{"id":74988,"date":"2016-10-25T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-10-25T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fertilitysmarts.com\/2016\/10\/25\/how-basal-body-temperature-bbt-can-help-you-get-pregnant"},"modified":"2023-11-08T20:58:28","modified_gmt":"2023-11-08T20:58:28","slug":"how-basal-body-temperature-bbt-can-help-you-get-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fertilitysmarts.com\/2\/777\/trying\/fertility-awareness\/how-basal-body-temperature-can-help-you-get-pregnant","title":{"rendered":"How Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Can Help You Get Pregnant"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you are trying to get pregnant, observing and recording your basal body temperature (BBT) can give you insight into your fertile window and help determine the best days to have sex.<\/p>\n

This daily task may seem overly cumbersome, but it can easily become part of your daily schedule and will provide you with important knowledge about how your body operates, including when (and if) you ovulate<\/a>, and can even indicate if you become pregnant.<\/p>\n

What is Basal Body Temperature?<\/h2>\n

Basal body temperature (BBT) is the technical name for your body’s temperature at rest. Since our body temperature closely reflects our body’s metabolic rate (think of how slowly we burn energy when sleeping compared to when we are running), it is a useful way of measuring our body’s resting metabolism.<\/p>\n

Progesterone, the hormone produced in abundance after ovulation until next menstruation, increases the body’s metabolic rate. Because of this increased metabolic rate, our BBT rises after ovulation under higher progesterone levels.<\/p>\n

Most women will see a slight increase<\/a> (0.5\u00b0 to 1\u00b0F or 0.3\u00b0 to 0.6\u00b0 C) in body temperature during ovulation. For this reason, it can be a useful marker to learn more about your menstrual cycle and when your body ovulates. This is often referred to as a temperature shift.<\/p>\n

When should you take it?<\/h2>\n

Since basal body temperature is a resting temperature, it should be taken immediately upon waking after at least a solid five hours of sleep.<\/p>\n

What kind of thermometer do you need?<\/h2>\n

You will want to use a thermometer that is highly sensitive to get an accurate reading. Glass thermometers are best for accuracy, however, the disadvantage of them over digital thermometers is that they can break and they take longer to produce an accurate reading.<\/p>\n

You can typically purchase a BBT thermometer from the family planning section of your local pharmacy.<\/p>\n

How to Take your BBT<\/h2>\n

Temperatures can be taken orally, vaginally, or under the armpit. Each has its pros and cons so experiment with what works for you. Be sure to chart an entire cycle using only one method though since temperatures vary across different locations of the body and can thus interfere with getting an accurate picture of your body\u2019s ovulatory shift.<\/p>\n

How To Identify Your Basal Body Temperature Shift<\/h2>\n

To identify your BBT shift, you will need a way to graph your temperatures. You can do this on a piece of paper, on your computer, or by using an app specifically designed for this purpose.<\/p>\n

The most common algorithm for identifying the basal body temperature shift is the identification of three normal high temperatures that are higher than the previous six normal temperatures (see below for a description of what constitutes an abnormal temperature).<\/p>\n

Since the temperature shift reflects the rise in progesterone levels following ovulation, temperatures should remain high until just before the next expected menstruation.<\/p>\n

If pregnancy occurs you may notice a second temperature rise, rather than a decline. A small percentage of people experience a dip in temperature on the day of ovulation. An additional dip on the day of implantation has also been noted by some clinicians, although this has never been formally studied.<\/p>\n

Factors That May Lead To An Abnormal BBT Reading<\/h2>\n

Because basal body temperature reflects the body\u2019s resting metabolism, any factors that interfere with the metabolic rate or daily hormonal rhythms can cause a false temperature. The most common causes of an abnormal temperature reading are:<\/p>\n