Everything about measuring basal temperature. Chart of basal temperature during pregnancy, normal and pathological menstrual cycle

Basal temperature body (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

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.

BT measurement - free and effective method calculating 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 from unwanted pregnancy BT calculation should be combined with other protection methods.

How to measure basal temperature to determine pregnancy?

Basal temperature before delay

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. At in vitro fertilization the 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 at early stages 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

Progesterone, which is responsible for maintaining BT, continues to be actively synthesized by the corpus luteum in the 1st trimester. Therefore her normal values up to 11-12 weeks of gestational age 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

• 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.

On vertical line The expectant mother is asked to note the temperature at intervals of one tenth of a degree, ranging from 36.0 to 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

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, however greatest influence The indicator is affected by pathologies of the reproductive system (chlamydia, etc.).

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. At bad work there is a constant threat to the corpus luteum. 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.

For the reliability of BT results the expectant mother must strictly follow all measurement rules. She should remember that even 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 sharp jump in one direction or another. Any disturbances in the basal temperature chart do not always indicate the development of pathology. But when sharp drop or an increase in the indicators of the expectant mother, it is recommended to consult a doctor for additional research. Sometimes regular measurements basal temperature helps to timely diagnose complications such as ectopic or frozen pregnancy.

What can a basal temperature of 37 degrees indicate? Before talking in more detail about elevated temperature, we recommend that you first read the material, which describes in detail about basal body temperature, what it is, how it can be measured, and its average values ​​in different days monthly cycle.

The menstrual cycle has two stages, and ovulation occurs in between. The first stage is characterized by lower temperature indicators, and after ovulation the temperature rises, as the level of the hormone progesterone increases, and lingers at around 37 degrees and a little more. If conception does not take place, the temperature slowly decreases before the onset of menstruation. The next monthly cycle follows the same pattern.

If conception has taken place, you will not immediately see a decrease in BT on the basal temperature curve. It will decrease progressively and will remain at at the same level until childbirth and subsequent menstruation.

What does a basal temperature of 37 degrees or more mean?

If you notice that the first part of the monthly cycle was characterized by a lower temperature, and then two weeks later it rose to 37 or 37.5, this is normal. This increase does not indicate any inflammatory disease and absolutely normal.

1. If the basal temperature is above 37 and lasts the entire menstrual cycle, then this may indicate disorders in the female reproductive function. Most likely this is due to pathological changes hormonal balance, namely, a lack of estrogen or an increase in the amount of prolactin in the blood. An excess in the direction of the hormone progesterone causes an increase in basal temperature during the entire monthly cycle.

These changes are clearly visible and identified using the basal temperature graph.
2. Pregnancy is another cause of elevated basal temperature. High level BT remains in the temperature chart long time. This increase is due to increased content progesterone playing great value in preparing the female body for bearing a baby and future births.

So how can you find out if you're pregnant without taking a test?

• If the temperature exceeds 37, it is observed for longer than three days (meaning, after ovulation until menstruation). So, if usually it was 13 days on the BT chart, and now it’s 17, then most likely we can say that there is a pregnancy. If the cycle is irregular, the first phase can last for various periods of time, and the phase of the corpus luteum is usually stable, and changes in the temperature graph should be determined by it; it will be more informative.


• The basal temperature chart normally consists of two phases - lower temperatures, ovulation, and then a second phase with sharp increase temperature is the corpus luteum phase. If pregnancy occurs, another jump in the graph may be observed (after the second phase), and the graph takes on a three-phase appearance.


• If you observe an increase in temperature on the basal temperature chart for more than 18 days, this indicates pregnancy.

Basal temperature is the body temperature at rest, when it is possible to calculate the state of the gonads and the system as a whole. It shows the lowest temperature readings, which are observed only at rest. This helps many women understand what phase they are in. Correct measurements and a schedule during the cycle help determine the period of ovulation when you can conceive a child or, conversely, engage in unprotected sex without consequences.

There are three successive phases of the menstrual cycle:

1. Follicular.
2. Ovulation.
3. Luteal.

At each stage it is noted different levels hormones, which is displayed on basal temperature. To obtain accurate data, it is necessary to take accurate measurements in the rectum, vaginal or.

Measuring rules

The main rules of measurement, which are noted on the website, are as follows:

1. Take your temperature no more than 30-60 minutes after waking up.
2. The duration of sleep before measurements should be at least 3 hours. A shorter rest period may skew the results.
3. Take measurements at the same time.
4. Measure temperature in lying down, do not sit down.

If you take the temperature later, you may make a mistake. Notes should be made in the records at what time the measurements were taken. Every hour the temperature increases by 0.1 degrees.

The same thermometer should be used throughout the entire cycle to obtain more accurate data. It is better to use a digital thermometer that makes a sound when the measurement is completed. However, when using a mercury thermometer, you should hold it for 5 minutes. At the same time, it is not advisable to rise or move suddenly.

It is better to take measurements throughout the month, including monthly days, in order to create a schedule.

BT schedule

The basal temperature (BT) chart is drawn from the beginning of the last to the beginning of the new menstruation and then a new one is drawn. The dividing line is the period of ovulation, when the egg is released from the ovary. She divides the stages into before and after. Ovulation occurs in the middle of the menstrual cycle - on days 12-16.

The average cycle length is 28 days. This is the period from the start of bleeding of the previous menstruation to the first day of bleeding of the next. In some cases this period increases to 35 days. Sometimes the last point in the BT chart is 21 days.

What does the BT chart show?

1. Days of ovulation, which allows you to determine when to conceive.
2. Causes of infertility that only a doctor can identify.
3. Causes of delayed or supposed menstrual flow.
4. Identify sexually transmitted diseases, such as endometritis.

First phase

The follicular first phase is also called hypothermic, while the luteal phase is hyperthermic. From the names it becomes clear that in the first period the body temperature is slightly lower, and in the second – increased. In the follicular phase, a follicle is formed in which the egg matures. Estrogen is produced by the ovaries. Normal temperature during this period the temperature reaches 37°C. This is favorable for pregnancy.

Elevated temperatures during this period become the reasons why conception does not occur. If in the first phase the temperature remains at 37 degrees, and the basal temperature on the 17th day reaches 37.5 degrees, then insemination becomes problematic, even if the sperm has penetrated the female reproductive system.

Second phase

Ovulation is difficult to detect. In the second phase, the temperature decreases, and the next day it increases by 0.4-0.5 ° C. It stays like this until menstruation. On average, the second phase lasts 14 days.

A decrease in basal temperature during implantation indicates the activation of estrogen - hormones that affect the temperature inside the reproductive system. This reduction occurs for a few hours, and then rises again.

The duration of the luteal phase can be short - 10-12 days, which indicates its insufficiency and inability to bear a fetus. A longer phase may indicate the appearance of a cyst in corpus luteum or about the beginning of pregnancy. Only a doctor can decipher the data.

Ovulation occurs somewhere in the middle of the cycle. Sometimes it may not happen at all. Its presence is indicated by an increase in temperature.

Indicators in the first phase

In the first phase, estrogens predominate, which control the temperature of the reproductive system. Normal values ​​are 36.2-36.5°C. If during this period the temperature rises to 36.5-36.8 ° C, then this indicates insufficient estrogen levels. In this case, gynecologists prescribe hormone therapy.

If the increase in temperature during the follicular period occurred within one day, then you should not worry. No pathologies can occur during such a period. Deviations should be judged not by a single indicator, but by the entire schedule, which is drawn up many times.

Indicators in the second phase

The second phase may also occur high performance temperature. This indicates estrogen deficiency. After the egg leaves the follicle, the temperature rises to 37°C or more, which interferes with conception. The mark of 36.8 degrees is observed very rarely.

Rectal measurements exceed those in the first phase by 0.4 degrees. This is considered normal. Less significant differences indicate problems that need attention.

Every woman's body is unique. He is not required to meet clear indicators. Sometimes increased or low temperature is a feature, not a disease. Measurement methods should also be taken into account. Differences of 0.2 degrees are quite normal.

Impact factors

It is necessary to take into account factors influencing BT indicators. They are:

• Drinking alcohol.
• Sex before dawn or at night.
• Inflammation in the legs.
• Stress.
• Various diseases.
• Sleeping with a heating pad under an electric blanket.

These factors should be noted in your notebook where you keep your BT chart. Gynecologists advise taking daily measurements for at least 3 months, which will help identify more accurate data and features.

If a woman wants to more accurately determine the day of ovulation, then she should take daily measurements and write them down in a notebook for six months, or better yet, a year. In this case, you should refuse to take hormonal medications And contraceptive device. Only the use of a condom is allowed.

Rising temperature as an indicator of pregnancy

All manipulations are done for the sake of conception. A rising temperature may be an indicator that pregnancy has begun. This becomes clear when from the moment of ovulation until the onset of menstruation (when they should start) heat. It rises to 37°C or more and does not subside. Unambiguous this indicator becomes if such a high temperature is noted in the period before the onset of menstruation and their delay.

In the second phase, BT can also be high in the absence of pregnancy. It rises to 37 degrees and above and stays there. Its decrease occurs the day before the start of menstruation. Accordingly, if there is a delay and BT is high, then we can talk about pregnancy. Therefore, you should focus not only on pregnancy tests, but also on internal temperature indicators.

Gynecologists recommend waiting for a delay so that breast disease and high temperature before menstruation are not misleading. These factors are normal before normal menstruation. However, a delay in combination with such symptoms may already indicate the beginning of pregnancy.

Temperature changes during other processes

You should listen to your body. A situation may arise when a change in temperature indicates other processes, for example, a miscarriage. In this case, menstruation is scanty and BT is high. You should take a pregnancy test and visit a gynecologist.

An increase in basal temperature on the 22nd day and its absence before or on the first day of menstruation may be an individual feature or indicate inflammatory processes in organism.

If BT drops on day 25, then this indicates upcoming menstruation. Everything in a woman’s body happens normally.

Forecast

Basal temperature, of course, can help a woman determine the days of ovulation and even find out in advance that she is pregnant, but such indicators are not always unambiguous. The prognosis largely depends on a combination of many factors, not just resting body temperature.

Should be considered individual characteristics body. You can find out about them if you keep a BT chart for several months. Based on the indicators, it will become clear what is inherent in a particular female body at each phase and before menstruation. Also, you should not prematurely rejoice in pregnancy if BT is high before the onset of menstruation.

Various factors affect a woman's body. The seasonality of the year should be taken into account, which also affects the condition general health. After taking measurements for six months or a year, we can draw some conclusions. It is better to review the schedule with a gynecologist, who takes into account many factors. This will help either conceive a child or get rid of female problems that prevent you from getting pregnant.

Measuring basal temperature is very popular among women. This method does not require any financial investment and, if you adhere to all measurement rules, the most accurate indicators of processes in the female body are achieved. Using this method, many women were able to successfully.

Others have used this method to monitor fetal development in the first months of life.

Basal temperature is the “internal” body temperature at rest for at least three hours good sleep. After a long rest, the temperature readings will not be affected by additional external factors.

In the distant 50s, Professor Marshall developed a recognition technique using vibrations hormonal levels women within . As is known, female body During the cycle, it goes through two stages: where it dominates and where the main one is progesterone.

The doctor, analyzing the graph, can see the following:

• The process of egg maturation and the period when this occurs;
• or lack thereof;
• Will be able to determine the functioning of the endocrine system;
• Notice abnormalities inside the uterus (endometritis);
• See some gynecological problems;
• Rate work on different phases monthly cycle;
• Periodicity of the cycle and determine the day;
• In cases of delay, determine whether there is or not.
• Observe intrauterine development of the fetus (at initial stage pregnancy).

Having decided to take rectal temperature measurements, you should not treat this method “carelessly.”

How to measure temperature correctly

There are unspoken ones. They entail accurate indicators of processes in reproductive system. Any violation of one or more points of the rules will give a blurred indicator and an inaccurate result.

Any thermometer will do. Doctors give preference mercury thermometers, as a more accurate indicator of the result. It is better to use a thermometer that you trust.

Principles of measuring basal temperature:

• It is necessary to take your temperature every day, no exception.
• You can start using this method on any day, but it is better to start from the first day of the monthly cycle.
• Measurements are taken in one of three places: the mouth, the vagina, or the anus. Having chosen one of the diagnostic methods, it cannot be changed throughout the entire period.

BT measurements in anus considered the most accurate indicator.

The mouth method involves placing the thermometer under your tongue and closing your mouth. Measurement time – 5 minutes.

The thermometer is inserted into the vagina and anus a few centimeters with a narrow part, hold for 3-5 minutes.

How to measure basal temperature correctly:

• You need to choose one time for diagnosis, because it cannot be changed even on weekends. It is recommended to prioritize wake-up time on weekdays. Each hour of the day has its own biological indicator, therefore, waking up an hour later in the day, the basal temperature will be higher each time.
• It’s worth measuring, as it were, without waking up completely and without getting out of bed. It is better if the woman makes a minimum number of movements. In such cases, it is advised to shoot down mercury thermometer in the evening and place it at a short distance from you so that you can easily reach it.
• The female body should be in a state of rest (sleep) for at least 3 hours, preferably more. This means that even going to the toilet is not allowed. If this situation occurs, measure your basal temperature before visiting the ladies' room. Simply, during a long rest of the body, the basal temperature will show the heating of the body only due to work internal organs. And while you are awake, work is added muscle mass female body, and this is additional warmth.
• After removing the thermometer, these degrees must be immediately remembered and plotted on a graph.

A few additional nuances:

• When keeping a schedule, it is worth considering that with some evening actions a girl can “catch up” her temperature. For example, drunk, busy or strong stressful situation, insomnia, business trips, and others can cause an increase in the indicator. When such a situation could not be avoided, it is worth noting it on the chart.
• If a lady has elevated temperature bodies - basal rate considered uninformative.
• Using this technique and accepting it is stupid. The indicator using this method directly depends on the level of hormones in the body.

And about the graphics:

• The graph has two axes: temperature and day of the month.
• Plus the “notes” column. All factors that may affect the degree indicator are entered here.

It would be much more convenient to use this method at other times of the day. For example, in the afternoon or evening, when a girl is ready to devote time to herself for her beloved. But this is not possible, unfortunately.

As mentioned earlier, during the period of wakefulness, all mechanisms of body movement are launched, as a result, the heating heat increases and will be higher than the desired value.

Of course, if the lady leads night look life and its sleep occurs during the daytime - you can use this method in the evening or after a long continuous sleep for at least 3 hours.

The temperature difference between sleep and wakefulness can differ by one degree or more. And with medical point vision is a big indicator.

For determining gynecological problems, for planning pregnancy or, conversely, definition without dangerous days- this does not fit. It is the time after sleep and rest that has an accurate indicator.

Basal temperature during ovulation

Usually, a day before the “explosion” of the follicle, from where the mature egg is released (), the basal temperature drops slightly, on average by 0.2-0.3 degrees. At the moment of ovulation, the temperature rises sharply and remains for a certain time (until the start of the next menstruation). Its indicator varies 36.9-37.4 degrees.

The fertile period is considered to be the time the curve of the graph falls plus two days to it. It is during these hours that a woman has. Everything that comes after (after) has nothing to do with conception.

BT in early pregnancy

During conception, the rectal temperature during the second phase of the monthly cycle remains high - more than 37 degrees. She continues to hold on during.

By using this method you can monitor the progress of pregnancy. On early stages can be identified pathological condition embryo or see, thereby preventing the development of the problem.

There is an opinion that a drop in basal temperature indicates fetal fading, but one-day diagnosis should not be trusted. But if this continues for some period of time, it is better to inform your gynecologist about it.

It is also worth discussing with him the increased rectal temperature(above 37.8 degrees), if observed. This may be a signal about something in the pregnant woman's body.

During pregnancy, the rules for measuring basal temperature remain unchanged.

Basal temperature: pros and cons of the method

Measuring basal temperature can be very difficult for many women. Even if you miss the morning procedure one day, you can distort the entire schedule and all the efforts of the previous days will be in vain.

It is also important that the BT indicator may change if a woman is sick or drank alcohol the night before.

But still, measuring basal temperature is much easier than taking a lot of tests to identify the cause. Or, for example, you can use the BT schedule. Ultrasound monitoring may not be financially accessible.

There are both supporters of this method and opponents in the world.

If we consider this method from all sides, we can highlight the main advantages:

• The first, of course, is accessibility and low cost, and to be more precise, you won’t need any money at all to measure basal temperature. Every family has a thermometer, so even low-income families can afford this technique.
• You don't need to spend a lot of time on the procedure.
• The method is so simple that no special skills are needed.
• The procedure will not affect the woman’s health in any way.
• Diagnosing basal temperature does not require the presence of a specialist.
• Ladies who dreamed of being “saved” by this method of determining day X for successful fertilization.

B There were some downsides:

• Self-control. Every day, at the same hour, no matter what, a woman must adhere to the same measurement time.
• Every day you need to write down your readings so as not to confuse the value in the future. Daily degrees are practically the same, so you can simply get confused by the numbers.
• During certain illnesses it is not allowed to use this technique. For example, during an exacerbation of hemorrhoids.
• While using this method, it is recommended to avoid situations that affect the temperature increase. For example, you need to avoid drinking alcohol.
• It happens that while adhering to all measurement conditions, basal temperature turns out to be uninformative.

When forming a basal temperature chart, a female representative raises her temperature quite high. This method is also suitable for checking hormonal state body, where the doctor suspects pathology in this area.

In addition, measuring basal temperature and plotting a graph is suitable for diagnosis.

Of course, this is not a panacea for all ills, and whether to use this technique or not is up to each woman to decide individually, but you should not forget about such a simple and reliable method.