The menstrual cycle is divided into phases that successively replace each other. Depending on the phase, the content of hormones in a woman’s body can either increase or decrease, and along with this, basal temperature indicators also change.

Normal basal temperature values

Each person's body has individual characteristics. Therefore, the normal values ​​of basal temperature are different for each woman. In this case, the main criterion is not the temperature indicator, but the difference in temperature values ​​between the phases of the cycle.

If the female body functions normally, the minimum difference between temperatures in the first and second phases is at least 0.4 degrees.

In a normal state, in the follicular phase (immediately after menstruation), the level of estrogen in the blood increases, as a result of which the basal temperature is determined to be 36.7 degrees. In some situations, the values ​​may be slightly lower, for example, a basal temperature of 36.4 degrees in the follicular phase is not a violation. However, if during this period the basal temperature is 36.1 degrees, this is already a pathology that requires consultation with a specialist.

Before ovulation begins, the basal temperature is 36.6 degrees. What does a basal temperature of 36.8 mean during this period? A basal temperature of 36.8 at this stage of the cycle is also normal. On the day of egg maturation, temperature values ​​increase, and a basal temperature of 36.9 is determined.

What does it mean? This indicates that the level of hormones has increased, and the body is ready for fertilization and fixation of the fertilized egg in the uterine wall. At the time of ovulation, temperature readings can reach 37.2 degrees. After ovulation, the basal temperature is 36.9 degrees.

Then a decrease in temperature values ​​is observed. But here, too, everything is individual - some women, others have a basal temperature of 36.9 in the second phase. Sometimes, just before menstruation, the basal temperature is 36.9 degrees - this also does not go beyond the norm.

However, in some cases, a basal temperature of 36.9 degrees before the onset of menstruation may indicate pathology, so a consultation with a gynecologist will not be superfluous.

Low basal temperature values

As noted above, basal temperature values ​​are a purely individual indicator and there is no strict standard. So, for example, a basal temperature of 36 degrees and a basal temperature of 36.5 degrees is a normal individual phenomenon, provided that the difference between the phases remains at least 0.4 degrees.

If the difference in temperature values ​​is less than 0.4 degrees or the average basal temperature is low, this may indicate a violation.

For example, low temperature readings are observed with the following pathologies:

Basal temperature data during pregnancy

During pregnancy, basal temperature is the most important indicator with which you can identify possible disorders at an early stage, up to the threat of miscarriage. Temperature readings are of particular importance when menstruation is delayed.

A basal temperature of 36.7 during a delay usually means that conception has not occurred. The reason for the absence of menstruation in this case may be a gynecological disorder. A symptom of a disorder may also be a basal temperature of 36.8 with a delay.

However, the cause of the delay is not always pathology. A shift in the menstrual cycle may be associated, for example, with climate change. Therefore, when drawing up a graph of temperature values, it is necessary to take into account all factors.

If conception has occurred, the temperature will be 37 degrees or more. In a normal state, a basal temperature of 36.7 cannot be achieved during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the content of progesterone is increased, which means that temperature readings also increase. However, in certain situations the temperature may be lower.

It should be noted that this refers to a persistent decrease in temperature values. If a basal temperature of 36.8 during pregnancy was detected once, this is not yet a symptom of a disorder. This phenomenon rather speaks about the general condition of the woman’s body.

The expectant mother should be wary of low temperature values ​​that are detected over a period of time. A basal temperature of 36.6 during pregnancy, in most cases, indicates a threat of miscarriage.

In such a situation, you must immediately contact a medical facility, especially if low temperatures are accompanied by symptoms such as pain, persistent uterine tone, and spotting.

A basal temperature of 36.9 during pregnancy may be associated with a deficiency of sex hormones. A decrease in the production of progesterone in the body of the expectant mother can lead to miscarriage.

After all, it is progesterone that prevents uterine contractions and, as a result, detachment of the fertilized egg.

Does a triphasic pattern always indicate pregnancy?

Unfortunately, not always. A three-phase BT schedule can indeed be one of the first signs of pregnancy. But with the same probability he may not talk about anything. A three-phase schedule is not common, but occurs even when there has been no conception. Therefore, we cannot talk about it as a serious indicator.

In addition, it is worth noting that not a single serious study has been conducted on this topic. So, if you are trying to get pregnant and a three-phase pattern has formed on your chart, this may be a good sign, but you should not draw absolute conclusions based on it. You should still wait until your period is missed and take a pregnancy test. And, only if it shows a positive result, it will be possible to talk about pregnancy.

Measurement process

Having studied a ton of articles on the Internet and a dozen forums, I knew more about basal temperature than Khromchenko about fashion. At first glance, everything was clear: before ovulation, estrogen rules the roost in the body - hence the low basal temperature, 36.3-36.6. After this comes progesterone, and the temperature rises to 37-37.5. The jump in temperature in the middle of the cycle is the long-awaited ovulation. True, it was not entirely clear when to work on conception: before the leap (but how to predict it?) or after (but for some the egg lives for 1 day, while for others it lasts 3). But I somehow brushed these questions aside.

Having not stinted on the most expensive electronic thermometer, I waited until the first day of the new cycle and got down to business. The main thing was not to break the rules and take measurements:

Immediately after sleep, which should have lasted at least 6 hours (I no longer went to drink at night);

Without getting out of bed and without making sudden movements (the usual trip to the toilet was painfully postponed);

Around the same time (goodbye, sleeping until 1pm on weekends!);

Waiting for at least 10 minutes (I was lucky here: the super-thermometer should have finished measuring in a minute and squealed joyfully).

I conscientiously entered the data into the chart and waited for the long-awaited increase in temperature. But everything turned out to be not so simple.

Everything went wrong. My “fashionable” thermometer stubbornly did not beep. I wasn’t upset - the signal was clearly faulty, but the main thing was the readings! However, not everything was smooth with them: in the estrogen phase, the temperature was clearly a little high: 36.8-37.0, and from the middle of the cycle it increased to no more than 37.2. It was impossible to trace the ovulation line. In general, 6 months passed, and neurosis, as they say, crept up unnoticed.

Girls from their favorite forum posted daily under the heading “Hurray, my schedule is pregnant!” It was driving me crazy because my schedule just wasn't getting pregnant.

Embarrassed to bother my doctor, I continued to browse the Internet. Insufficiency of both estrogen and progesterone phases was obvious! I no longer believed that I was actually ovulating.

Despite this, just in case, my husband and I tried very hard in the middle of the cycle - maybe we’ll get there. Sex began to be perceived as a duty, and not as pleasure. By the way, we didn’t do it late in the evening: late sex could accidentally increase the basal temperature in the morning...

Each day with a fever at the end of the cycle gave me hope. The more time passed after the usual 28 days, the more painful I perceived the drop in temperature and the onset of menstruation.

As a result, my husband got tired of watching all this.

Stopping measurements

He forced me to throw away 6 carefully drawn graphs along with a thermometer, which turned out to be faulty: in the same armpit it showed a temperature of 36.2 and 37.7 with an interval of 5 minutes. Alas, for six months it never occurred to me to conduct such a test.

We started having sex again when we liked it, and in the morning I no longer lay like a log for 10 minutes, dreaming of finally going to the toilet. I found an extra part-time job online to fill the time I was spending reading articles and forums.

On the 24th day of the first cycle without measurements, without feeling any signs of pregnancy, I took a test just in case. The second stripe was even brighter and thicker than the control. A blood test showed hCG and progesterone levels corresponding to 3-4 weeks of pregnancy. As it turned out, my ovulation did not occur in the middle of the cycle, but immediately after my period, which is why the basal temperature was high throughout almost the entire cycle...

The menstrual cycle is divided into phases that successively replace each other. Depending on the phase, the content of hormones in a woman’s body can either increase or decrease, and along with this, basal temperature indicators also change.

Normal basal temperature values

Each person's body has individual characteristics. Therefore, the normal values ​​of basal temperature are different for each woman. In this case, the main criterion is not the temperature indicator, but the difference in temperature values ​​between the phases of the cycle.

If the female body functions normally, the minimum difference between temperatures in the first and second phases is at least 0.4 degrees.

In a normal state, in the follicular phase (immediately after menstruation), the level of estrogen in the blood increases, as a result of which the basal temperature is determined to be 36.7 degrees. In some situations, the values ​​may be slightly lower, for example, a basal temperature of 36.4 degrees in the follicular phase is not a violation. However, if during this period the basal temperature is 36.1 degrees, this is already a pathology that requires consultation with a specialist.

Before ovulation begins, the basal temperature is 36.6 degrees. What does a basal temperature of 36.8 mean during this period? A basal temperature of 36.8 at this stage of the cycle is also normal. On the day of egg maturation, temperature values ​​increase, and a basal temperature of 36.9 is determined.

What does it mean? This indicates that the level of hormones has increased, and the body is ready for fertilization and fixation of the fertilized egg in the uterine wall. At the time of ovulation, temperature readings can reach 37.2 degrees. After ovulation, the basal temperature is 36.9 degrees.

Then a decrease in temperature values ​​is observed. But here, too, everything is individual - some women have a basal temperature in the second phase of 36.8 degrees, others have a basal temperature of 36.9 in the second phase. Sometimes, just before menstruation, the basal temperature is 36.9 degrees - this also does not go beyond the normal range.

However, in some cases, a basal temperature of 36.9 degrees before the onset of menstruation may indicate pathology, so a consultation with a gynecologist will not be superfluous.

Low basal temperature values

As noted above, basal temperature values ​​are a purely individual indicator and there is no strict standard. So, for example, a basal temperature of 36 degrees and a basal temperature of 36.5 degrees is a normal individual phenomenon, provided that the difference between the phases remains at least 0.4 degrees.

If the difference in temperature values ​​is less than 0.4 degrees or the average basal temperature is low, this may indicate a violation.

For example, low temperature readings are observed with the following pathologies:

Basal temperature data during pregnancy

During pregnancy, basal temperature is the most important indicator with which you can identify possible disorders at an early stage, up to the threat of miscarriage. Temperature readings are of particular importance when menstruation is delayed.

A basal temperature of 36.7 during a delay usually means that conception has not occurred. The reason for the absence of menstruation in this case may be a gynecological disorder. A symptom of a disorder may also be a basal temperature of 36.8 with a delay.

However, the cause of the delay is not always pathology. A shift in the menstrual cycle may be associated, for example, with climate change. Therefore, when drawing up a graph of temperature values, it is necessary to take into account all factors.

If conception has occurred, the temperature will be 37 degrees or more. In a normal state, a basal temperature of 36.7 cannot be achieved during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the content of progesterone is increased, which means that temperature readings also increase. However, in certain situations the temperature may be lower.

It should be noted that this refers to a persistent decrease in temperature values. If a basal temperature of 36.8 during pregnancy was detected once, this is not yet a symptom of a disorder. This phenomenon rather speaks about the general condition of the woman’s body.

The expectant mother should be wary of low temperature values ​​that are detected over a period of time. A basal temperature of 36.6 during pregnancy, in most cases, indicates a threat of miscarriage.

In such a situation, you must immediately contact a medical facility, especially if low temperatures are accompanied by symptoms such as pain, persistent uterine tone, and spotting.

A basal temperature of 36.9 during pregnancy may be associated with a deficiency of sex hormones. A decrease in the production of progesterone in the body of the expectant mother can lead to miscarriage.

After all, it is progesterone that prevents uterine contractions and, as a result, detachment of the fertilized egg.

To establish an accurate diagnosis, a blood test is required. If the reason for the decrease in temperature is a deficiency of progesterone, the expectant mother is prescribed special medications containing progesterone.

With timely detection of abnormalities and appropriate medical procedures, pregnancy can be maintained in most cases.

In order to obtain accurate data, it is necessary to measure temperature taking into account the following recommendations:

When should you contact a specialist?

If, subject to correct temperature measurements, significant deviations from the norm are observed for a long time, you should consult a gynecologist to perform an additional medical examination and make a correct diagnosis.

Consultation with a specialist is necessary in the following situations:

Monitoring basal temperature is an effective diagnostic method when planning pregnancy.

Also, graphs of temperature indicators make it possible to identify hormonal disorders in a woman’s body (provided that the temperature is measured correctly). Therefore, many specialists today use this simple, but at the same time reliable method of research.

Pregnancy is a period when the expectant mother monitors her health with special care. After all, now she worries not only about herself, but also about the life that arose inside her body.

It is very important not to worry about anything, because unnecessary worry will not bring any benefit. There are some methods, such as measuring basal temperature, that can help you monitor your health status on an ongoing basis.

This technique helps to identify some dangerous symptoms. By reacting in time, the expectant mother will be able to protect her unborn baby. If any deviation from the norm is observed, you should urgently seek help from a doctor.

What is BT?

It is usually abbreviated as BT, less commonly rectal temperature. As the name suggests, it is not measured in the standard way - under the armpits. There are several measurement options - in the mouth, in the vagina and in the rectum. It is often used to track ovulation when a woman wants to become pregnant.

A normal menstrual cycle often shows up to 37 Celsius, but exactly until ovulation begins - then the temperature increases by 0.4 Celsius. After this, or within 1-2 days, it decreases again. But if this does not happen, then, most likely, pregnancy has occurred.

How long should you be during pregnancy? And how long should it last?

Each organism is individual, but normally it is 37.1 – 37.3, which is exactly what the temperature is during ovulation and remains the same if pregnancy occurs. It is worth remembering that the borderline norm is 37.0. If there is a deviation of 0.8 degrees in any direction, this is a reason to go to the doctor, or at least you should consult a doctor.

As for how long it lasts, the answer is clear - from the beginning of pregnancy and the first few months while the girl is carrying the fetus.

Why measure BT?

There are two reasons for this - to monitor the health of the mother and child, as well as to plan pregnancy.

The first reason, as mentioned above, helps to understand whether everything is in order with your health. And the second reason helps to calculate ovulation. When a woman wants to give birth to a child, she needs to determine when ovulation occurs. When there is an increase in BT, this is a sign that it has arrived, and now there is the greatest chance of getting pregnant.

How to measure it during pregnancy?

Be sure to take the measurement in the morning, immediately after sleep, when the body is still at rest. An important point is that it is advisable to get full sleep, at least six hours. It can be measured in any way, but rectal is considered the most reliable. Measurement in this way should be carried out for at least three to four minutes.

Oral and vaginal measurement methods are also suitable, but the time increases to five minutes. Any thermometer will do - both a regular mercury thermometer and an electronic one. It is advisable to take measurements every day and mark them in a notebook or a special chart - this makes it easier to track the dynamics. The procedure must be carried out at the same time each time, the permissible time difference is thirty minutes.

Some factors, such as illness, stress, travel, consumption of alcohol-containing products and even certain medications, can affect the accuracy of the result. You should also not use contraceptives if you are measuring your rectal temperature.

Normal after conception

Each organism is individual. This can be proven by a simple fact - some people have a normal (non-rectal) temperature of 36.6, while others have a normal temperature of 37 and even higher. At the same time, two types of people feel excellent and do not get sick.

So when measuring BT - everything depends on the specific organism. However, you should know the generally accepted and most common norms - from 37 to 37.3. The temperature rises as a special hormone, progesterone, begins to be produced in large quantities. This happens to protect the fetus.

There were cases when a woman had a rectal temperature of 38, but she was not sick and everything was fine with the fetus. Such cases are very rare; usually, if the temperature is already above 37.3 or below 37, it is wiser to consult a doctor.

Determining pregnancy by basal temperature

Most likely, a woman is pregnant if the following symptoms are observed:

• The temperature is elevated three days after the end of ovulation.
• If, with a normal two-phase schedule, the girl observes another jump in temperature (this condition is not considered mandatory).
• The corpus luteum phase does not stop for 18 days - that is, the temperature is elevated all this time.

Daily fluctuations in BT

As usual, you need to take your temperature immediately after sleep, at the same time. The fact is that factors such as light physical activity, food, and even clothing can affect the result. It is normal when it rises above 37.3 during the day (not in the morning) - however, the reason for such an increase is precisely the factors described earlier.

Therefore, there is no point in measuring it during the day or even in the evening - you will not understand whether the fluctuations are caused by the normal load on the body or whether there is a reason to worry. Just imagine, in the early stages in the evening, BT can increase by 1 degree! Morning results are the most reliable, so mark them.

Promotion

If there is a situation with an increase in body temperature during pregnancy, inflammatory or infectious processes are most likely occurring. But this is only if the increase was recorded correctly, that is, in the morning. Termination of pregnancy in this case is unlikely, but it cannot be discounted.

Regarding ectopic pregnancy, it may not necessarily cause an increase in rectal temperature. Usually it is within normal limits. If this type of pregnancy occurs, the woman may feel severe abdominal pain and may even experience bleeding. In this case, you cannot delay; you should call an ambulance.

A fall

This also happens. Its fall, especially sharp, should be alarming. This means that there is insufficient production of hormones. This clearly indicates that the body is not able to support the female body during pregnancy.

If, along with a decrease in rectal temperature, you notice symptoms such as abdominal pain, bleeding, prolonged uterine tone, then consult a doctor and undergo an examination.

A frozen pregnancy usually shows a result below 37, but even in this case you should not panic, but contact a medical facility.

When and how to measure?

In the morning, without getting out of bed, in a state of rest and minimal activity. To do this, you need to take a thermometer and place it two centimeters into the vagina or rectum. You need to hold the thermometer for three to five minutes.

It is necessary to measure BT each time using the same method, that is, choose one - rectal or place the thermometer in the vagina. The thermometer cannot be changed either, nor can the measurement time - if you decide to measure at 8.00 in the morning, then continue in the same spirit. Fluctuations can be up to thirty minutes in both directions.

To carry out the procedure as accurately as possible, here are a few rules that must be followed:

• Do the procedure in a horizontal position and nothing else, don’t even turn on your side, much less squat.
• A full night's sleep is required - at least five hours.
• It is advisable not to have sex while you are monitoring temperature changes. Or at least maintain a gap of half a day between measurement and sexual intercourse.
• You should not take medications - they both lower and increase BT. It’s worse when they raise it - yours may be below normal, and you will think that she is fine.
• Have breakfast only after the procedure.
• Try not to get sick - even a sore throat can distort your readings.

Why do you need a schedule?

If the expectant mother wants to seriously monitor this indicator, then she cannot do without a chart. Various circumstances can affect rectal temperature, especially in the first months of pregnancy.

Typically, fluctuations on the chart look like this:

1. On the day of conception - from 36.4 to 36.7.
2. The next three to four days there is an increase of 0.1, that is, it can reach 37 degrees.
3. The value may remain the same for the next two to three days.
4. On the day of implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine mucosa, it decreases to 36.5-36.6 degrees.
5. For the next three days there is a gradual increase and reaches from 36.7 to 37.
6. The next fourteen days the value ranges from 36.7 to 31.1. It is important to monitor whether it has dropped below the value it was during ovulation.

It is important to indicate in the chart not only the numbers, but also the possible circumstances that influenced them - illness, stress, taking medications, etc. The attending physician should know about them.

How to correctly draw up and decipher a schedule: a detailed guide

You can draw it yourself, or find it on the Internet and print it. Include the following notes in your schedule:

"Pregnant" charts

You can’t measure everything with just a graph; discrepancies are acceptable. Different women have different indicators. For example, some people do not observe implantation retraction, or there are several of them at once.

It happens that the temperature rises sharply, or, conversely, gradually. Sometimes it does not rise above 37. All the described options are determined by doctors as the norm.

Is it possible to determine pregnancy with a thermometer without a chart?

You can, but to do this you need to follow the rules:

• In the evening, shake the thermometer and place it nearby, but not under the pillow. The main thing is that it is convenient for you to get it without using sudden movements;
• In the morning, without eating, and without even getting up, use a thermometer. Choose either the rectal method or place the thermometer in the vagina. It should be placed two centimeters;
• Wait three to five minutes;
• If the reading is above 37, you are probably pregnant.

But you can’t count on accuracy; an increase can signal an inflammatory process, infection, hormonal imbalance or ordinary stress.

Factors influencing performance

To get a reliable result, exclude the following situations:

• Taking medications;
• Use of contraception (oral or IUD);
• Banal lack of sleep;
• Consumption of alcoholic beverages;
• Sex less than six hours before measurement;
• Overwork;
• Any illness;
• The usual temperature is elevated.

Do I need to be monitored during pregnancy?

It makes sense to do this during the first months. It remains elevated until the twentieth week after conception. Usually, not only gynecologists, but even endocrinologists vote for the control of BT.

By measuring BT, you can notice deviations in time and react to them. Low readings may indicate a threat of miscarriage. Therefore, the answer is clear - it is advisable to control it. However, this is not the only way to diagnose the condition of the expectant mother and her child.

At different stages of pregnancy

Let's consider the basal temperature at various stages of pregnancy:

• Week 3 corresponds to the 1st embryonic week. BT shows from 37 to 37.7 and slightly higher. A mark below indicates deviations and the danger of miscarriage.
• H. 4 ranging from 37.1 to 37.3°, maximum - 38. If higher, then it may be an infection.
• N. 5 is stable from 37.1 to 37.7. If she “jumps,” then pay attention to other signs: nagging pain, hardening of the abdomen, softening of the mammary glands, etc.
• N. 6 maintains the same results: from 37.1 to 37.7. If it rises or falls significantly, fetal death is possible.
• N. 7-8 from 37.1-37.3 (not lower) and not higher than 38. For non-standard indicators, undergo additional health diagnostics (ultrasound).
• N. 9-10 - as during weeks 7-8, but more than 37 and below 38. If this is not the case, consult a doctor.
• N. 11 decrease from 37 to 37.2. If it continues to be high, then consult a gynecologist.
• H. 12 from 37 to 37.8, but not higher than 38. Ideal are from 37.6-37.7°.

Recent weeks show from 36.6 to 36.8. At the fortieth week it rises to 37.4 and can rise immediately before childbirth.

Deviation from the norm

If it deviates from the norm, then this is either ovulation or pregnancy. During pregnancy, the doctor often recommends measuring it to eliminate the risk. This method is especially often recommended for those who have previously experienced a miscarriage or problems during pregnancy.

Why is she too tall?

This may be due to an infection, due to an inflammatory process, or even an ectopic pregnancy. In this case, you need to monitor some other signs: does your stomach hurt, what color is the discharge (normally transparent). If you observe them, you need to do an ultrasound.

Possible threat of interruption

This is signaled by a decrease in BT. The decrease occurs due to a lack of progesterone production. If the result drops below 37, and you also experience abdominal pain and brown discharge, you should urgently seek help.

Frozen pregnancy

Unfortunately, in this case the fetus will have to be removed; it threatens the woman’s life. It doesn’t always go away on its own, so you will have to seek medical help.

Other signs indicating fetal fading are the absence of toxicosis, the mammary glands no longer enlarge.

Does low BT occur during normal pregnancy?

It’s difficult to talk about norms - they are always conditional. Low temperatures do not always prevent pregnancy; women give birth to healthy babies and their lives are not in danger. In addition, there may be such an option - during ovulation, just before conception, the temperature was 36.4, so it is unlikely that it will reach 37 over the next two weeks.

However, if there are such signs - pain or opaque discharge - you need to go to the doctor.

Basal temperature of a healthy woman

The norm is not lower than 36.2, but not higher than 37.2. Before ovulation, the temperature drops, during which it rises - this way the most likely moment for conception is determined. After conception, it practically does not decrease.

Signs of probable infertility according to schedule

This is indicated by the following:

• The average for the second phase of the cycle (after the temperature rises) exceeds the average for the first phase by less than 0.4 degrees.
• In the second phase of the cycle, the temperature drops (it is below 37).
• The rise in temperature in the middle of the cycle continues for more than three to four days.
• The second phase is short (less than eight days).

Schedule for ovulation stimulation

With, especially clomiphene (clostilbegit) and using, in the second phase of MC, the rectal temperature graph usually becomes “normal”. Two-phase, with a pronounced phase transition, with a fairly high temperature in the second, with characteristic “stages” (the temperature rises twice) and a slight drop.

If the stimulation schedule is disrupted and deviates from the norm, this may indicate an incorrect selection of the drug dose.

An increase in the first phase upon stimulation with clomiphene also occurs with individual sensitivity to the drug.

When to contact a gynecologist?

If you are seriously monitoring your BT and see a problem for two cycles in a row, consult your doctor. However, he should not prescribe drugs based on the schedule alone; you should be referred for other types of examinations. Pay attention to these factors:

• Novulatory charts.
• Constant delays in the cycle, but pregnancy does not occur.
• Late ovulation and you don't get pregnant for a couple of cycles.
• Controversial indicators with unclear ovulation.
• Graphs with high temperature or low temperature throughout the cycle.
• If the second phase is short (less than 10 days).
• High rates in the second phase of the cycle for more than 18 days, while there are no periods and pregnancy has not occurred.
• Bleeding or heavy discharge mid-cycle.
• Heavy discharge during menstruation that lasts more than 5 days.
• Graphs with the temperature difference in the first and second phases less than 0.4.
• Cycles less than 21 days or more than 35.
• Schedules with clearly defined ovulation, regular sexual intercourse during ovulation, but the woman does not become pregnant for several cycles in a row.

BT as a method of contraception

It can be used, because the highest probability that a woman will become pregnant is during ovulation and two days after it. And since this method can be used to calculate this period, it can serve as a method of contraception.

Should you trust this method?

It can be used as an additional method of pregnancy control and planning. However, you cannot rely on it alone, since modern diagnostic methods are more accurate. But as an additional measure, measuring BBT is a great idea.

Basal body temperature (BT)- the lowest temperature reached after a long rest. This indicator is recommended to be measured by all women planning a pregnancy, since it is a method of calculating favorable days for trying to conceive a baby.

Basal temperature during pregnancy helps to monitor the progress of the gestation period. Its changes can indirectly indicate complications - ectopic embryo implantation or an incipient miscarriage. Basal temperature also helps to diagnose pregnancy before delay.

Basal temperature before pregnancy

The average duration of the menstrual cycle is 28 days. Approximately 12-14 days after the start of the last menstruation, ovulation occurs - the release of the female reproductive cell from the ovary. From this moment, conception becomes possible within 3 days. With a shorter cycle, it can be observed on days 8-12. With a long cycle, the release of the germ cell occurs on days 16-18, sometimes even later. Some women experience 2 or more ovulations between two periods.

To determine ovulation, you can use special tests. However, the first method may have low reliability, since for all women the days favorable for fertilization correspond to different days of the cycle. Using an ovulation test is quite accurate, but quite expensive.

Measuring BT is a free and effective way to calculate ovulation. From the beginning of the cycle, the indicator is 36.5-36.8 degrees. BT depends on the activity of progesterone - the more of it in the blood, the higher the indicator. At the beginning of the menstrual cycle, the amount of the hormone is minimal. Low temperature supports the process of maturation of the female reproductive cell in the ovary.

One day before the release of the female reproductive cell from the ovary, BT can sharply drop by several tenths of degrees; the next day it grows to 37.1-37.3. During ovulation, a new organ appears - the corpus luteum, which synthesizes progesterone. It is the increase in the amount of the hormone that raises BT to the mentioned values.

By calculating BT, a woman can prevent pregnancy. However, this method of contraception is not highly effective, since sperm retain their fertilizing ability for 7 days after sexual intercourse. For reliable protection against unwanted pregnancy, BT calculation should be combined with other methods of protection.

How to measure basal temperature to determine pregnancy?

Basal temperature before delay

Measuring basal temperature to determine pregnancy is one of the methods for calculating the onset of conception. However, its reliability depends entirely on how correctly the procedure was carried out. If all conditions are met, measuring basal temperature will indicate pregnancy before a missed period.

In the absence of pregnancy, the corpus luteum synthesizes progesterone for 7-10 days, then it dies and the amount of the hormone gradually decreases. Therefore, some time after ovulation, the basal temperature becomes lower by several tenths of degrees, amounting to about 36.9-37.0 degrees Celsius. After the onset of menstrual bleeding, these numbers return to values ​​of about 36.7 degrees Celsius.

If pregnancy occurs, the corpus luteum does not die, but continues to synthesize progesterone, which supports pregnancy. In this case, BT does not fall, and sometimes even becomes higher by one tenth of a degree, amounting to 37.1-37.4.

By measuring BT you can judge the success of IVF. During in vitro fertilization, a woman is stimulated by progesterone, which increases the indicator values ​​above 37.1 degrees. If the procedure is successful, the BT will be in the range characteristic of physiological pregnancy.

Basal temperature in the early stages of pregnancy is 37.1-37.4 and can serve as a method for determining the onset of conception and monitoring the process of bearing a child.

Basal temperature after delay

The onset of delay corresponds to the 5th week of pregnancy. When the expectant mother does not have a hCG test at hand, she can use the BT method. If its numbers are 37.1-37.4 degrees, it is highly likely that conception has occurred. When BT is less than 37.0-36.9, pregnancy is unlikely.

Progesterone, which is responsible for maintaining BT, continues to be actively synthesized by the corpus luteum in the 1st trimester. Therefore, its normal values ​​up to 11-12 weeks of gestation exceed 37.0 degrees.

As the second trimester begins, the corpus luteum begins to gradually decrease in size and produces less progesterone. That is why BT of 36.8-36.9 degrees at 16-18 weeks of gestation is a normal variant. From the middle of the 2nd trimester, the corpus luteum does not function, which reduces the amount of the hormone, so measuring the indicator has no prognostic value from the 20th week.

Table of BT values ​​in the absence of pregnancy

Cycle day

Day 7 - ovulation

Ovulation - 3 days after ovulation

4th day after ovulation - 2-4 days before menstruation

2-4 days before menstruation - 1 day of the new menstrual cycle

Table of BT values ​​during pregnancy

Cycle day

Day 7 - ovulation

Fertilization day

Fertilization day - 4th day after fertilization

Implantation (7th day after conception)

8-10 days after conception

11th day after conception - end of the 1st trimester of pregnancy

End of first trimester - mid of second trimester

Mid second trimester - childbirth

Rules for measuring basal temperature

Basal temperature in pregnant women can serve as a reliable sign of its normal course only if measured correctly. Failure to comply with the rules described below may cause a discrepancy with real figures and unreasonable worries for the expectant mother. To correctly measure basal temperature you should:

• spend it after waking up without making any movements in bed;
• measurements should be taken at approximately the same time every day;
• the duration of sleep before measurement should be more than 6 hours;
• the thermometer must be inserted into the anus 20 millimeters;
• The measurement duration must be at least 4 minutes.

The slightest physical activity or sexual intercourse at night before measurement can cause increased blood circulation in the pelvis, due to which the thermometer will show inflated values. Also some drugs and infectious diseases provoke an increase in basal temperature. In the evening, there is a physiological rise in the indicator, so even after a long daytime sleep, the obtained figures will not correspond to reality.

To track ovulation and monitor the progress of pregnancy, a woman can keep a basal temperature chart. The expectant mother should take a large sheet of paper lined in a square and draw two lines perpendicular to each other.

On the vertical line, the expectant mother is asked to mark the temperature at intervals of one tenth of a degree, starting from 36.0 and ending with 38.0. A woman needs to arrange the days of her menstrual cycle horizontally, starting from the very first.

Next, the woman should note the daily measurements of basal temperature, placing a dot at the intersection of the day of the menstrual cycle and the obtained value. Then the expectant mother needs to connect the dots, thanks to which she will receive a line graph. For more careful control for women It is recommended to list symptoms that could provoke an increase in basal temperature- stress, infectious disease, diarrhea, sexual intercourse, etc.

When pregnancy occurs, the chart may show an implantation drop on the 21st day of the cycle (with a menstrual cycle length of 28 days). From 21 to 24 days there will be a slight rise. From the 25th day of the menstrual cycle, the basal temperature will take a linear form, with slight fluctuations of one or two tenths of a degree possible.

Reasons for decrease or increase

1. Endometritis.

With this disease, before menstruation there is a slight drop in basal temperature, as should be normal. However, on the 3-4th day of the cycle, the indicator is more than 37.0 degrees (normally it should drop to about 36.5 degrees).

2. Inflammatory process.

Most often, a strong increase in basal temperature above 37.4 degrees indicates an infection. Inflammation can occur in any organ, but pathologies of the reproductive system (chlamydia, etc.) have the greatest impact on the indicator.

3. Ectopic pregnancy.

This pathology cannot always be detected by measuring basal temperature. But sometimes, due to the addition of the inflammatory process, a rise in the indicator above 37.4 degrees is observed. Until this moment, the basal temperature is normal, since the corpus luteum produces progesterone as during physiological pregnancy.

4. Threat of interruption.

Pregnancy with a low basal temperature of less than 37.0 degrees may indicate progesterone deficiency. If the corpus luteum is not functioning well, there is a constant threat. This condition is often accompanied by nagging or cramping pain in the lower abdomen and lower back, sometimes accompanied by bleeding.

5. Frozen pregnancy.

Due to the presence of chromosomal abnormalities or other unfavorable factors, the embryo may die and not leave the uterine cavity. The basal temperature during a frozen pregnancy will be below 37.0-36.9 degrees, since the corpus luteum stops synthesizing progesterone. Typically, intrauterine death is accompanied by other symptoms: a sharp disappearance of toxicosis, a decrease in the mammary glands.

By measuring basal temperature, you can plan favorable days before conception, find out about pregnancy before a delay, and monitor the course of the first trimester. However, this method is not 100% reliable, since there are many factors that influence the correctness of the results.

For the reliability of BT results the expectant mother must strictly follow all measurement rules. She should remember that even a common cold or increased physical activity on the eve of calculations can provoke incorrect indicators. Also, the use of low-quality thermometers leads to unreliable results.

The basal temperature of a particular expectant mother may not fit into the above norms. In this case, the woman should monitor the dynamics of changes in indicators. If during ovulation the basal temperature did not reach 36.5 degrees, it is likely that after conception it will not exceed 37.0. Such results are rare, but they do not indicate complications.

All women are advised to monitor their basal temperature to detect a sharp jump in one direction or another. Any disturbances in the basal temperature chart do not always indicate the development of pathology. But if there is a sharp drop or increase in the indicators of the expectant mother, it is recommended to consult a doctor for additional tests. Sometimes regular measurements of basal temperature help to timely diagnose complications such as an ectopic or frozen pregnancy.