Basal body temperature (BBT) charting is a great way to track your cycles and ovulation patterns. It can also help your doctor detect possible ovulatory infertility.
Why Should I Track My BBT?
Monitoring your basal body temperature (BBT) is the easiest, cheapest, and the most affordable way to detect ovulation.
Who Should Chart BBT?
Chart your BBT if you would like to:
- monitor and understand the processes taking place in your body
- determine your most fertile days
- predict menstruation
- suspect hormonal imbalance and reproductive system failures
How Does BBT Help In The Cycle?
- Follicular Phase
During the first half of your menstrual cycle — the follicular phase — your basal body temperature will be lower. At this time, your ovaries are preparing for ovulation by developing egg containing follicles within the ovary.
Right before the egg is released from the ovary (also called ovulation), some women experience a very slight drop in temperature. If this is the case for you, you’re going to want to have intercourse as soon as you notice this drop.
2) Luteal Phase
Immediately after the egg has been released from the ovary, there will be a sharp rise in temperature. This signals that you are entering the luteal phase of your cycle, or the time after ovulation. By the time you notice this temperature increase, you have already ovulated.
How to Measure BBT?
Taking your basal body temperature isn’t too hard. There are a few must-keep rules:
- You need to take it at the same time (plus or minus no more than 30 minutes) every morning.
- You cannot get up, sit up, walk around, or go to the bathroom before taking your temperature. The minute after you wake up, you need to pop the thermometer in your mouth. (Which you hopefully placed within hand’s reach the night before!)
- You need to have had at least three to four straight hours of sleep before taking your temperature in the morning. If you stayed up all night, or you woke up and walked around at night repeatedly, it will throw off your results.
- You should use the same thermometer throughout the cycle. (If you buy a new one, start using it on day one of the next cycle.)
What Could Affect BBT?
Keep in mind that your basal body temperature can be influenced by many factors, including:
- Illness or fever
- Stress
- Shift work
- Interrupted sleep cycles or oversleeping
- Alcohol
- Travel and time zone differences
- Gynecologic disorders
- Certain medications
What If I Still Don’t Get Pregnant?
Tracking BBT is only one part that you increase your chance of timing intercourse to get pregnant. If you have charted your BBT for several cycles and have not achieved pregnancy or are concerned, consult with a health care provider. Bring your BBT charts with you, as they will be helpful in showing ovulation trends and determining if there are any problems.