Print the basal temperature chart. Basal temperature chart: examples and interpretation. Normal basal temperature chart How to chart temperatures

The basal body temperature (BT) record table should contain the lines:

Day of the month
cycle day
BT
Notes: Abundant or moderate discharge, abnormalities that can affect BBT: general illness, including fever, diarrhea, intercourse in the evening (especially in the morning), drinking alcohol the day before, measuring BBT at an unusual time, going to bed late (for example, went to bed at 3 o'clock, and measured at 6), taking sleeping pills, stress, etc.

The column "Notes" contains all the factors that in one way or another could affect the change in basal temperature.

This form of recording helps both the woman and her doctor to understand the possible causes of infertility, cycle disorders, etc.

Rationale for the basal body temperature method

Basal body temperature during the cycle changes under the influence of hormones.

During the maturation of the egg against the background of a high level of estrogens (the first phase of the menstrual cycle, hypothermic, “low”), the basal temperature is low, on the eve of ovulation it drops to its minimum, and then rises again, reaching a maximum. At this time, ovulation takes place. After ovulation, the high temperature phase begins (the second phase of the menstrual cycle, hyperthermic, "high"), which is caused by low levels of estrogen and high levels of progesterone. Pregnancy under the influence of progesterone also takes place completely in the high temperature phase. The difference between the "low" (hypothermic) and "high" (hyperthermic) phases is 0.4-0.8 °C. Only with accurate measurement of basal body temperature can one fix the level of "low" temperature in the first half of the menstrual cycle, the transition from "low" to "high" on the day of ovulation, and the temperature level in the second phase of the cycle.

Usually during menstruation, the temperature is kept at 37 ° C. During the maturation of the follicle (the first phase of the cycle), the temperature does not exceed 37°C. Before ovulation itself, it decreases (the result of the action of estrogen), and after it, the basal temperature rises to 37.1 ° C and above (the effect of progesterone). Until the next menstruation, the basal temperature remains elevated and slightly decreases by the first day of menstruation. If the basal temperature in the first phase, relative to the second, is high, then this may indicate a small amount of estrogen in the body and requires correction with drugs containing female sex hormones. On the contrary, if in the second phase, relative to the first, a low basal temperature is observed, then this is an indicator of a low level of progesterone, and drugs are also prescribed here to correct the hormonal background. This should be done only after passing the appropriate tests for hormones and prescribing a doctor.

A persistent two-phase cycle indicates ovulation, which has taken place and the presence of a functionally active corpus luteum (the correct rhythm of the ovaries).
The absence of a rise in temperature in the second phase of the cycle (monotonous curve) or significant temperature fluctuations, both in the first and second half of the cycle with the absence of a stable rise, indicates inoculation (lack of release of the egg from the ovaries).
The delay in the rise and its short duration (hypothermic phase for 2-7, up to 10 days) is observed with a shortening of the luteal phase, insufficient rise (0.2-0.3 ° C) - with insufficient functioning of the corpus luteum.
The thermogenic effect of progesterone leads to an increase in body temperature by at least 0.33 ° C (the effect lasts until the completion of the luteal, that is, the second, phase of the menstrual cycle). Progesterone levels peak 8 to 9 days after ovulation, which is approximately the time a fertilized egg implants in the uterine wall.

By making a chart of basal temperature, you can not only determine when you ovulate, but also find out what processes are taking place in your body.

Decoding charts of basal temperature. Examples

If the basal temperature chart is built correctly, taking into account the measurement rules, it can reveal not only the presence or absence of ovulation, but also some diseases.

Break line

The line is drawn over 6 temperature values ​​in the first phase of the cycle, preceding ovulation.

This does not take into account the first 5 days of the cycle, as well as days on which various negative factors could affect the temperature (see temperature measurement rules). This line does not allow any conclusions to be drawn from the graph and is for illustration purposes only.

ovulation line

In order to judge the onset of ovulation, the rules established by the World Health Organization (WHO) are used:

Three temperature values ​​in a row must be above the level of the line drawn over the previous 6 temperature values.
The difference between the midline and the three temperatures must be at least 0.1 degrees on two of the three days and at least 0.2 degrees on one of those days.

If your temperature curve meets these requirements, then an ovulation line will appear on your basal temperature chart 1-2 days after ovulation.

Sometimes it is not possible to determine ovulation according to the WHO method due to the fact that there are high temperatures in the first phase of the cycle. In this case, you can apply the finger rule to the basal temperature chart. This rule excludes temperature values ​​that differ from the previous or next temperature by more than 0.2 degrees. Such temperatures should not be taken into account when calculating ovulation if the basal temperature graph is generally normal.

The most optimal time for conception is the day of ovulation and 2 days before it.

Menstrual cycle length

The total cycle length should normally not be shorter than 21 days and should not exceed 35 days. If your cycles are shorter or longer, then you may have ovarian dysfunction, which is often the cause of infertility and needs to be treated by a gynecologist.

Second phase length

The basal temperature graph is divided into the first and second phases. The separation takes place where the ovulation line (vertical) is affixed. Accordingly, the first phase of the cycle is the segment of the graph before ovulation, and the second phase of the cycle after ovulation.

The length of the second phase of the cycle is normally from 12 to 16 days, most often 14 days. In contrast, the length of the first phase can vary greatly, and these variations are an individual norm. At the same time, in a healthy woman in different cycles, there should not be significant differences in the length of the first phase and the second phase. The total length of the cycle normally changes only due to the length of the first phase.

One of the problems revealed on the graphs and confirmed by subsequent hormonal studies is the insufficiency of the second phase. If you have been measuring your basal temperature for several cycles, following all the measurement rules, and your second phase is shorter than 10 days, this is a reason to consult a gynecologist. Also, if you regularly have sexual intercourse during ovulation, pregnancy does not occur and the length of the second phase is at the lower limit (10 or 11 days), then this may indicate a lack of the second phase.

temperature difference

Normally, the difference in the average temperatures of the first and second phases should be more than 0.4 degrees. If it is lower, then this may indicate hormonal problems. Take a blood test for progesterone and estrogen and consult a gynecologist.

An increase in basal temperature occurs when the level of progesterone in the blood serum exceeds 2.5-4.0 ng / ml (7.6-12.7 nmol / l). However, monophasic basal temperature has been identified in a number of patients with normal progesterone levels in the second phase of the cycle. In addition, monophasic basal temperature is noted at approximately 20% of ovulatory cycles. A simple statement of a two-phase basal temperature does not prove the normal function of the corpus luteum either. Basal temperature also cannot be used to determine the time of ovulation, since a two-phase basal temperature is also observed during luteinization of a non-ovulated follicle. Nevertheless, the duration of the luteal phase in accordance with the data of basal temperature and the low rate of rise are accepted by many authors as criteria for diagnosing the syndrome of luteinization of a non-ovulating follicle.

Five main types of temperature curves are described in classic gynecological manuals.

On such graphs, there is an increase in temperature in the second phase of the cycle by at least 0.4 C; noticeable "preovulatory" and "premenstrual" temperature drop. The duration of the temperature increase after ovulation is 12-14 days. Such a curve is typical of a normal biphasic menstrual cycle.

The graph example shows a pre-ovulatory drop on the 12th day of the cycle (the temperature drops significantly two days before ovulation), as well as a premenstrual drop starting from the 26th day of the cycle.

There is a weakly pronounced rise in temperature in the second phase. The temperature difference in the first and second phases is no more than 0.2-0.3 C. Such a curve may indicate estrogen-progesterone deficiency. See chart examples below.

If such schedules are repeated from cycle to cycle, then this may indicate hormonal disruptions that cause infertility.

Basal temperature begins to rise only shortly before menstruation, while there is no "premenstrual" temperature drop. The second phase of the cycle may last less than 10 days. Such a curve is typical for a two-phase menstrual cycle with insufficiency of the second phase. See chart examples below.

Pregnancy in such a cycle is possible, but it is at risk from the very beginning. At this point, a woman still cannot know about the onset of pregnancy, even gynecologists would find it difficult to make a diagnosis at such an early date. With such a schedule, we can talk not about infertility, but about miscarriage. Be sure to contact your gynecologist if you have such a schedule for 3 cycles.

In a cycle without ovulation, the corpus luteum is not formed, which produces the hormone progesterone and affects the increase in basal body temperature. In this case, the temperature rise is not visible on the basal temperature chart and ovulation is not detected. If there is no ovulation line on the chart, in this case we are talking about an anovulatory cycle.

Each woman can have several anovulatory cycles a year - this is normal and does not require medical intervention, but if this situation repeats from cycle to cycle, be sure to consult a gynecologist. Without ovulation - pregnancy is impossible!

A monotonic curve occurs when there is no pronounced rise throughout the cycle. Such a schedule is observed during an anovulatory (ovulation is absent) cycle. See chart examples below.

On average, a woman has one anovulatory cycle per year and there is no cause for concern in this case. But anovulatory schedules that are repeated from cycle to cycle are a very serious reason to contact a gynecologist. Without ovulation, a woman cannot become pregnant and we are talking about female infertility.

estrogen deficiency

Chaotic temperature curve. The graph shows large temperature swings, it does not fit into any of the above types. This type of curve can be observed both in severe estrogen deficiency and depend on random factors. Chart examples below.

High basal temperature in the first phase

The basal temperature graph is divided into the first and second phases. The separation takes place where the ovulation line (vertical line) is affixed. Accordingly, the first phase of the cycle is the segment of the graph before ovulation, and the second phase of the cycle after ovulation.

Estrogen deficiency

In the first phase of the cycle in the female body, the hormone estrogen dominates. Under the influence of this hormone, the basal temperature before ovulation is kept on average in the range from 36.2 to 36.5 degrees. If the temperature in the first phase rises and stays above this mark, then estrogen deficiency can be assumed. In this case, the average temperature of the first phase rises to 36.5 - 36.8 degrees and is kept at this level. To increase the level of estrogen, gynecologists-endocrinologists will prescribe hormonal drugs.

Estrogen deficiency also leads to an elevated temperature in the second phase of the cycle (above 37.1 degrees), while the rise in temperature is slow and takes more than 3 days.

On the example of the graph, the temperature in the first phase is above 37.0 degrees, in the second phase it rises to 37.5, the rise in temperature by 0.2 degrees on the 17th and 18th day of the cycle is insignificant. Fertilization in a cycle with such a schedule is very problematic.

Inflammation of the appendages

Another reason for an increase in temperature in the first phase may be inflammation of the appendages. In this case, the temperature rises only for a few days in the first phase to 37 degrees, and then drops again. In such charts, the calculation of ovulation is difficult, since such a rise "masks" the ovulatory rise.

On the example of the graph, the temperature in the first phase of the cycle is kept at 37.0 degrees, the increase occurs sharply and also falls sharply. A rise in temperature on day 6 of the cycle can be mistaken for an ovulatory rise, but in fact it most likely indicates inflammation. Therefore, it is so important to measure the temperature throughout the cycle in order to exclude such a scenario: the temperature rose due to inflammation, then fell again and then rose due to the onset of ovulation.

endometritis

Normally, the temperature in the first phase should decrease during menstrual bleeding. If your temperature at the end of the cycle drops before the onset of menstruation and rises again to 37.0 degrees with the onset of menstruation (less often on day 2-3 of the cycle), then this may indicate the presence of endometritis.

Characteristically, the temperature drops before menstruation and rises with the beginning of the next cycle. If there is no drop in temperature before the onset of menstruation in the first cycle, i.e., the temperature is kept at this level, then pregnancy can be assumed, despite the onset of bleeding. Take a pregnancy test and consult a gynecologist who will conduct an ultrasound for an accurate diagnosis.

If the basal temperature in the first phase rises sharply for one day, then this does not mean anything. Inflammation of the appendages cannot begin and end in one day. Also, a lack of estrogen can only be assumed by evaluating the entire graph, and not a separate temperature in the first phase. In diseases accompanied by high or elevated body temperature, it makes no sense to measure basal temperature, and even more so to judge its nature and analyze the graph.

Low temperature in the second phase of the menstrual cycle

In the second phase of the cycle, the basal temperature should differ significantly (by about 0.4 degrees) from the first phase and be at the level of 37.0 degrees or higher if you measure the temperature rectally. If the temperature difference is less than 0.4 degrees and the average temperature of the second phase does not reach 36.8 degrees, then this may indicate problems.

Insufficiency of the corpus luteum

In the second phase of the cycle, the female body begins to produce the hormone progesterone or the corpus luteum hormone. This hormone is responsible for raising the temperature in the second phase of the cycle and prevents the onset of menstruation. If this hormone is not enough, then the temperature rises slowly and the onset of pregnancy may be at risk.

The temperature in case of corpus luteum insufficiency rises shortly before menstruation, and there is no "premenstrual" fall. This may indicate hormonal deficiency. The diagnosis is based on a blood test for progesterone in the second phase of the cycle. If its values ​​are lowered, then usually the gynecologist prescribes a progesterone substitute: utrogestan or duphaston. These drugs are taken strictly after the onset of ovulation. With the onset of pregnancy, the reception continues until 10-12 weeks. Abrupt withdrawal of progesterone in the second phase during pregnancy can lead to the threat of termination of pregnancy.

Particular attention should be paid to charts with a short second phase. If the second phase is shorter than 10 days, then one can also judge the insufficiency of the second phase.

Situations when the basal temperature remains elevated for more than 14 days occur during pregnancy, the formation of an ovarian corpus luteum cyst, and also in an acute inflammatory process of the pelvic organs.

Estrogen-progesterone deficiency

If, in combination with a low temperature in the second phase, your graph shows a slight rise in temperature (0.2-0.3 C) after ovulation, then such a curve may indicate not only a lack of progesterone, but also a lack of the hormone estrogen.

Hyperprolactinemia

Due to the increase in the level of the pituitary hormone - prolactin, which is responsible for maintaining pregnancy and lactation, the basal temperature graph in this case may resemble the graph of a pregnant woman. Menstruation, as well as during pregnancy, may be absent. An example of a basal temperature chart for hyperprolactinemia

Basal temperature chart for ovulation stimulation

When ovulation is stimulated, in particular with clomiphene (clostilbegit) using duphaston in the second phase of the mc, the basal temperature graph, as a rule, becomes “normal” - two-phase, with a pronounced phase transition, with a fairly high temperature in the second phase, with characteristic “steps” (the temperature rises 2 times) and a slight sinking. If the temperature schedule during stimulation, on the contrary, is violated and deviates from the normal, this may indicate an incorrect selection of the dose of drugs or an inappropriate stimulation scenario (other medications may be needed). An increase in temperature in the first phase during stimulation with clomiphene also occurs with individual sensitivity to the drug.

Special cases of the basal temperature chart

Low or high temperature in both phases, provided that the temperature difference is at least 0.4 degrees, is not a pathology. This is an individual feature of the body. The measurement method can also affect the temperature values. Typically, with an oral measurement, the basal temperature is 0.2 degrees lower than with a rectal or vaginal measurement.

When to contact a gynecologist?

If you strictly observe the rules for measuring temperature and observe the described problems on your basal temperature graph for at least 2 cycles in a row, contact your doctor for additional examinations. Beware of making diagnoses by a gynecologist only on the basis of charts. What you need to pay attention to:

anovulatory charts
regular cycle delays in case of non-approaching pregnancy
late ovulation and not getting pregnant for several cycles
controversial schedules with indistinct ovulation
high temperature charts throughout the cycle
low temperature curves throughout the cycle
schedules with a short (less than 10 days) second phase
charts with high temperature in the second phase of the cycle for more than 18 days, without the onset of menstruation and a negative pregnancy test
unexplained bleeding or heavy discharge mid-cycle
heavy menstruation lasting more than 5 days
graphs with a temperature difference in the first and second phases of less than 0.4 degrees
cycles shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days
graphs with well-defined ovulation, regular intercourse during ovulation and no pregnancy for several cycles

Signs of probable infertility according to the basal temperature chart:

The average value of the second phase of the cycle (after the temperature rise) exceeds the average value of the first phase by less than 0.4°C.
In the second phase of the cycle, there are drops in temperature (the temperature drops below 37°C).
The rise in temperature in the middle of the cycle lasts more than 3-4 days.
The second phase is short (less than 8 days).

Definition of pregnancy by basal temperature

The method of determining pregnancy by basal temperature works subject to the presence of ovulation in the cycle, since with some health disorders, the basal temperature can be increased for an arbitrarily long time, and menstruation may be absent. A striking example of such a violation is hyperprolactinemia, due to increased production of the hormone prolactin by the pituitary gland. Prolactin is responsible for maintaining pregnancy and lactation and is normally elevated only during pregnancy and lactation (see Examples of graphs for normal and various disorders).

Fluctuations in basal temperature in different phases of the menstrual cycle are due to different levels of hormones responsible for phases 1 and 2.

During menstruation, the basal temperature is always elevated (about 37.0 and above). In the first phase of the cycle (follicular) before ovulation, the basal temperature is low, up to 37.0 degrees.

Before ovulation, the basal temperature decreases, and immediately after ovulation it rises by 0.4 - 0.5 degrees and remains elevated until the next menstruation.

In women with different lengths of the menstrual cycle, the duration of the follicular phase is different, and the length of the luteal (second) phase of the cycle is approximately the same and does not exceed 12-14 days. Thus, if the basal temperature after the jump (which indicates ovulation) remains elevated for more than 14 days, this clearly indicates the onset of pregnancy.

This method of determining pregnancy works subject to the presence of ovulation in the cycle, since with some health disorders, the basal temperature can be increased for an arbitrarily long time, and menstruation may be absent. A striking example of such a violation is hyperprolactinemia, due to increased production of the hormone prolactin by the pituitary gland. Prolactin is responsible for maintaining pregnancy and lactation and is normally elevated only during pregnancy and lactation.

If a woman is pregnant, then menstruation will not occur and the temperature will remain elevated throughout the pregnancy. A decrease in basal temperature during pregnancy may indicate a lack of hormones that maintain pregnancy and the threat of its termination.

With the onset of pregnancy, in most cases, on the 7th - 10th day after ovulation, implantation occurs - the introduction of a fertilized egg into the endometrium (the inner lining of the uterus). In rare cases, early (before 7 days) or late (after 10 days) implantation is observed. Unfortunately, it is impossible to reliably determine the presence of implantation or its absence either on the basis of the schedule or with the help of ultrasound at a gynecologist's appointment. However, there are several signs that may indicate implantation has taken place. All these signs can be detected on the 7-10th day after ovulation:

It is possible that these days there are small discharges that disappear within 1-2 days. This may be the so-called implantation bleeding. At the time of the introduction of the egg into the inner lining of the uterus, the endometrium is damaged, which leads to minor discharge. But if you have regular discharge in the middle of the cycle, and pregnancy does not occur, then you should contact the gynecology center.

A sharp decrease in temperature to the level of the midline for one day in the second phase, the so-called implantation retraction. This is one of the signs most often observed in charts with confirmed pregnancy. This retraction can occur for two reasons. Firstly, the production of the hormone progesterone, which is responsible for raising the temperature, begins to decline from the middle of the second phase, when pregnancy occurs, its production resumes again, which leads to temperature fluctuations. Secondly, during the onset of pregnancy, the hormone estrogen is released, which in turn lowers the temperature. The combination of these two hormonal shifts leads to the appearance of implantation depression on the graph.

Your chart has become triphasic, which means you are seeing an ovulation-like rise in temperature on the chart during the second phase of your cycle. This rise is again due to increased production of the hormone progesterone after implantation.

On the example of the graph - implantation retraction on the 21st day of the cycle and the presence of the third phase, starting from the 26th day of the cycle.

Early signs of pregnancy such as nausea, tightness in the chest, frequent urination, indigestion, or just feeling pregnant also do not give an accurate answer. You may not be pregnant if you have all of these signs, or you may be pregnant without a single symptom.

All these signs can be a confirmation of the onset of pregnancy, but you should not rely on them, since there are many examples in which the signs were present, but the pregnancy did not occur. Or, conversely, with the onset of pregnancy, there were no signs. The most reliable conclusions can be drawn if there is a clear rise in temperature on your chart, you had intercourse 1-2 days before or during ovulation, and your temperature remains high 14 days after ovulation. In this case, the time has come to take a pregnancy test, which will finally confirm your expectations.

Basal temperature measurement is one of the main fertility tracking methods recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). for details, see the WHO Medical Eligibility Criteria for the Use of Contraceptive Methods page 117.

When using the basal temperature method to prevent unwanted pregnancy, you need to consider that not only the days of ovulation according to the basal temperature schedule can be dangerous. Therefore, in the period from the beginning of menstruation until the evening of the 3rd day after the rise in basal temperature, which occurs after ovulation, it is better to use additional measures to prevent unwanted pregnancy.

Our regular reader, Natalya Gorshkova, has compiled a form for you to quickly fill out and automatically plot a basal temperature chart, which you can print out and show to your doctor. You can download it from the link: .

Charts are discussed on the forum

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 maintained 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 make daily notes about highlights and events that have happened 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 must 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 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 basal thermometry figures are above 37 ° C, this indicates an insufficient amount of estrogens 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.

Measurement of basal body temperature (BT) is necessary so that the doctor can determine whether a woman is ovulating, since during ovulation the temperature in the vagina and rectum drops, sometimes even to 36.2-35.9 ° C. And after 2-3 days it should rise to a level of 37 ° C or slightly higher. After such a jump in temperature, the second phase of the menstrual cycle begins. The measurement of basal temperature reflects the work of the ovaries much more accurately than hormonal tests and ultrasound folliculometry.

The construction of the schedule must be started from the first day of the menstrual cycle, that is, from the first day of menstruation. The temperature changes in the rectum in the morning, on an empty stomach, immediately after waking up. That is, at 7-8 o'clock in the morning, without getting out of bed, with a simple mercury thermometer, inserting its mercury tip into the anus for 5 minutes. Do not forget to fix the current date on the chart. Continue plotting until the start of the next menstruation. With the start of a new period (new cycle), start building a new schedule. To catch the pattern, it is necessary to measure the temperature for three menstrual cycles and record the data daily.

A woman must record every sexual intercourse and all the phenomena that accompany ovulation. It is very important to take into account the psycho-physical state of a woman. Poor or inadequate sleep, stress, nervous tension, overwork during the working week, illness - all this is reflected in the menstrual cycle. Therefore, it is desirable to mark these factors on the chart with special icons.

Some women, for example, at the time of the release of the egg from the ovary, feel a short pain (sharp prick) in the region of the right or left ovary. In some cases, a few drops of blood or copious mucus is discharged from the vagina. Observing these phenomena during an increase in temperature helps the doctor in establishing the fact of ovulation.

Basal temperature charts:

rice. BUT- with normal ovulation.

rice. B- in the absence of ovulation.

rice. AT- during ovulation with subsequent conception and pregnancy.

Three months later, the woman brings a leaflet with temperature data. If there is no dysfunction of the ovaries (or other endocrine glands), and ovulation is normal, then further examination is performed. If ovulation is absent, it is necessary to find and eliminate the cause of this deviation.

To chart your basal temperature yourself, you can download a file from me with a form to fill it in with your daily temperature readings. All you have to do is print it out and start filling it out. On the first line, you specify the current date of the month. And in the temperature grid of the form, draw your graph of basal temperatures.

The basal temperature chart, the template of which can be downloaded on our website, helps girls in identifying the most favorable moment for conception. Consider the principles of its filling and the rules for conducting measurements.

Rules for filling out the template

Basal body temperature is the lowest body temperature reached at rest. It is measured in three ways: in the oral cavity, in the vagina or rectum. It is believed that the rectal dimension is more relevant.

For the readings to be true, you need to measure the temperature with one thermometer and in one way. That is, having started measurements in the rectum, you do not need to switch to another option.

To keep a graph of basal temperature on the form, you need to be guided by the following principles:

• Start measurements from the first day of menstruation, i.e. from the beginning of the cycle.
• Take measurements in the morning without getting up.
• Prepare the thermometer in the evening and place it nearby so that there is no need to get up for it. As we remember, any body movement is contraindicated, because. distorts the result.
• Mark the result shown by the thermometer on the graph by putting a dot at the desired intersection: cycle day - temperature.
• Connect the marked points together to form a curve.

Measurements should be started 3-4 months before the planned conception in order to understand your normal indicators, because they may differ from the standard. Each cycle must be reflected on a separate form. This makes it easy to compare them with each other.

Our template will be convenient for every girl, even with the longest cycle, because it is drawn for 45 days with a maximum cycle of 35 days. It also includes a large temperature range of 35.9-38.1°C, which will allow you to track any atypical condition.

Chart decoding: temperature standards

There are standards for each stage of the cycle that you need to focus on:

• follicular phase. Lasts 11-17 days, characterized by the maturation of the egg. The temperature is in the range of 36.2-36.5°C.
• Ovulation. Lasts 2-3 days. On the eve of the rupture of the follicle, the temperature drops, and at the time of the release of the egg, it rises by 0.4-0.6 ° C. The graph clearly shows "peaks".
• luteal phase. Lasts 14 days. There is a production of progesterone, which is responsible for fertilization and the normal course of pregnancy. The temperature is elevated - 37.0-37.5 ° C. Before menstruation, there is a gradual decline - by 0.3-0.5 ° C. With a successful conception, increased rates are maintained throughout the pregnancy.

Conclusion

After printing out the basal temperature chart (template) and making observations, you need to put notes below the corresponding dates with the reasons that may affect the change in temperature: alcohol intake, colds, stress, sexual intercourse, etc. This will explain the atypical indicator and will not cause concern.

Almost every woman knows what a basal temperature chart is. After all, building a simple diagram allows you to learn a lot about the ongoing physiological processes associated with hormonal changes and the body's readiness for conception. This is of fundamental importance for girls planning a pregnancy, or for those whose life plans do not yet include motherhood.

With a competent interpretation of the basal temperature graph, in a few months you can get a clear picture of the state of the female reproductive system. And in particular, find out if ovulation occurs, and which days can be considered favorable for conception, determine whether the cycle has become crucial or suggest another reason for delaying menstruation.

We will talk in more detail about the features of compiling and deciphering the basal temperature graph in this article.

How to plot a basal temperature chart?

The scheduling algorithm is extremely simple, but requires compliance with the following rules:

• firstly, BT (basal temperature) must be measured for 5-7 minutes daily at the same time while in bed;
• secondly, the procedure should be carried out after at least 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep;
• thirdly, for these purposes it is better to use one thermometer, preferably a mercury one.

Measurements should be entered into a special template, so it will not be difficult to build the correct basal temperature chart. The blank can be made independently, on a piece of paper in a box or on a computer. To do this, you need to put down the temperature values ​​\u200b\u200bfrom 36.2 to 37.6 degrees vertically, and the numbers in which the measurements will be taken horizontally. Then every morning enter the data, making a note at the intersection of the number and the corresponding temperature.

For those who have free access to the World Wide Web, you can use online services or download a template and print it on your home printer.

Normal basal temperature chart

You can judge the presence or absence of pathology if you know what a normal basal temperature graph looks like with a two-phase cycle.

So, normally, in the first phase, the range of BT values ​​​​is in the range from 36.2 to 36.7 degrees, but it does not exceed 37, which indicates a high level of estrogen. A couple of days before ovulation, the value of BBT drops sharply. After the release of a mature egg, the second, luteal phase begins, which is characterized by an increase in BBT by 0.4-0.6 degrees. This is due to a sharp increase in the level of progesterone and the creation of favorable conditions for the development of pregnancy. As a rule, in the second phase, the value of BT is kept at around 37 degrees and above.

If conception did not take place, this will be reflected in the graph by a decrease in temperature on the eve of menstruation.

While on the pregnant chart, a short-term drop in basal temperature is observed approximately on the 7th day after ovulation, after which the BT curve again rushes up.

With the successful development of pregnancy, high BBT persists for 9 months.

Basal (rectal) temperature- this is the temperature measured in women, reflects fluctuations associated with changes in tissue reactions of the internal genital organs, depending on the production of certain hormones. These temperature fluctuations are local in nature and do not affect the temperature measured, for example, in the armpit or in the mouth. However, the general increase in temperature as a result of illness, overheating, etc. naturally affects the BT indicators and makes them unreliable.

Therefore, the BT MEASUREMENT RULES are quite strict:
1. The temperature must be changed at approximately the same time on weekdays and holidays.
2. You should prepare a medical thermometer in advance, put it in the immediate vicinity of the bed.
3. Without getting up, without sitting down, without showing much activity in bed, take a thermometer and insert its narrow part into the anus.
4. Lie still for 5 minutes.
5. Remove the thermometer, write down the indicator in the table.