Basal temperature chart during pregnancy, normal and abnormal menstrual cycle. Basal temperature chart during pregnancy

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

It is very important not to worry about any reason, because unnecessary excitement will not bring any benefit. There are some methods, such as basal temperature measurement, that will help you keep track of your health status.

This technique helps to identify some dangerous symptoms... By reacting in time, the expectant mother will be able to save her unborn baby. If there is any deviation from the norm, then it is necessary to urgently seek help from a doctor.

What is BT?

Usually it is abbreviated as BT, less often rectal temperature. As the name implies, it is not measured in the standard way - armpits. There are several measurement options - in the mouth, in the vagina and in the rectum. With its help, ovulation is often monitored when a woman wants to become pregnant.

The normal menstrual cycle often shows up to 37 Celsius, but exactly before ovulation begins - then the temperature rises by 0.4 Celsius. After that, or in 1-2 days, it goes down again. But if this does not happen, then, most likely, pregnancy has occurred.

How much should be during pregnancy? And how long should she hold on?

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

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

Why measure BT?

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

The first reason, as mentioned above, helps to understand if everything is in order with health. And the second reason helps to calculate ovulation. When a woman wants to have a baby, she needs to determine when ovulation occurs. When there is an increase in BT, this is a sign that it has come, and now the most likely is to get pregnant.

How to measure it during pregnancy?

It is imperative that the measurement be taken in the morning, immediately after sleep, when the body is still at rest. An important point- it is desirable that the sleep was full, at least six hours. It can be measured in any way, but the rectal one 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 is suitable - both a regular mercury one 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 every time at the same time, the permissible discrepancy in time is thirty minutes.

Certain factors, such as illness, stress, travel, the use of alcoholic products and even certain medications, can affect the accuracy of the result. Also, you should not use contraceptives if you are taking rectal temperature.

Rate after conception

Every organism is different. It can be proven simple fact- some people have a normal (not rectal) temperature - 36.6, others - 37 and even higher. At the same time, two types of people feel great and do not get sick.

So when measuring BT - it all 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 is done to protect the fetus.

There were cases when a woman had a rectal temperature - 38, but she was not sick and everything was in order 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.

Determination of 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 the usual 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, the temperature should be measured immediately after sleep, at the same time. The fact is that factors such as light exercise, food, and even clothing can affect the result. It is normal when, on the day (not in the morning), it rises above 37.3 - however, the factors described earlier are the reason for such an increase.

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

Enhancement

If there is a situation with an increase in body temperature during pregnancy, inflammatory or infectious processes are likely to occur. 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.

About ectopic pregnancy- it may not necessarily cause an increase in rectal temperature. Usually it is within normal limits. If this type of pregnancy is abnormal, the woman may feel severe pain in the abdomen, there may even be bleeding. In this case, you cannot postpone, you should call an ambulance.

The fall

This also happens. Its fall, especially sharp, should alert. This means that there is an 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 pain in the abdomen, bleeding, prolonged tone of the uterus, then consult a doctor, you should be examined.

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

When and how to measure?

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

It is necessary to measure BT with the same method every time, that is, choose one - rectal or place a thermometer in the vagina. You cannot change the thermometer either, as well as the measurement time - if you decide to measure at 8.00 in the morning, then continue in the same spirit. Oscillations 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 horizontal position and in no other way, do not even turn on your side, all the more you can not squat.
• Needed full sleep- from five hours.
• It is advisable not to have sex while you are monitoring temperature changes. Or at least maintain a half-day gap between measurement and intercourse.
• You cannot take medications - they both lower and increase BT. Worse, when they increase - you may have it below the norm, and you will think that it is okay.
• Have breakfast only after the procedure.
• Try not to get sick - even a sore throat can skew the indicators.

Why do you need a schedule?

If the expectant mother wants to seriously monitor this indicator, then one cannot do without a schedule. Different circumstances can affect rectal temperature, especially during the first months of pregnancy.

Usually, fluctuations on the chart look like this:

1. On the day of conception - from 36.4 to 36.7.
2. For the next three to four days, there is an increase of 0.1, that is, it can reach 37 degrees.
3. For the next two to three days, the value may remain the same.
4. On the day of implantation fetal egg in the lining of the uterus, it decreases to 36.5-36.6 degrees.
5. For the next three days, there is a gradual increase and is reached 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 that was at the time of ovulation.

It is important to indicate in the schedule not only numbers, but also possible circumstances that influenced them - illness, stress, admission medical supplies etc. The attending physician should be aware of them.

How to draw up and decode a graph correctly: a detailed guide

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

"Pregnant" charts

It is impossible to measure everything with one graph alone; discrepancies are permissible. Have different women different indicators happen. For example, some do not observe implantation retraction, or there are several of them at once.

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

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

You can, for this you need to adhere to the rules:

• Shake the thermometer in the evening and place it next to, but not under the pillow. The main thing is that it is convenient for you to get it without using any 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 your vagina. You need to place it two centimeters;
• Wait three to five minutes;
• If the reading is above 37, you are probably pregnant.

But you cannot count on accuracy, an increase can signal an inflammatory process, infection, hormonal disruption or normal stress.

Factors affecting performance

To get a reliable result, exclude the following situations:

• Taking medications;
• The use of contraception (oral or spiral);
• Banal lack of sleep;
• Consumption of alcoholic beverages;
• Sex less than six hours before measurement;
• Overwork;
• Any disease;
• The normal temperature is increased.

Do I need to monitor 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.

With the help of BT measurement, you can notice deviations in time and react to them. Low rates can signal a threat of miscarriage. Therefore, the answer is unambiguous - it is desirable to control it. However, this is not the only way to diagnose the condition. future mother and her child.

At different stages of pregnancy

Consider 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. The mark below signals deviations and the danger of miscarriage.
• N. 4 in the range from 37.1 to 37.3 °, the maximum is 38. If it is higher, then it is possible that it is an infection.
• N. 5 is stable from 37.1 to 37.7. If she "jumps", then pay attention to other signs: pulling pains, hardening of the abdomen, softening of the mammary glands, etc.
• N. 6 retains 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. In case of non-standard indicators, undergo additional health diagnostics (ultrasound).
• N. 9-10 - as well as during 7-8 weeks, 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 is still high, then consult a gynecologist.
• N. 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 it 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 gestation.

Why is she too tall?

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

Possible interruption threat

This is indicated by a decrease in BT. The decrease is due to a lack of progesterone production. If the result falls below 37, in addition, abdominal pain and discharge are felt Brown color, we urgently need to seek help.

Frozen pregnancy

Unfortunately, in this case, you will have to extract the fetus, it threatens the woman's life. He does not always go out on his own, because of this, you will have to seek medical help.

Other signs signaling fetal freezing are the absence of toxicosis, the mammary glands no longer enlarge.

Is there a low BT during normal pregnancy?

It is difficult to talk about norms - they are always conditional. Low temperature does not always interfere with the bearing of the fetus, women give birth healthy babies and nothing threatens their lives. 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 during 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 also not higher than 37.2. Before ovulation, the temperature drops, while it rises - this way the most likely time for conception is determined. After conception, it practically does not decrease.

Signs of probable infertility on schedule

This is signaled by the following:

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

Ovulation stimulation schedule

With, especially clomiphene (clostilbegite) and using, in the second phase of MC, the rectal temperature graph usually becomes “normal”. Two-phase, with a pronounced phase transition, with sufficient high temperature in the second, with characteristic “stages” (the temperature doubles) and a slight depression.

If the schedule during stimulation is violated and deviates from the norms, this may indicate an incorrect selection of the dose of drugs.

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

When to see a gynecologist?

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

• Novulatory charts.
• Constant delays in the cycle, while pregnancy does not occur.
• Late ovulation and you don't get pregnant for a couple of cycles.
• Controversial indicators with indistinct ovulation.
• High or low temperature charts 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 did not occur.
• Bleeding or heavy discharge in the middle of the cycle.
• Profuse discharge during menstruation, which is more than 5 days.
• Graphs with a temperature difference in the first and second phases less than 0.4.
• Cycles less than 21 days or more than 35.
• Graphs with pronounced ovulation, regular intercourse during ovulation, but at the same time the woman does not become pregnant for several cycles in a row.

BT as a method of contraception

You can use it, 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, then it can serve as a method of contraception.

Should this method be believed?

It can be used like additional method pregnancy control and planning. However, you cannot rely only on him, since modern methods diagnostics are more accurate. But as an additional measure, BT measurement is a great idea.

Some women experience a peak in sexual arousal on ovulation days, and this is physiologically justified. But then the use of a physiological method of contraception from pregnancy, based on sexual abstinence during ovulation, is especially difficult for partners, whose frequency of intercourse reaches a fairly high level.

In addition, with strong love excitement and nervous stress additional ovulation may occur (especially with episodic, irregular intercourse) and then not one, but two eggs mature in one menstrual cycle. This should be remembered when choosing this or that method of contraception. And since it is impossible to accurately estimate when ovulation will occur at home, the physiological method is the most unreliable after the method of interrupted intercourse.

Description of the basal temperature method.

Immediately after ovulation (the most favorable time for conception), the hormone progesterone is released in the woman's body. This hormone contributes to a rise in body temperature by 0.4 - 0.6 degrees and occurs within two days after ovulation. Ovulation occurs around the middle of the cycle and thus divides the cycle into two phases - the first and the second. In the first phase, before ovulation, your body temperature is usually lower than in the second phase, when ovulation has already occurred. With sufficient production of the hormone progesterone, starting from the middle of the cycle, an increase in body temperature occurs, which is a fairly reliable sign of ovulation. The second phase of the cycle normally lasts 13-14 days and before the onset of menstruation, the temperature usually drops again by 0.3 degrees. If the basal temperature remains at the same level throughout the cycle, there are no ups and downs on the graph, then we can talk about the absence of ovulation, and as a result, female infertility.

What is the basal temperature measurement method based on?

The basal body temperature method is based on determining the time of the rise in temperature in the rectum, by measuring it daily and abstaining from sexual intercourse in the first phase of the menstrual cycle, including the first three days of the rise in temperature after ovulation. It is known that at the time of ovulation, the basal (rectal temperature) decreases, and the next day it rises. And if for several (at least three) months a woman will measure the temperature in the rectum every day, she will be able to establish when she is ovulating.

Its principle of operation is to determine approximate date ovulation according to the temperature curve. To do this, it is necessary to measure the rectal temperature every day (it is more convenient to use a thermometer specially created for this area) and mark it by drawing a kind of graph. You should start from the first day of the cycle, which corresponds to the first day of your period. It is best to carry out this procedure in the morning, without getting out of bed, for 5-6 minutes.

It has been noticed that, as a rule, ovulation occurs on the day when the temperature is at its lowest: one day you will find that the line of the temperature curve, even before that, suddenly drops sharply - this is the day of ovulation. Then, the next day, the temperature rises just as sharply, and this corresponds to the beginning of the second, luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. It should be remembered that the egg cell lives from 24 to 48 hours after leaving the follicle, therefore, even with increasing temperatures, you need to refrain from sexual intercourse for several days. In general, the first phase of the menstrual cycle is considered relatively safe, when the segment temperature graph is an approximately straight line. The menstrual cycle without ovulation, or with two ovulations, is also reflected in the temperature curve graph.

The method of measuring basal temperature is quite strict in terms of the fact that it leaves not too long a period in which pregnancy is impossible. For example, with a cycle of 28 days, only 10 of them are safe. In case of a lack of progesterone, which can be detected when special examination, the safe period is even shorter. The method is also inconvenient in that the temperature must be measured daily, especially at the beginning of its use. Later, when several menstrual cycles have passed safely, it is possible to stop changes during menstruation and after a significant increase in temperature has been recorded in the second phase of the cycle. It should be noted that any viral or respiratory disease makes the results unreliable. The same applies to heavy physical exertion, to active sports.

The method of measuring basal temperature is most suitable only for those women who have established a regular menstrual cycle lasting at least 26 and no more than 30 days, leading a fairly calm lifestyle, not prone to stress, colds and others. negative reactions environment... It is estimated that less than one percent of women would classify themselves in this category.

Thus, if you are doing fitness, occasionally digging beds in the country, catch a cold or periodically worry, including about an unwanted pregnancy for you, you are at risk - the temperature curve graph indicators become less reliable.

The method of measuring basal temperature and plotting a temperature curve can be recommended as a means of planning pregnancy for those couples who do not want to use other methods of contraception for religious reasons, but in principle are ready for the birth of a child. (Recall that not all religions allow the use of such means as condoms, oral contraceptives, intrauterine device etc.)

To calculate "dangerous days" with calendar protection, it is necessary to measure BT for at least 3-4 cycles. " Dangerous days"are calculated as follows: from the day on which the temperature crossed the 37.0 line, count 6 days back and forth. With a normal cycle of 28 days, this will be: egg maturation occurred on day 14.

14–6 = 8 (“dangerous days” began on the 8th day from the beginning of menstruation).

14 + 6 = 20 (on the 20th day from the beginning of menstruation, the "dangerous days" ended).

Thus, from 1 to 7 days of the cycle and from 21 to the end, you can live without protection.

"Dangerous days" are composed of 2 factors: about 6 days sperm can live in the uterus, waiting for the maturation of the egg; the ovum lives for about 6 days, waiting for fertilization.

ATTENTION! If in different cycles the day of crossing the 37.0 level "walks" (for example, the egg matures on days 12, 18, 13), then to determine the "dangerous days", subtract 6 from the LESS indicator (in this case, day 12) and add 6 to the LARGE indicator (in in this case, day 18). Thus, in the above example, "dangerous days" are from 6 to 24 days. Of course, in this state of affairs, the physiological (calendar) method of protection is of little use.

The same is true for short cycles. For example, if the cycle lasts 21 days, then the maturation of the egg begins on the 7th day. "Dangerous days", respectively, from 2 to 13, if the day of ripening does not "walk".

Symptothermal method of contraception

This is the most sensitive and safest (as far as possible) method. natural contraception, it includes the rules for the method cervical mucus and basal body temperature.

By measuring basal temperature (BT) every morning during the menstrual cycle, you can find out the fertile and non-fertile phases.
Measure BT in the rectum every morning at the same time before getting out of bed, record it, build a schedule.

Using the records for the first half of the menstrual cycle, the highest of the "normal low" temperatures should be determined. Abnormally high temperature due to fever or other conditions should not be taken into account.

A line is drawn at the highest of these temperatures. This line is called the covering or temperature line.

The non-fertile phase begins in the evening of the 3rd day when the temperature rises above the cover line.
If within 3 days the temperature drops to or below the covering line, this may mean that ovulation has not yet occurred. To avoid pregnancy, you should wait 3 consecutive days for the temperature to rise above the covering line before resuming intercourse.

Once the non-fertile phase has begun, it is not necessary to continue recording the temperature. Temperature measurement can be stopped until the start of the next menstrual cycle. Sexual intercourse can be had up to the 1st day of the next menstruation.

For the purpose of contraception, one should refrain from sexual intercourse from the beginning of menstruation until the evening of the 3rd day when the temperature rises above the covering line.

After the end of your menstrual bleeding, you can have intercourse on the evening of every second "dry day" during the non-fertile period until ovulation (this is the rule of alternating "dry days" used in the cervical mucus method);
the fertile phase begins with any mucus or moisture sensation in the vagina (this is the "early mucus" rule used in the cervical mucus method); during this phase, one should refrain from sexual intercourse;
refrain from intercourse until peak day rules and temperature changes are applied;
in cases where these rules determine the end of the fertile phase in different ways, the most conservative rule should always be followed, i.e. the one that determines the longest fertile phase;

Example:
Following the rule of temperature change, the woman is non-fertile after the 16th day. At the same time, if you follow the rush day rule, she is fertile until the 18th day. Therefore, she should follow the more conservative "rush day" rule and not have intercourse until day 18.

Basal temperature - this is body temperature at rest after at least 6 hours of sleep... In different phases of the menstrual cycle, a woman's basal temperature is constantly changing under the influence hormonal changes in the female body.

Measurement of basal body temperature BT is a simple functional test that every woman can learn at home. The method is based on the hyperthermic (temperature) effect of progesterone on the thermoregulatory center located in the hypothalamus.

Why do I need a basal temperature chart

Having drawn up a graph of fluctuations in basal temperature, you can accurately predict not only the phase of the menstrual cycle in this moment but also to suspect possible deviations from the norm. Let's list what exactly you might need basal temperature measurement skill in everyday life:

1. If you want to get pregnant and cannot predict when ovulation occurs - a favorable moment for conceiving a child - the release of a mature, capable of fertilization egg from the ovarian follicle into abdominal cavity;
or vice versa - you do not want to get pregnant, thanks to the basal temperature (BT), you can predict “dangerous days”.
2. To determine early pregnancy with a delay in menstruation.
3. With regular measurement of basal temperature, you can determine the possible reason for the delay in menstruation: pregnancy, lack of ovulation or late ovulation.
4. If your gynecologist suspects that you have hormonal disorders, infertility in you or your partner: if after one year of regular sexual activity, pregnancy has not occurred, the gynecologist may recommend that you measure basal temperature (BT) to determine possible reasons infertility.

5. If you want to plan the sex of the unborn child.

How to measure basal temperature (BT) correctly

As you can see, the correct measurement of basal temperature (BT) helps to answer many important questions. Most women know why it is necessary to measure basal temperature (BT), but few know how to properly conduct a study. Let's try to deal with this issue.

Firstly, you need to immediately understand for yourself that whatever the basal temperature (BT) values ​​obtained are, this is not a reason for self-diagnosis, and even more so for self-medication. Decoding of basal temperature graphs should only be dealt with qualified doctor-gynecologist.

Secondly, you do not need to make any short-term conclusions - basal temperature (BT) needs at least 3 menstrual cycles to more or less accurately answer the questions - when you ovulate, and do you have hormonal disorders etc.

Basic rules for measuring basal temperature (BT)

1. It is necessary to measure basal temperature (BT) from the first day of the menstrual cycle (from the first day of menstruation), otherwise the graph will not reflect the full dynamics of changes.

2. Basal temperature (BT) can be measured in the mouth, vagina or anus the latter is more preferable. Many gynecologists believe that it is the rectal method that is more reliable and gives less errors than all the others. In the mouth, you need to measure the temperature for about 5 minutes, in the vagina and in the rectum for about 3 minutes.
If you measured basal temperature (BT) in one place, then the next measurement, the location of the thermometer and the duration of the measurement cannot be changed. Today in the mouth, tomorrow in the vagina, and the day after tomorrow in the rectum - such variations are not appropriate and can lead to a false diagnosis. The basal temperature (BT) cannot be measured under the armpit!

3. Basal temperature (BT) should be measured at the same time, preferably in the morning, immediately after waking up, without getting out of bed.

4. Always use the same thermometer - digital or mercury. If using mercury, be sure to shake well before use.

5. Write down immediately the results obtained, while making notes if on that day or the day before there was something that could affect the basal temperature (BT) indicators: alcohol intake, flight, stress, acute respiratory infections, inflammatory diseases, increased exercise stress, intercourse the night before or in the morning, reception drugs- sleeping pills, hormones, psychotropic drugs, etc. All these factors can affect basal temperature and make the study unreliable.

When receiving oral contraceptives it makes no sense to measure BT!

Thus, in order to draw up a complete graph of fluctuations in basal temperature (BT), you will need to mark the indicators:
- date of the calendar month;
- day of the menstrual cycle;
- indicators of basal temperature;
- the nature of the discharge from the genital tract on a certain day of the cycle: blood, mucous, viscous, watery, yellow, dry, etc. It is important to mark this for completeness of the picture of the compiled schedule, since during ovulation, the discharge from the cervical canal becomes more watery;
- notes as necessary for a specific day: we enter there all the provoking factors listed above that can affect the change in BT. For example: I took alcohol the day before, did not sleep well, or had sex in the morning before the measurement, etc. The notes must be made without fail, even insignificant ones, otherwise the resulting graphs will not correspond to reality.

In general terms, your basal temperature records should look like a table like this:

Date Day mts BT Highlighting Remarks

July 5 13th 36.2 Watery, transparent Drank wine the day before
July 6 14th 36.3 viscous, transparent _________
7 July 15th 36.5 white, viscous _________

Basal temperature chart normal

Before you start drawing up a basal temperature (BT) graph, you need to know how the basal temperature should actually change under the influence of hormones?

A woman's menstrual cycle is divided into 2 phases: follicular (hypothermic) and luteal (hyperthermic). In the first phase, a follicle develops, from which an egg cell subsequently emerges. In the same phase, the ovaries intensively produce estrogens. During the follicular phase, BT is below 37 degrees. Further ovulation occurs - in the middle of 2 phases - approximately on the 12-16th day of the menstrual cycle. On the eve of ovulation, BT decreases sharply. Further, during ovulation and immediately after it, progesterone is released and BT increases by 0.4-0.6 degrees, which serves as a reliable sign of ovulation. The second phase - luteal, or it is also called the phase of the corpus luteum - lasts about 14 days and if conception has not occurred, it ends with menstruation. In the phase of the corpus luteum, very important processes take place - a balance is maintained between a low level of estrogen and a high level of progesterone - thus corpus luteum prepares the body for a possible pregnancy. During this phase, the basal temperature (BT) is usually kept at around 37 degrees and above. On the eve of menstruation and in the first days of the cycle, the basal temperature (BT) again decreases by about 0.3 degrees and everything starts anew. That is, normally, every healthy woman should have fluctuations in basal temperature (BT) - if there are no ups and downs, then we can talk about the absence of ovulation, and as a result, infertility.

Let's consider examples of basal temperature (BT) graphs, what they should be in the norm and in pathology. The basal temperature (BT) graph that you see below reflects two normal physiological conditions that a healthy woman may have: 1-lilac curve - basal temperature (BT), which should be at normal menstrual cycle ending with menstruation; 2- light green curve - basal temperature (BT) of a woman with a normal menstrual cycle, end with pregnancy. The black line is the ovulation line. The burgundy line is a mark of 37 degrees, serves for the clarity of the graph.

Now let's try to decipher this basal temperature graph. Please note that a mandatory sign of basal temperature (BT) is normally biphasic in the menstrual cycle - that is, both the hypothermic and hyperthermic phases should always be clearly visible on the graph. In the first phase, the basal temperature (BT) can range from 36.2 to 36.7 degrees. We observe these fluctuations on this chart from day 1-11 of the cycle. Further, on the 12th day, BT falls sharply by 0.2 degrees, which is a harbinger of the onset of ovulation. On the 13-14th day, a rise is visible immediately after the fall - ovulation occurs. Further, in the second phase, the basal temperature (BT) continues to increase by 0.4-0.6 degrees compared to the first phase - in this case, up to 37 degrees and this temperature (marked with a burgundy line) lasts until the end of the menstrual cycle and before menstruation falls - on the 25th day of the cycle. On the 28th day of the cycle, the line is interrupted, which means that the cycle has ended and a new menstrual cycle has begun. But another option is also possible - the light green line, as you can see, does not fall, but continues to grow to 37.1. This means that the woman with the light green line on the basal temperature (BT) graph is most likely to have a pregnancy. False positive results of basal temperature measurement (an increase in basal temperature in the absence of a corpus luteum) can occur in acute and chronic infections, as well as with some changes in the higher parts of the central nervous system.

It is important to know when drawing up a basal temperature chart!

1. Normally, the menstrual cycle in a healthy woman is from 21 to 35 days, most often 28-30 days, as on the chart. However, for some women, the cycle may be shorter than 21 days, or, conversely, longer than 35. This is a reason to visit a gynecologist. Perhaps this is ovarian dysfunction.

2. The basal temperature (BT) graph should always clearly reflect ovulation, which divides the first and second phases. Always immediately after a pre-ovulatory decrease in temperature in the middle of the cycle, a woman ovulates -on the chart this is the 14th day marked with a black line. Therefore, the most optimal time for conception is the day of ovulation and 2 days before it. Using this graph as an example, the most auspicious days for conception there will be 12,13 and 14 days of the cycle. And one more nuance: you may not detect a pre-ovulatory decrease in basal temperature (BT) immediately before ovulation, but only see an increase - there is nothing wrong with that, most likely ovulation has already begun.

3. The length of the first phase can normally change, lengthen or shorten. But the length of the second phase should not vary normally and is approximately 14 days (plus or minus 1-2 days). If you noticed that the second phase is shorter than 10 days, this may be a sign of insufficiency of the second phase and requires consultation with a gynecologist. In a healthy woman, the duration of the 1st and 2nd phases should normally be approximately the same, for example, 14 + 14 or 15 + 14, or 13 + 14, and so on.

4. Pay attention to the temperature difference between the average values ​​of the first and second phase of the graph. If the difference is less than 0.4 degrees, this may be a sign of hormonal disorders. You need an examination by a gynecologist - take a blood test for progesterone and estrogen. In approximately 20% of cases, a similar monophasic graph of basal temperature BT - without a significant temperature difference between the phases is a variant of the norm and in such patients hormones are normal.

5. If you have a delay in menstruation, and the hyperthermic (elevated) basal temperature of BT lasts more than 18 days, this may indicate a possible pregnancy (light green line on the graph). If menstruation nevertheless has come, but the discharge is rather scarce and the basal temperature of BT is still elevated, you urgently need to contact your gynecologist and take a pregnancy test. Most likely - these are signs of a miscarriage that has begun.

6. If the basal temperature of BT in the first phase rises sharply by 1 day, then falls - this is not a sign for concern. This is possible under the influence of provoking factors affecting changes in basal temperature (BT).

Now we will consider examples of graphs of basal temperature of BT for various gynecological pathologies:

The graph is monophasic, i.e. almost without significant temperature fluctuations in the curve. If the rise in basal temperature (BT) in the second phase is poorly expressed (0.1-0.3 C) after ovulation, then these are possible signs of a lack hormones - progesterone and estrogen. You need to have a blood test for these hormones.

If ovulation does not occur and the corpus luteum produced by progesterone does not form, then the basal temperature (BT) curve is monotonic: there are no pronounced jumps or falls - ovulation does not occur, and accordingly, a woman with such a basal temperature (BT) schedule cannot become pregnant. Anovulatory cycle is normal in a healthy woman if such a cycle occurs no more than once a year. Accordingly, during pregnancy and lactation, the absence of ovulation is also the norm. If all of the above does not apply to you and this situation repeats from cycle to cycle - you definitely need to contact your gynecologist. Your doctor will prescribe hormone treatment for you.

The basal temperature of BT rises a few days before the end of the cycle due to hormonal insufficiency and does not decrease immediately before menstruation, there is no characteristic pre-ovulatory depression. The second phase lasts less than 10 days. It is possible to become pregnant with such a basal temperature (BT) schedule, but there is a high probability of miscarriage. We remember that the hormone progesterone is normally produced in the second phase. If the hormone is synthesized in insufficient quantities, then BT rises very slowly, and the pregnancy can be terminated. With such a basal temperature (BT) graph, it is necessary to pass an analysis for progesterone in the second phase of the cycle. If progesterone is lowered, then it is mandatory to appoint in the second phase hormonal drugs- gestagens (Utrozhestan or Dyufaston). For pregnant women with low progesterone, these drugs are prescribed for up to 12 weeks. With abrupt withdrawal of drugs, a miscarriage may occur.

In the first phase, the basal temperature of BT under the influence of estrogens is kept in the range of 36.2-36.7 C. If the basal temperature of BT in the first phase rises above the indicated mark and if you see sharp jumps and rises on the graph, then most likely there is a lack of estrogen. In the second phase, we see the same pattern - ups and downs. On the graph, in the first phase, the basal temperature of BT rises to 36.8 C, i.e. above the norm. In the second phase, there are sharp fluctuations from 36.2 to 37 C (but with a similar pathology, it can be even higher). Fertility in such patients is sharply reduced. For the purpose of treatment, gynecologists prescribe hormone therapy... Seeing such a graph, there is no need to rush to draw conclusions - such a picture can be observed with inflammatory gynecological diseases when everything is in order with estrogens, for example, with inflammation of the appendages. The graph is shown below.

You can see on this graph with sharp drops and rises that, due to the inflammatory process, it is problematic to determine when ovulation took place, since the basal temperature of BT can increase both during inflammation and during ovulation. On the 9th day of the cycle, we see a rise, which can be mistaken for an ovulatory rise, but this is most likely a sign of an inflammatory process that has begun. This basal temperature (BT) graph proves once again that you cannot draw conclusions and make diagnoses based on the basal temperature (BT) graph of one cycle.

We remember that at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, the basal temperature of BT is lowered. If the temperature at the end of the previous cycle decreased, and then sharply rose to 37.0 with the onset of menstruation and does not decrease, as can be seen on the graph, perhaps we are talking about a formidable disease - endometritis and you urgently need treatment from a gynecologist. But if you have a delay in your period and your basal body temperature remains elevated for more than 16 days from the start of the rise, you are probably pregnant.

If you noticed that during 3 menstrual cycles you have stable changes on the chart that do not correspond to the norm, you need to consult a specialist.

So, what should alert you when drawing up and decoding basal temperature (BT) charts:

Basal temperature (BT) charts with low or high temperature throughout the cycle;
- cycles less than 21 days and more than 35 days. This may be a sign of ovarian dysfunction, clinically present with bleeding in the middle of the menstrual cycle. Or there may be another picture - the cycle is always lengthened, which is expressed in constant delays menstruation for more than 10 days, while there is no pregnancy;
- if you observe a shortening of the second phase according to the graphs;
- if the graphs are anovulatory or manifestations of ovulation are not clearly expressed on the graph;
- schedules with a high temperature in the second phase for more than 18 days, while there is no pregnancy;
- monophase graphs: the difference between the first and second phase is less than 0, 4 C;
- if the BT schedules are absolutely normal: ovulation occurs, both phases are full, but pregnancy does not occur within a year with regular unprotected sex;
- sharp jumps and rises in BT in both phases of the cycle.

If you follow all the rules for measuring basal temperature, you will discover a lot of new things. Always remember that you do not need to draw any conclusions on the basis of the graphs received on your own. This can only be done by a qualified gynecologist and then only after additional research.

Obstetrician-gynecologist, Ph.D. Christina Frambos.

The temperature rise is slowed down. Estrogen problems lead to disruption of other hormones, which is a consequence elevated temperature and in. Getting pregnant with such a schedule is extremely problematic - treatment is required.

REFERENCE! With a lack of estrogen, menstruation may come with the same frequency. The absence of obvious symptoms of the disease prevents a woman from discovering it.

A similar schedule can be observed in the inflammatory process, when estrogens are normal.

With inflammation of the ovaries

Schedule in the inflammatory process looks quite specific. It is characterized by intense temperature jumps. They can be seen in the first half of the menstrual cycle. Indicators reach 37 degrees, and remain at this level for several days.

Then happens a sharp drop in temperature... A woman can confuse such a phenomenon with. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to analyze the graph in conjunction with an ultrasound examination.

IMPORTANT! In the presence of an inflammatory process, a change is noted vaginal secretions, the appearance painful sensations in the lower abdomen and back.

With estrogen-progesterone deficiency

With a shortage at the same time two important hormones: estrogen and progesterone observed slight increase temperature in (by 0.1–0.3 ° C), and also the output has a weak rise in indicators.

If you have such a schedule, it is worth visiting a gynecologist. After the passed examination, the specialist will prescribe the appropriate treatment aimed at restoration of hormonal levels.

In case of insufficiency of the corpus luteum

After what happened, it begins to act, it is also called phase of the corpus luteum, which forms at the site of a ruptured follicle and produces progesterone, the hormone of pregnancy. Its main function is to prepare for implantation and is also responsible for support. Its deficiency affects reproductive function.

Basal body temperature (BTT or BT) is the temperature that is established after a person's significant rest. Its measurement allows one to obtain comprehensive information about the functions of a woman's body - to determine ovulation, the level of sex hormones and their balance, as well as possible pregnancy and the likelihood of its pathological course. How to correctly identify BT and build a graph? And is it possible to identify the norm and pathology in this way?

The basal temperature is the temperature that the body has at rest. A prerequisite for correct measurement is prior rest for three to six hours. Therefore, it is optimal to determine the readings after sleep. Despite the simplicity of the study, this method in to the fullest reflects hormonal fluctuations in a woman's body, ovarian function and the state of the organs of the reproductive system. Therefore, building a curve according to the measured basal temperature is the first thing that needs to be done at home in order to determine ovulation and know how and when it is best to plan a pregnancy.

Method essence

Back in 1950, the role of sex hormones in the formation of body temperature in a woman was experimentally proven. The concentration of the estrogenic and gestagenic components of the hormonal background changes throughout the cycle. Ovulation processes, the formation of the endometrium (the inner layer of the uterus) in the second phase depend on the level of sex hormones. A sufficient amount of them is important for the normal course of pregnancy, and a deficiency causes symptoms of threat and detachment of the ovum.

Normally, an increase in the level of estrogenic hormones leads to a decrease in metabolic processes and, accordingly, in the temperature of the pelvic organs, which is observed in the first phase of the cycle. Progesterone, on the other hand, stimulates the center of thermoregulation, leading to some increase in it in the second phase. On the constructed curve, this is clearly expressed as a rise of half a degree or more.

The main disadvantage of the method is its relativity - normal schedule may be accompanied by a decrease in the level of estrogen and progesterone in absolute numbers. But the simplicity and availability of implementation at home, informational content allow widespread use this way when planning pregnancy and for the primary detection of functional disorders in a woman.

What can you find out

• whether ovulation (release and maturation of an egg) occurs and on what days;
• identify the two-phase cycle or some deviations;
• the approximate level of the estrogenic and gestagenic fraction of hormones;
• factor of infertility;
• when there will be menstruation;
• whether conception has occurred;
• identify "safe" days for intimate relationships;
• suspect inflammation in the uterus.

The basal temperature graph is a visual material that can be provided to the doctor. Already at the first appointment, its decoding can be a great help for the appointment additional examination a woman.

When is it useful to use the method

The schedule can be built for everyone, for example, for contraception. BT on the day of ovulation will increase, at which time you should take additional measures to protect against pregnancy. A change in BT is prescribed for diagnostic purposes:

• with problems with conception;
• with doubtful pregnancy;
• in order to increase the likelihood of conception.

Only a professional can correctly analyze the result. The obstetrician-gynecologist thoroughly knows how the basal temperature changes during ovulation and during pregnancy.

How to make your research accurate

It is important to know how to correctly measure and record the basal temperature result, especially if it is necessary to determine ovulation. In fact, this is a determination of the metabolic rate and heat transfer in the pelvic organs. To obtain the most accurate data, it is necessary to conduct a study in the rectum. In this way, even the slightest fluctuations can be recorded, which can affect the result and the interpretation of the data. It is also recommended to follow the rules:

• rest for at least 3 hours right before the measurement;
• refrain from intimate contact before measurement;
• avoid stress;
• limit the use of spicy and highly salted foods;
• monitor the normal functioning of the intestines;
• use one thermometer (electronic or mercury).

How to do it correctly

Measurement of BT can be started at any convenient time - before menstruation, during or after them. Simple recommendations will help you get the most accurate result.

• Where to measure. To solve gynecological problems, it is necessary to measure the temperature in the rectum. Other areas will not work, the result will be biased.
• What days. It is necessary to determine the temperature on all days of the menstrual cycle. A special schedule is used to record the results. There is no need to skip measurements on critical days.
• What time. It is optimal to conduct research in the morning. A prerequisite is three hours of rest. Even shaking the thermometer before measuring is not recommended, especially to get up to the toilet or just out of bed. If a woman works at night, the measurement should be taken after three hours of sleep during the day or even in the evening. It is advisable to make notes about such shifts in the chart-table. It is necessary to take measurements at the same time every day with an interval of no more than one and a half to two hours.
• How to prepare. If a girl begins to measure rectal temperature, she should make sure that every day the thermometer lies near her bed, and she can, without getting out of bed, conduct an examination.
• What weeks to measure. To obtain reliable information, it is necessary to conduct the research according to the plan for at least 10-12 weeks in a row (two to three months). Even normally, a woman does not ovulate every month, especially after 35 years.
• Which thermometer is better. A mercury thermometer is considered more accurate. It must first be brought down to the minimum readings in the evening, so as not to perform additional actions in the morning. Should not be put mercury thermometer under the pillow - it can be easily broken. The use of an electronic thermometer is allowed. It is easier and safer to handle, but it may be slightly inferior in accuracy.
• How to record the result. It is better to write down the readings immediately, not relying on your memory. Daily differences will be in tenths of a degree, so they can be easily confused. It is advisable to record additional factors that could affect the result. For example, drinking alcohol, moving, illness, sleep disturbance.

Basal body temperature readings ideally

Normally, the curve looks like "the wings of a seagull in flight." This is a figurative expression that doctors often use in their practice. In order to be able to clearly track changes on the chart, it is necessary to adhere to a number of conditions:

• start from the first day of spotting;
• enter the parameters into the schedule on a daily basis;
• draw a line as you fill;
• find out the day of ovulation;
• additionally note the nature of the discharge;
• you can use the developed programs for data entry.

Filling out the schedule accurately will help make it as informative as possible. According to the reviews of women who have been practicing rectal temperature determination for a long time, this is simple and does not require special medical knowledge. And you can compare the obtained indicators with the norm using the following table.

Table - Important values in the BT schedule and norm options

Measurement period	What does	What should be normal
From 1 to 14 days of the cycle	- Estrogen levels	- Immediately after menstruation, the temperature drops to 36.6-36.2 ℃
A day or two before ovulation	- Peaks of ovulation hormone release	- Readings start to rise to 36.6-36.7 ℃
On the eve of ovulation (day 14)	- Follicle rupture with a sharp increase in luteinizing hormone	- Basal temperature during ovulation can "sink" by 0.1-0.4 ℃
Immediately after the release of the egg (ovulation)	- Normal selection corpus luteum progesterone	- Elevated basal temperature all the time before menstruation (37-37.4 ℃)
From 16 to 28 days of the cycle	- High level mid-cycle progesterone	- From 12-14 days almost before the onset of menstruation, rectal temperature is high (above 37 ℃)
On the eve of menstruation	- Decreased progesterone levels at the end of the cycle	- Decrease in temperature to 36.8-36.7 ℃

If there is a balance of sex hormones, the readings of the second phase should be greater than the first by 0.4-0.6 ° C. Only a specialist can most accurately and reliably compare the information presented in the table and obtained during the measurements.

Possible deviations

It is difficult to independently conduct a deep analysis of the basal temperature graph; if ovulation is disturbed, it may have a non-standard appearance. Therefore, it is better to contact a gynecologist for a detailed transcript, especially if there are any problems (with pregnancy, conception).

Doctors and women have to deal with the following deviations.

• During critical days readings above. It may be about double ovulation, but this is a rare occurrence. Most often, an increase in rectal temperature above 37 ° C indicates the presence of a sluggish inflammatory process in the uterine cavity.
• Increased BT values ​​for the first 14 days. If the readings are above 36.6 ° C, then the level of estrogen is not enough to lower it. As a result, the egg does not mature.
• After ovulation, the rise is smooth, not abrupt. This indicates an inferiority of the egg. She either does not have time to mature, or she does not have enough hormone release for full ovulation.
• The second phase of the cycle is short. Normally, after ovulation, at least 12-14 days should pass before the onset of menstruation. A shortening of the period indicates a lack of hormonal support. Even conception will occur at this time (the basal temperature graph during pregnancy will also be with high numbers), the ovum will not have enough hormonal support, and it will die. Timely prescribed "Duphaston" (artificial gestagen) will help maintain pregnancy in such situations. Reviews of women, whose "miracle" appeared thanks to this drug, prove its effectiveness.
• A sharp drop and then a slight rise in the second phase. Such "pits" are direct evidence of the sudden death of the egg.
• Small difference in the average readings of the first and second phases. If there is a low basal temperature until the end of the cycle after ovulation, most likely the reason lies in the inadequate production of progesterone.
• Temperature high / low throughout the cycle. If the normal difference between the mean values ​​(0.4-0.6) remains, this may be an individual manifestation of increased or low temperature of the whole body.
• The temperature peak shifts to the right or left. This can be observed at an early stage (for example, on the 5-7th day) or late ovulation(on days 21-23), the usefulness of such ovulation can be judged by the jump in temperature. In this case, the second phase of the cycle will accordingly be shortened or lengthened.
• No climbs at all. The absence of peaks in basal temperature indicates that cycles without ovulation (anovulatory).
• While taking estrogen-progestogen-containing tablets. There is no point in plotting when using hormonal contraceptives, as they create anovulatory state in the body.

What changes are recorded during normal and pathological pregnancy

When constructing curves, the question is always interested in how and when it is possible to determine whether a pregnancy has occurred by basal temperature. Indeed, by tracking ovulation, most do it in order to increase the likelihood of conception.

How the basal temperature changes is important only if the pregnancy is early - in the 1st trimester. In the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, there are others diagnostic signs and more credible research. The following options are possible.

• With successful bearing. Normally, after conception, the basal temperature rises and remains elevated throughout the pregnancy, which is especially noticeable in the early stages of pregnancy, when women even notice a rise in the temperature of the whole body. Even before the delay, it will be possible to find out that conception has occurred. Moreover, it does not matter at all how many fruits a woman bears: one, twins or more. After all, the curve shows relative, not absolute values... If the curve has already decreased, but there is no period, pregnancy is unlikely - this is a cycle failure.
• With an ectopic pregnancy. The graph is influenced by the location of the ovum, and how intensely the corpus luteum produces progesterone. Therefore, if the embryo develops without deviations, BT during an ectopic pregnancy in the early stages will be the same as normal.
• With a frozen pregnancy. On the eve of how the embryo stops developing further, a low basal temperature suddenly appears, which no longer rises during this pregnancy.
• With the threat of miscarriage. Often the reason for the threat is a lack of progesterone. In this case, the basal temperature during pregnancy will have a depression or a tendency to decrease. If the reason is different, then there may be no changes on the chart. If, against the background of a high basal temperature, there are bloody issues, an urgent need to see a doctor.
• Stimulation of ovulation in infertility. In this case, the artificial hormonal background will create an ideal basal temperature curve before and after ovulation, including later during pregnancy, if fertilization has occurred.

It is not necessary to talk about the prognosis of pregnancy only by basal temperature. The gestation process can be influenced by other circumstances that are not always reflected in the graph (pathology of embryo development, infection).

Thus, measuring rectal temperature is an affordable and simple method for monitoring functions. female body... This test of functional diagnostics often helps to find out the problems of infertility, various endocrine disorders. Basal temperature during pregnancy before menstruation normally rises, and if fertilization has not occurred, it decreases. Subject to all recommendations, this method is more reliable than any pregnancy test. It is informative and advisable to measure the temperature only up to 2 trimesters.

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