperature will rise and then will stay high until hormones signal the start of the period. If pregnancy occurs the BBT will just continue to rise and will stay extremely high past the time that the menstrual period should have occurred.

The first part of the cycle is called the follicular phase and has the most varying range of temperatures. During this time, the temperatures may even rise for a day but will always go back down. The second part of the cycle is called the luteal phase and is the time of the higher temperatures. The temperatures during this time are relatively consistent. For the woman just beginning to take her BBT there are some very specific instructions.

1. Take the BBT first thing in the morning before getting out of bed or even speaking. Keep the thermometer at the bedside and be sure to shake it down before going to bed the night before to cut down on movement in the morning. Take the BBT at the same time every morning varying only half an hour on either side.

2. The BBT can be taken orally, vaginally or rectally but should be taken the same way throughout the entire cycle.

3. Some women will have a temperature drop of about .4 degrees just prior to ovulation. It is important to note any drops like this and have sexual intercourse just incase ovulation is about to occur.

4. At ovulation, the BBT will increase by at least .4 degrees and then will stay in the higher temperatures. This increase should make it obvious when ovulation has occurred so that a pattern can be established for future months to know when to have sexual intercourse.

5. If the BBT stays up for 18 days past ovulation and the menstrual period has not occurred, the woman should test for pregnancy.

The goal of the BBT is to help the woman find out if and when she is ovulating and when to time sexual intercourse. It can also indicate potential problems such as annovulatory cycles or luteal phases that are too short. The BBT should stay up for at least 10 days after ovulation or there is not enough time for the fertilized egg to implant into the uterus.

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