Bt before and during ovulation. Basal body temperature during ovulation

When there is a drop in basal temperature by 0.2–0.4 °, this means that ovulation will occur in about 12–48 hours. But such a characteristic drop does not always happen. Immediately after the release of the egg, BBT will begin to rise and in three days it will be about 0.3-0.5 degrees of your usual indicators before ovulation.

The article simply and clearly describes how to determine ovulation by basal temperature. What is the best thermometer to measure? Is it possible, focusing only on the chart, to predict the next onset of fertile days? Real BT charts are also given, including ovulation at a low basal temperature using specific examples.

What thermometer to measure basal temperature to determine ovulation

For measurement, you can use a mercury or electronic thermometer. Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.

mercury thermometer

Inexpensive;

reliable;

accurate;

longer measurement;

more dangerous to break.

Digital Thermometer

sound signal;

measures faster;

expensive;

more difficult to care for;

batteries may suddenly run out;

you may not hear the beep.

A detailed article on which thermometer is better to choose for measuring BT, on. The basic rules for measuring BT tips on how to build a graph correctly are described in.

At what basal temperature does ovulation occur?

So, the onset of the release of the egg from the follicle is preceded by a powerful release of luteinizing hormone (LH) intoin combination with increased estrogen production.

If a drop in BBT has occurred, then this is a great time for intimacy, since ovulation will occur in the next day or two. Wherein normal the average BT of the first phase can be completely different (36.2–36.8°).

Each woman has her own level - only the difference between the phases matters.

On the chart, the preliminary drop in BT looks like this:

Important(!) Measurements must be carried out with the same thermometer, since each has its own specific error. To decipher the resulting ovulation schedule for basal temperature, it is not its value that matters, but the difference in indicators, how much they changed over the course of the cycle.

How to decipher the basal temperature chart

Based on the change in the temperature curve, it is not always possible predict early onset of ovulation, since there is not always a drop in indicators in the two-day period before ovulation. And the line remains stable at the level of the first phase. In this case, it is better to use additional methods - monitoring, etc.

An example of what ovulation looks like on a basal temperature chart, but without the pre-recession:

According to the schedule, subject to correct measurement, it can be said for sure that ovulation has already occurred. Since after it within three days the temperature will rise. Gradually or abruptly - everyone has it differently, by about 0.3–0.4 ° (sometimes higher).

If the cycle is stable- the schedule will help to establish on which day the ovulation was, because after it the BBT changes. For the next cycle, the woman will already know exactly what period to plan for.

If the cycle is unstable- it is necessary to observe the basal curve (not forgetting about sexual intercourse every 2-3 days) and as soon as the temperature starts to go up (next day of ovulation) - control planning.

It is possible in great detail about reliable methods for calculating ovulation with a floating cycle.

Ovulation is a key event in a woman's menstrual cycle. If you accurately determine the day when it occurs, it is possible not only to plan conception, but also to slightly influence the sex of the unborn baby.

To get information about when the egg leaves the ovary, various methods allow: ultrasound of the ovaries or determining the concentration of sex hormones several times during the cycle. But the simplest and free method that every woman is able to carry out at home has been and remains the conduct of basal thermometry. A careful analysis of how the basal temperature changes daily will make it possible to study the work of the ovaries, to understand whether ovulation occurs or not, to determine pregnancy before the test can show it.

The essence of the method of basal thermometry

The key role in the management of the female body is played by sex hormones: progesterone and estrogen, prolactin, gonadotropic hormones of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The balance between them is reflected in many processes, including body temperature, which is called basal.

Basal temperature is the lowest temperature indicator, indicating the actual temperature of the internal organs. It is determined immediately after rest (usually after a night's sleep), before the start of any physical activity that will create a measurement error. For its establishment, only departments that have communication with body cavities are suitable. These are the vagina (it is connected with the uterus), the rectum (it is directly connected with the large intestines) and the oral cavity, which passes into the oropharynx.

The hormones estrogen and progesterone set the level of the basal rate. They "dictate" what basal temperature a woman should have during ovulation.

The normal amount of estrogen in itself does not affect the temperature. The task of this hormone is to prevent progesterone from affecting the thermoregulatory center located in the hypothalamus (this is the area associated with the brain).

In the first half of the cycle, estrogen dominates. It keeps your basal body temperature from rising above 37°C. During the period of ovulation, when an increased amount of estrogen first enters the bloodstream, there is a decrease in the temperature index by about 0.3 ° C. When the egg leaves the follicle, and in its place a corpus luteum appears, producing progesterone, the thermometer shows 37 ° C or more. At the same time, the graph of basal thermometry becomes similar to a bird with open wings, whose beak symbolizes the day of ovulation.

Further, when the corpus luteum dies (if conception has not occurred) and the amount of progesterone decreases, the temperature drops. During menstruation, the indicator stays at 37 ° C, then decreases and everything repeats again.

If pregnancy occurs, more and more progesterone is normally produced, so the temperature does not decrease, as before menstruation, but, on the contrary, increases.

What will determine the day of ovulation

Knowing on what day the oocyte leaves the follicle, a woman can:

• plan pregnancy: after 3-4 months of scheduling, you can practice sexual intercourse not “approximately”, counting 14 days from the expected start of the next menstruation, but knowing exactly the day of ovulation;
• plan the gender of the unborn baby (the method is not 100%). If you want a boy to be born, then it is better to plan sexual intercourse on the day of ovulation (basal temperature decreases on this day and vaginal leucorrhoea acquires the color and texture of raw chicken protein). If the dream is to give birth to a girl, it is better to have sex 2-3 days before the expected ovulation;
• knowing when ovulation occurs, you can, on the contrary, avoid conception, since a few days before it, the day the egg is released and the day after are the most “dangerous” days;
• the graph will show if there are hormonal problems, inflammation of the reproductive organs or lack of ovulation (), which is why conception does not occur.

In addition, drawing a graph of basal thermometry in some cases will allow you to determine pregnancy without buying a test. And if you continue to lead it for the first time after conception, you can see the threat of miscarriage in time and take the necessary measures.

How to properly conduct basal thermometry

It is very important to know how to correctly measure basal temperature to determine ovulation. After all, a woman's body is extremely sensitive to minimal changes in external conditions, and the units of measurement in which the graph is kept are tenths of a degree (it is here that a fluctuation of 0.1-0.05 ° C can be important).

Here are the basic rules, under which the temperature graph will become as informative as possible:

1. Measurements are taken either in the rectum (optimal), or vaginally, or in the mouth (this requires a special thermometer).
2. The thermometer should be inserted 2-3 cm and lie down quietly, taking measurements, for 5 minutes.
3. Before taking measurements, sit down, spin, get up, walk, eat. Even shaking the thermometer can give false readings.
4. Choose a good quality thermometer (preferably a mercury one) that will take your temperature daily for 3-4 months.
5. Put on a table (shelf) near the bed, which you can reach in the morning without getting up, 3 things: a thermometer, a notebook and a pen. Even if you start keeping your schedule on a computer - in online or offline programs, it is best to read the thermometer readings and immediately write it down with the number.
6. Take measurements every morning at the same time. Plus or minus 30 minutes.
7. Be sure to sleep for at least 6 hours before taking measurements. If you got up at night, take measurements later so that 6 hours have passed.
8. Thermometry should be taken at 5-7 am, even if you can sleep until noon. This is due to the daily biorhythms of the hormones of the adrenal glands and the hypothalamus, which affect the basal temperature.
9. The accuracy of measurements is affected by travel, alcohol intake, physical activity, sexual intercourse. Therefore, try to avoid these situations as much as possible during the basal thermometry, but if they happen, mark them on the chart. And if you get sick and a fever develops, all measurements for the next 2 weeks will be completely uninformative.

When to start measuring basal temperature?

From the very first day, menstruation, that is, from the first day of the cycle.

How to schedule?

You can do this on paper in a box by drawing 2 lines: on the horizontal line (along the abscissa) mark the day of the month, draw the vertical (y-axis) so that each cell indicates 0.1 ° C. Every morning, put a dot at the intersection of the thermometry indicator and the desired date, connect the dots together. You don't need to take your temperature in the evening. Under the horizontal line, leave a space where you will take daily notes about highlights and events that have occurred that could affect the indicators. On top of the measurement results, from day 6 to day 12, draw a horizontal line. It is called covering and serves for the convenience of deciphering the graph by a gynecologist.

We also suggest using the ready-made template of the basal temperature chart below by saving it to your computer and printing it out. To do this, hover over the image and use the right-click menu to save the image.

Note! If you are taking birth control, you do not need to take a thermometer. These drugs specifically disable ovulation, which makes them contraceptives.

Read also about other methods for determining ovulation in ours.

What the basal temperature graph looks like during ovulation (that is, during a normal ovulatory cycle):

• in the first three days of menstruation, the temperature is about 37 ° C;
• by the end of the monthly temperature indicators fall, amounting to 36.4-36.6 ° C;
• further, within 1-1.5 weeks (depending on the length of the cycle), thermometry shows the same numbers - 36.4-36.6 ° C (it can be lower or higher, depending on the metabolic processes in the body). It should not be the same every day, but fluctuate a little (that is, not a straight line is drawn, but zigzags). The 6 values ​​connected by an overlapping line should be followed by three days when the temperature is 0.1°C higher or higher, and on one of these days it is higher than 0.2°C. Then after 1-2 days you can wait for ovulation;
• just before ovulation, the thermometer shows the basal temperature lower by 0.5-0.6 ° C, after which it rises sharply;
• during ovulation, the basal temperature is in the range of 36.4-37 ° C (according to other sources - above 37 ° C). It should be 0.25-0.5 (on average, 0.3 ° C) higher than at the beginning of the menstrual cycle;
• what should be the basal temperature after ovulation depends on whether conception has occurred or not. If pregnancy does not occur, the numbers decrease gradually, totaling approximately 0.3°C. The highest temperature is observed on the 8-9th day after the release of a mature oocyte. Just on this day, the implantation of the fertilized oocyte into the inner uterine membrane occurs.

Between the average figures of the two halves of the cycle - before and after ovulation - the temperature difference should be 0.4-0.8 ° C.

How long does basal body temperature last after ovulation?

Before the onset of menstruation. Usually it is 14-16 days. If 16-17 days have already passed, and the temperature is still above 37 ° C, this most likely indicates the onset of pregnancy. During this period, you can do a test (the main thing is that 10-12 days have already passed after ovulation), you can determine hCG in the blood. Ultrasound and examination by a gynecologist are still uninformative.

These are indicators of the norm of basal temperature during ovulation, as well as before and after it. But not always the menstrual cycle looks so perfect. Usually, the numbers and the type of curve raises many questions among women.

High numbers in the first phase of the cycle

If, after menstruation, the figures of basal thermometry are above 37 ° C, this indicates an insufficient amount of estrogen in the blood. In this case, an anovulatory cycle is usually observed. And if you subtract 14 days from the next menstruation, that is, look at phase 2 (otherwise it is not visualized), then there are sharp jumps in temperature indicators, without their gradual increase.

The syndrome is accompanied by various unpleasant symptoms: hot flashes, headaches, heart rhythm disturbances, increased sweating. This type of temperature curve, together with the determination of low levels of estrogen in the blood, requires the doctor to prescribe drugs - synthetic estrogens.

Progesterone and estrogen-progesterone deficiency

If after ovulation the basal temperature does not rise, this indicates progesterone deficiency. This situation is a common cause of endocrine infertility. And if conception does occur, then there is a danger of an early miscarriage, until the placenta is formed and takes over the function of producing progesterone.

The insufficient work of the corpus luteum (a gland formed at the site of the opened follicle) is indicated by a decrease in temperature indicators already 2-10 days after ovulation. If the length of the 1st phase of the cycle can still vary, then the second phase should be the same and average 14 days.

Progesterone deficiency can also be assumed when the numbers rise to only 0.3 ° C.

If you already have a low basal temperature for 2-3 cycles after ovulation, contact your gynecologist with this schedule. He will tell you on which days of the cycle you need to donate blood to determine progesterone and other hormones in it, and based on this analysis, he will prescribe treatment. Usually, the administration of synthetic progesterones is effective, and as a result, the woman is able to become pregnant and bear the child.

Estrogen-progesterone deficiency

This condition, when the ovaries do not produce sufficient amounts of both hormones, is indicated by a temperature graph that does not have significant fluctuations (there are large areas with straight lines, not zigzags). This condition is also indicated by an increase in temperature indicators of only 0.3 ° C after ovulation.

Anovulatory cycle

If it is already day 16 of the menstrual cycle, and there is no characteristic decrease, and then an increase in temperature, most likely, there was no ovulation. The older the woman, the more such cycles she has.

Based on the foregoing, basal thermometry is a simple and budgetary method for determining the optimal days for conception, as well as the reasons why pregnancy may not occur. It requires only 5-10 minutes of time in the morning. Whatever indicators you see in yourself, this is not a reason for panic or self-treatment. Contact the gynecologist with your schedules for several cycles, and you will be assigned a diagnosis and treatment.

During pregnancy planning, many women monitor ovulation, which allows you to calculate the most favorable days for conceiving a child. There are several methods for determining ovulation, but the most common, accessible and informative is the basal temperature during ovulation (BT), which is measured in the vagina, rectum or mouth.

The menstrual cycle consists of follicular, ovulatory and luteal phases, each of which causes certain hormonal changes in a woman's body that occur under the influence of progesterone. It is from the production of progesterone that the basal body temperature depends.

Basal body temperature during ovulation

Measurement of BBT is an important indicator of women's health, which allows not only to determine ovulation, but also to monitor the work of the reproductive system, timely detect possible violations in its work, makes it possible to determine the intensity of hormone production, the body's readiness for conception.

Specialists in the field of gynecology recommend that all their patients keep a chart of basal temperature during ovulation, which will help to find out not only favorable days for conception, but also to determine possible shifts in the reproductive system. Keeping a schedule allows a woman to find out about a possible conception already in the first weeks of pregnancy, but if, with regular measurement, the basal temperature after ovulation is elevated and lasts for a long time, this may indicate possible gynecological diseases.

The measurement of body BT must be approached with great responsibility, especially when planning a pregnancy or monitoring women's health. The scheduling must be regular and the measurement process must be correct. Despite the individual characteristics of the female body, ovulation in women occurs approximately 12 to 14 days before menstruation. The basal temperature in the first phase of the cycle is 36.3 - 36.5 degrees, but before ovulation, in about 12 hours, and during the period of ovulation itself, it reaches 37.1-37.3 C. During the period of ovulation and until the most monthly, there will be marked increased BT.

In cases where there is a delay, while the temperature is elevated, it is highly likely that pregnancy has occurred. If pregnancy occurs, then increased BBT will be maintained during the first trimester of pregnancy until the placenta is fully formed.

How to measure BBT

You need to take a measurement every morning, immediately after sleep, without getting out of bed, at the same time. A woman must choose a method of measurement and use it throughout the cycle (rectal, vaginal or oral). For women who do not know how to determine ovulation by basal temperature, it is worth noting that this is not at all difficult to do.

In the evening, you need to prepare a thermometer and immediately after sleep, insert it into the vagina, rectum or vagina, hold for 5 minutes, pull it out and record the measurement results in a graph. For measurement, it is better to take a mercury thermometer, since an electronic one can sometimes show an inaccurate temperature, but to determine ovulation, accurate indicators are needed.

The basal temperature chart during ovulation should be kept from the first day of the cycle, so you can get more accurate results and calculate the days for conception. Measurement results must be recorded in a pre-compiled schedule, immediately after receiving the results. In order for the results to be correct, a woman needs to stop drinking alcohol, avoid stress and nervous strain. Distortions in the results may also appear with various diseases or after sexual intercourse, if it was a few hours before awakening.

If BBT is increased throughout the entire menstrual cycle, but pregnancy has not occurred, the woman should consult a gynecologist and conduct a full examination, since increased rates may also indicate some gynecological diseases. Measurement of BBT is one of the easiest ways to monitor women's health at home, so this procedure must be carried out correctly and regularly, only then more accurate results will be possible.

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.

Probably, every woman at the time of pregnancy planning begins to be interested in the ongoing processes in the body, in particular in the female reproductive system.

During a consultation with an obstetrician-gynecologist, she will learn which hormones are involved in pregnancy, what physiological changes occur in different phases of the menstrual cycle, and how to control these processes with diagnostic methods.

One of the most affordable and easiest ways to determine ovulation is the method of measuring the body by its basal temperature.

A woman must know the rules for measuring basal temperature (BT) during ovulation in order for the effectiveness of the method to be reliable.

Even if you do not want to have a child, monitoring the state of your body in this way will allow you to control the moments of the onset of "fertile" days and days when you must either abstain from sexual intercourse or use contraceptives.

What is ovulation

Ovulation is the process of rupture of the dominant follicle in the ovary and release of the egg from it under the influence of the hypothalamus.

With a menstrual cycle of 28 days, ovulation occurs approximately on day 14-16.

After that, the egg enters the fallopian tube, where it prepares to meet the sperm.

At this time, he tries to create all the conditions for the promotion of spermatozoa: it thickens the cervical mucus, raises the body temperature, builds up the endometrium.

The viability of the egg is 24 - 36 hours after ovulation, if the spermatozoa did not fertilize it during this time period, it leaves the tube and is rejected along with the uterine mucosa - menstruation occurs.

You can use an ovulation test or a basal temperature method to determine ovulation. Some girls may even experience pain at the time of rupture of the follicle.

What is basal temperature and how to determine ovulation with it

BT is the minimum temperature that our body can reach during rest and sleep.

Many factors, even the most insignificant in your opinion, affect the internal body temperature - a nightly trip to the toilet, a nightly snack, an evening glass of wine, a cigarette smoked on the balcony, an upcoming exciting event.

All this is reflected in the internal state of the body, so BT measurements are carried out before getting out of bed in order to maintain the effectiveness of observations.

How to correctly measure basal temperature to determine ovulation

You can determine ovulation with a thermometer in 3 ways:

1. In the oral cavity;
2. in the vagina;
3. In the rectum.

The most reliable access is considered the latter.

Measurement of basal temperature to determine ovulation, how to do it:

• Take measurements as soon as you wake up, the time should always be the same, choose one access and stick to it throughout the entire study period.
• To correctly determine ovulation by basal temperature, the study must take place 3 menstrual cycles.
• The thermometer is inserted for 3-5 minutes in the desired area, after which write the results in the table.
• Be sure to record sexual acts, physical activity, stressful situations, periods of malaise in the table; taking oral contraceptives - these factors affect the reliability of the results.
• Do not try to independently evaluate your measurements and draw any conclusions about the functioning of your reproductive system. Come to an appointment with an obstetrician-gynecologist with the results and discuss the state of the body with him, the interpretation of the results is individual for each woman.

basal body temperature chart

During the proliferative phase 1 of the cycle, the temperature is about 36.6 degrees. As estrogen grows, by the middle of this phase, there is a decrease in indicators by 0.2 - 0.4 degrees, these figures stay at the same level for some time, after which there is a sharp rise in temperature numbers to 37 - 37.5 degrees.

It is at this moment that you can calculate ovulation by basal temperature. In the secreting phase 2, the indicators are kept at the top until the onset of menstruation.

How to determine ovulation by basal temperature, the graph of changes is presented below:

If there are any difficulties or doubts about how to measure basal temperature to determine ovulation, check the correctness of the measurements and compare your readings with ovulation tests.

If the observations do not coincide with the general history of the development of events, and the temperature in phase 2 is below 37 degrees or the numbers during the first phase are higher than in the second, this indicates dysfunction of the hormonal system and it is required to take tests for hormones and, of course, consult the attending physician for a more accurate assessment of the current picture.

Method accuracy

The reliability of the method of how to determine ovulation by temperature is not high, since the method is very dependent on the influence of various factors and the quality of measurements - not every woman is so disciplined that she takes measurements at the same time for 3 whole months.

In addition, the body of each woman is individual, and the assessment of the state of the body can only occur in comparison with earlier indicators of the same woman.

The sensitivity thresholds are different for everyone, and for some, ovulation occurs at a temperature of 37.5, and for someone 36.9, and both of these women are healthy!

So the accuracy of the method is very doubtful, but this method is very popular because of its simplicity and accessibility.

Conclusion

This method of measuring basal body temperature is used both for planning and as a calendar method of contraception.

Calculation of "fertile" days, the beginning of ovulation and the best time to conceive a child is possible by assessing the change in the temperature curve of our body.

However, you should not rely on this method as the most reliable, it is better to use it in combination with other diagnostic methods, as well as when choosing a method of contraception, if you are not ready to become pregnant and give birth to a child in the near future.

Video: Signs of ovulation. How to determine ovulation by temperature. How to measure basal body temperature