How to measure basal temperature to determine ovulation or pregnancy with a regular thermometer. Determining pregnancy by basal temperature Until what week of pregnancy should you measure basal temperature

Many women who want to become pregnant monitor their basal (rectal) temperature. Quite often, the doctor recommends that the expectant mother continue to monitor this indicator after conception. Why is basal temperature so important during pregnancy? Let's look at how this indicator changes in women at different periods of the menstrual cycle, what its norm is during pregnancy, and what its deviations may mean.

How can you determine pregnancy by basal temperature?

Rectal temperature values differ at different periods of the menstrual cycle. To monitor their changes, it is convenient to use a basal temperature graph, which indicates the value of this indicator on each day of the menstrual cycle.

Usually during menstruation the basal temperature is 37 ºС. In the first part of the cycle, approximately 3-4 days after the end of menstruation, a decrease to 36.5-36.8 ºC is observed. This temperature is the most optimal for egg maturation. A day before ovulation, there is a sharp decrease in the indicator, and then an equally sharp increase to 37 ºС or even slightly higher.

If fertilization has not occurred, a week before the start of menstruation, the rectal temperature begins to decrease. Pregnancy can be determined by basal temperature during this period. Immediately after ovulation, the hormone progesterone begins to be produced, which leads to an increase in temperature. In the absence of fertilization, the level of progesterone decreases, as does the value of the indicator. If conception has occurred, the progesterone level remains high, and accordingly, the basal temperature remains at 37 ºС.

If a woman has been keeping a basal temperature chart for several months, during pregnancy she will see that approximately 6-8 days before her period was due to begin, instead of the usual decrease, the temperature value remains at 37 ºC. This usually indicates pregnancy. At the same time, sometimes an increase in rectal temperature can accompany the development of certain diseases, as well as the use of certain medications. Therefore, to clarify the presence of pregnancy, it is best to contact a gynecologist.

How to measure basal temperature correctly

Basal temperature is measured before pregnancy and, quite often, after conception has occurred. You need to know how to measure basal temperature during pregnancy, because during this period you need to take into account some physiological characteristics of the woman.

To determine basal temperature, a mercury or electronic thermometer is used. The temperature is measured with a mercury thermometer for 5-7 minutes, the electronic device is removed after the end of the process signal. Some doctors recommend using a mercury thermometer to measure basal temperature.

Here are expert tips on how to measure basal temperature during pregnancy:

The procedure is carried out every day, in the morning, immediately after waking up, before getting out of bed;
The measurement must be carried out at the same time, the permissible difference should not be more than 1 hour. Every extra hour of sleep leads to an increase in this indicator by 0.1ºC. If the measurement was taken later than usual, a note is made about this in the basal temperature chart during pregnancy;
It is important that uninterrupted sleep immediately before the procedure lasts at least 3 hours;
If a woman worked at night, basal body temperature is measured after daytime sleep, which should last at least 3-4 hours;
Flights, travel, business trips, sexual relations the night before or in the morning significantly affect the temperature;
Measuring basal temperature may be ineffective after taking certain medications, especially sleeping pills, sedatives, or hormonal medications;
It is important to use the same thermometer during the entire period of measuring basal temperature in pregnant women;
If you use a mercury thermometer, you need to shake it in the evening before going to bed, since unnecessary movements immediately before starting the process can affect the results;
The measurement must be taken in a lying position, motionless. A prerequisite is not to get up before the procedure. Therefore, the thermometer should be in such a place that it can be taken without getting up;
The readings of the thermometer are recorded immediately after its removal. If the temperature value is between two numbers, you need to record the smaller one.

High and low basal temperature during pregnancy

In many cases, the doctor advises the expectant mother to measure her basal temperature in the first trimester of pregnancy. The first 3 months are a very crucial period, because even a completely healthy woman can be at risk of miscarriage at this period. It is especially important to continue measuring temperature if there have already been miscarriages or a previous pregnancy ended in fetal death.

The most optimal basal temperature indicators during pregnancy during this period are in the range of 37.0-37.5 ºС. Sometimes on days 7-10 there is a sharp decrease in temperature, which is explained by the moment of implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine wall. After this, immediately the next day, the temperature returns to the previous level. This is further evidence of a normal pregnancy.

If, during regular measurements, a woman observes a drop in basal temperature, she should consult a doctor. As a rule, a decrease in temperature occurs due to a lack of production of the hormone progesterone. This, in turn, can lead to miscarriage, frozen pregnancy, as well as some pathologies of fetal development.

At the same time, low basal temperature during pregnancy can be caused by the following conditions and actions:

Overwork;
Cold;
Eating spicy, fatty foods the day before;
Sexual contact the night before or the night before;
Severe toxicosis;
An individual characteristic of a woman’s body in which she experiences a low body temperature.

Sometimes expectant mothers may have a slightly elevated basal temperature. It is allowed to increase this indicator to 37.3 ºС, and in some cases – to 38 ºС. But if the elevated basal temperature in pregnant women lasts for several days or exceeds the permissible values, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination. The reason for this increase may be various inflammatory processes in the body, which is very undesirable during pregnancy.

Text: Galina Goncharuk

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Basal temperature during pregnancy can be a good indicator of the individual characteristics of a woman’s body. Its measurement allows not only to determine the most favorable date for conception, but also to monitor changes and possible hormonal disruptions already during pregnancy.

Basal temperature and its meaning

Basal temperature is an indicator of the temperature of a body that is at rest for several hours (after a long sleep). It is considered one of the most accurate for the reason that the body is not influenced by external factors, both physical and emotional. Temperature charts are usually recommended for women who are planning to become pregnant. Already pregnant women measure their temperature in order to monitor whether the fetus is developing correctly. But in some cases, the schedule is used as another auxiliary method of contraception.

How to measure temperature correctly

This method of diagnosing the female body was discovered many years ago. It has not lost its uniqueness even today. This is a safe method that can detect disturbances in the functioning of a woman’s endocrine and reproductive systems.

Rules for measuring basal temperature:

A very important point in measuring basal temperature is that it should be measured immediately after waking up.
In order for the temperature graph to be as indicative as possible, the basal temperature must be measured at the same time. The permissible difference between measurements is 1.5 hours.
To measure temperature, a conventional mercury or electronic thermometer is used. You should prepare a thermometer in advance and place it near the bed.
If the thermometer is mercury, then you should reset the previous readings the night before, not in the morning.
Basal temperature is affected by all kinds of activity; measurements are taken if the body has rested for at least 3 hours (was at complete rest).
It is preferable to take temperature measurements in the rectum, since the reading from the anus is considered the most accurate. But it can also be done in the mouth or vagina. You should initially decide on the choice of measurement location; if you measure the temperature in a different place every day, the graph will be inaccurate.
All readings are recorded in a table and marked on a graph. It is necessary to make notes next to the dates: the first day of menstruation, illness, change in climatic conditions, travel, drinking alcohol, sexual intercourse before bedtime, etc.
At the end of the month, connect all the points on the graph and analyze it. If deviations from the norm appear in it, then some kind of malfunction has occurred in the body. The graph accurately shows all changes in a woman’s hormonal levels. A doctor's consultation is required.

Temperature readings before, during and after ovulation

The schedule is maintained not only during pregnancy. You should always monitor your health. In order to correctly read her chart during pregnancy, a woman must know what it looks like before the moment of conception. To do this, it is recommended to draw up a table of temperatures before pregnancy (at least 2 graphs), which will allow you to assess the current state of health and subsequently help to correctly read the schedule of the expectant mother.

For those women who, for some reason, cannot get pregnant, the temperature chart will show the most favorable days for conception (ovulation).

Plotting a graph

The duration of the menstrual cycle ranges from 21 to 35 days according to the characteristics of the female body. The days of menstruation are also included in the cycle and are not counted separately. The entire menstrual cycle is divided into two stages: hypothermic and hyperthermic. It is best to start keeping a schedule from the first day of your period. The norm for the female body is menstruation from 3 to 6 days; if the period exceeds, then there may be health problems.

The basal temperature of a non-pregnant woman on the first day of menstruation is 36.2-36.5 degrees. It remains in this interval throughout the hypothermic phase; even the day before ovulation it does not change. When the bleeding stops, the egg begins to mature, or rather the follicle, from which an egg that is completely ready for fertilization will then be released.

If we consider a 28-day menstrual cycle, then ovulation occurs approximately on day 14, followed by the hyperthermic phase. An egg is released from the follicle. She retains her ability to fertilize for another day in the fallopian tubes. At this time, the basal temperature should increase by 0.2-0.4 degrees.

Even if fertilization does not occur, the body prepares itself for a possible pregnancy. This can be seen on the graph, the temperature begins to rise and is approximately 37 degrees. It will last until the 26th day of the menstrual cycle, and then it will decline and stop within 36.2-36.5 degrees. Then the menstrual cycle repeats again.

The graph should reflect a temperature difference between phases of 0.4 degrees. If the indicator is lower, you should consult a doctor and undergo additional tests. Typically, such disorders indicate a lack of hormones.

Deviations from the norm, which are shown by the basal temperature chart

By keeping such a schedule, a woman can easily track all the changes in the body. These indicators include:

Lack of ovulation for more than 2 cycles. Twice a year, a woman’s egg may not mature. This is a completely normal phenomenon, provided that the temperature graph is smooth, without sudden changes.
Basal temperature exceeds 36.5 degrees in the first phase. Indicates that there is not enough estrogen in the woman’s body. May cause problems with conception.
An increase in basal temperature for several days in the hypothermic phase, and then its decline to normal - inflammation of the appendages is possible.
When the uterine mucosa is inflamed, the basal temperature drops before menstruation. When menstrual bleeding begins, it rises to 37 degrees.
A reduced basal temperature in the second phase indicates a lack of the corpus luteum; the body produces little progesterone, which also prevents conception. Its level is increased to normal with the help of medications prescribed by a specialist.

If such changes in the graph curve are present, you should consult a doctor. The sooner the reasons for the violation of the basal temperature schedule are diagnosed, the faster and easier the treatment will be.

Basal temperature chart during pregnancy

As mentioned earlier, after ovulation the temperature remains around 37 degrees. If fertilization has occurred, then the basal temperature does not change for another 10 days after ovulation, and then sharply declines until it reaches normal. But the next day the indicator is high again. Such a sharp break in the graph curve is called implantation retraction. This means that the fertilized egg has moved to the uterus and began its further development. Sometimes a pregnant woman may experience slight vaginal discharge, which lasts no more than 2 or 3 days.

After a sharp drop in basal temperature (implantation retraction) and its subsequent increase in the case of pregnancy, a woman will track the increased temperature on her chart for another 15 to 20 days. Under this condition, you can safely take a pregnancy test. If everything is normal, it will be positive.

Basal temperature will increase during pregnancy. The overestimated indicator will remain almost the entire time of gestation.

From the moment a new life begins to develop inside a woman, the indicator on the graph should correspond to 37.1-37.4 degrees. Basal temperature during pregnancy is indicated on the chart only in the first trimester. After the 13th week, indicators may drop due to the woman’s completely changed hormonal background. The graph becomes uninformative.

Who should make a schedule during pregnancy?

Doctors often prescribe keeping a schedule for women who are at risk of early miscarriage. The doctor explains to the expectant mother how to measure basal temperature and what the indicators of the graph curve should be.

Throughout the entire period of gestation, the temperature should be higher than normal. If in the first trimester the curve sharply declines, it means there is a lack of hormones in the body. This is very dangerous and threatens miscarriage, so you must go to the hospital immediately. An even more dangerous symptom is if the decline is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, bleeding or spotting.

A very high temperature is also not considered normal, especially if it has risen sharply. Such symptoms are usually characteristic of inflammatory processes, which can be both general and local in nature.

A sharp increase in the curve of the graph is sometimes diagnosed as an ectopic pregnancy. But usually it is accompanied by pain in the pelvic area. Do not ignore a high basal temperature if there are no other signs of illness. It itself can cause harm to the child: slow down its development, provoke freezing.

To save your baby’s life and be a physically healthy mother, you need to consult a doctor if there are any unusual changes in your schedule. Only a specialist can identify possible deviations and take measures to eliminate them without harm to mother and baby.

Regular measurement of basal temperature helps women know which days of the cycle conception is most likely to occur. After pregnancy, its control is no less important. There are indicators whose value at different periods corresponds to the successful course of hormonal and physiological processes in the body of a pregnant woman. A deviation of basal temperature during pregnancy from the norm can be a warning about dangerous failures that can lead to miscarriage.

Content:

What is basal temperature

As you know, body temperature is not a constant value. A person works physically, worries, eats hot or cold food, leaves a warm room into the cold - all this leads to a slight change in temperature. But there is such a thing as basal (internal) temperature, the values of which are the most stable. By measuring it, one can more reliably judge the state of the body at the moment.

Basal temperature (BT) is measured either in the mouth, vagina, or rectum. For women, daily measurement of BT is an important diagnostic procedure that allows one to judge the nature of the menstrual cycle, the appearance of ovulation, and the occurrence of pregnancy.

Moreover, by continuing to measure BT in subsequent weeks, you can make sure whether the pregnancy is proceeding normally or whether there are alarming symptoms of deviation from the norm. Dangerous conditions include ectopic or frozen pregnancy, threatened miscarriage, and hormonal disorders. In the first weeks after conception, the level of progesterone (a hormone that helps maintain pregnancy) sharply increases in a woman’s body.

Changes occur in the state of the general hormonal background, in the functioning of the endocrine organs, and the nervous system. This leads to fluctuations in basal temperature. Moreover, if everything proceeds normally, the indicators do not go beyond the norm corresponding to each week of fetal development in the body of the expectant mother.

Measuring BT during pregnancy is especially recommended for those women who have already encountered dangerous pathologies. It is advisable to construct a graph in the first 12 weeks, when changes in hormonal levels are especially noticeable against the background of indicators obtained before conception. After 12-14 weeks, hormonal fluctuations are more chaotic, and data on basal temperature cannot be interpreted reliably.

Video: How and why basal temperature is measured

Rules for measuring basal temperature

Characteristic changes in the indicators on the graph can be noticed only after 4 months of painstaking daily measurement before pregnancy, as well as in the subsequent period. The most accurate results are obtained when using a mercury thermometer.

During pregnancy, you can measure basal temperature in any of 3 ways (orally, vaginally or rectally), but measuring in the rectum gives the most reliable results. The following rules must be observed:

During the period of measuring basal temperature, you should not use sedatives and hormonal drugs (including oral contraceptives). The consumption of alcoholic beverages is contraindicated.
If you want to use a chart to determine days favorable for conception, you need to start measuring your basal temperature from the first day of your cycle.
The temperature is measured with a mercury thermometer for 5-7 minutes. If an electronic thermometer is used, then within 1 minute.
The thermometer is inserted into the rectum to a depth of 2-3 cm. When pulling it out, hold it by the base so as not to accidentally touch the area with mercury (the result may be distorted).
The indicators are recorded in a notebook and marked on the graph. If during the measurement period a woman experienced stress or suffered an illness, it is necessary to make a note next to the corresponding indicator so that it is possible to explain the unusual deviation.

BBT measurement during pregnancy is always carried out with the same thermometer, in the morning immediately after waking up, without getting out of bed. In this case, continuous sound sleep should last 4-6 hours, the woman should be calm and well rested.

Plotting a graph

To construct a graph, the days of the menstrual cycle (or subsequent pregnancy) are marked on the horizontal axis, and temperature indicators are plotted on the vertical axis.

In the second phase of the cycle after ovulation, BT values gradually increase by 0.4°-0.5°, which is associated with the formation of the corpus luteum in the ovary and an increase in progesterone levels. If fertilization of the egg does not occur, the corpus luteum dies, progesterone levels drop, and basal temperature drops to its previous value.

By continuing to plot the graph for 3-4 cycles, you can determine the day of ovulation quite accurately. Taking into account the average life expectancy of sperm and eggs, it is believed that the most favorable days for conception are 3 days before ovulation and 2 days after it.

Basal temperature during pregnancy normally remains at 37.1°-37.3°. Only approximately 6-7 days after ovulation there is a sharp decrease in BT by 0.4°. At this moment, the embryo penetrates the uterine mucosa, and “implantation retraction” appears on the graph.

The fact that conception has occurred is indicated by a characteristic increase in temperature after relapse and the fact that it remains stably elevated for another 16-18 days in the presence of a delay. To make sure you are pregnant, you can do a test. An ultrasound scan 4-5 weeks after the expected day of conception will help you find out exactly whether a woman is pregnant or not.

Note: Constructing such a graph is not a 100% way to diagnose pregnancy. Considering the many side factors that affect the accuracy of the results, it should be noted that the graph may have a slightly different appearance even if conception does occur.

Reasons for unusual changes in BT during pregnancy

The fact that pregnancy is proceeding normally can be judged by such a sign as a consistently elevated BT level (within 37.1°-37.6°) over the next 16-18 days. If the temperature at this time is higher or lower, then the presence of pathologies is suspected, the cause of which will be helped by a gynecologist, therapist or endocrinologist.

Temperature drop

If a woman’s BBT decreases after pregnancy (at least to 36.9°), the cause may be a lack of progesterone. In this case, there is a threat of miscarriage. If a blood test shows that the level of progesterone in a pregnant woman’s body is low, then she will need to spend several days in the hospital and undergo a course of treatment with special drugs to maintain the pregnancy.

Possible cessation of development and death of the fetus (frozen pregnancy). As a rule, in such cases, accompanying symptoms occur: spotting, pain in the lower abdomen. You can find out for sure that the pregnancy is frozen only with the help of an ultrasound.

Temperature increase

A consistently elevated BT (more than 38°) may indicate the occurrence of inflammatory processes. Diseases of the genital organs are usually accompanied by the appearance of greenish discharge with an unpleasant odor.

An increase in BT to 38° is also possible during an ectopic pregnancy, since the growth of the embryo leads to damage to the fallopian tube and inflammation. However, sometimes BT remains at 37.1°-37.3°, and pathology can be detected only by characteristic symptoms and ultrasound results.

If an increase in BT is detected 1 time, painful signs do not appear, then most likely there was an error in the measurement.

Note: For some pregnant women, 37.7°-38° is not something special. An increase in BT in this case can only be due to the individual characteristics of the reaction of the expectant mother’s immune system to the appearance of a “foreign” organism in the uterus. If the analysis shows that the hormone level is normal, and a slight increase in BT does not affect the woman’s well-being, then there is no need to worry.

Why are there deviations from the norm?

The following factors may affect the thermometer readings:

change in body position while measuring basal temperature (you must lie still);
sexual contact less than 12 hours before temperature measurement;
eating food immediately after waking up before measuring BT (for example, fruit to relieve nausea and prevent vomiting during toxicosis);
the occurrence of infectious and inflammatory diseases, the use of antipyretics and other medications. When constructing a graph, temperature data obtained on sick days must be excluded, since they will not be reliable.

If you have doubts about the correctness of the result obtained, you can immediately re-measure. If, despite following all the rules for carrying out this procedure, a deviation of the BT from the norm is observed again, you should go to the doctor and undergo an examination and an ultrasound scan as soon as possible. This will prevent the occurrence of health complications for the woman herself and serious pathologies of fetal development or possible loss of pregnancy.

When planning a child, expectant mothers are interested in all the nuances of pregnancy and, most importantly, the first signs of its onset. The state of a woman’s body can be indicated by basal temperature (BT), the indicators of which change throughout the menstrual cycle, as well as in the case of successful conception.

Every modern girl should be able to correctly measure temperature and build a convenient chart that allows you to visually track changes in the body before conception, as well as the next 2 weeks after.

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Basal temperature and features of its measurement

A thermometer, carefully placed by the doctor in the armpit, reliably shows changes in skin temperature, which helps to talk about the presence of inflammatory processes or disease. However, temperature readings inside the body will differ between different organs and areas (therefore, the most accurate measurements are made in the oral cavity).

Basal (rectal) temperature is measured in a woman's rectum under strict guidelines. The obtained indicators help to diagnose changes in hormonal levels, as well as determine the favorable period of ovulation. Such measurements are used by patients who are trying to conceive a baby and want to guess the most suitable day for this. The obtained indicators allow you to build a schedule for the coming months and identify which days are favorable for “attempts”. The absence of ovulation according to the schedule is a reason to contact an endocrinologist or gynecologist.

How to correctly measure basal temperature during pregnancy?

All measurements are taken on an empty stomach and only after waking up in the morning. To do this, remain in a lying position (you cannot get up, go to the toilet, etc.).
Every day the temperature is measured at the same time (the permissible difference is no more than half an hour).
Apply baby cream or Vaseline around the tip of the thermometer and the anus to facilitate penetration and reduce the risk of damage to the delicate area and mucous membranes.
The thermometer should be inserted to a depth of about 20-30 mm.
Hold the device in the rectum for about 6-7 minutes.
Immediately after removing the device, take and record the indicators and enter them into the chart.
Mark in the calendar-graph factors that could distort the indicators, such as colds, inflammation, poisoning, endocrine system disorders, etc.

Many patients approach the issue persistently, taking readings every 2-3 hours during the day. However, the indicators can vary greatly and completely distort the overall picture. The treasured 37.2° received in the morning does not at all indicate the onset of pregnancy, since the numbers may fluctuate during the day.

The first half of the cycle (3-4 days after menstruation) is characterized by a reduced BT of 36.5-36.8°. This is thought out by nature for the maturation of a healthy egg. The day before ovulation, the temperature usually drops sharply. Immediately after this (second half of the cycle), the readings increase to 37-37.2° and remain until the onset of menstruation. 5-7 days before the next menstruation, the temperature drops again to 36.8-36.9°.

What should the basal temperature be if there is no pregnancy?

If conception does not occur on the day of ovulation and in the 2nd half of the cycle, the temperature will drop. For a pregnant woman, for 18 days it remains in the range of 37.1-37.2°. But you should not rely only on temperature measurements or even the absence of menstruation. These phenomena can be caused by severe stress, illness, hormonal imbalances, lifestyle and nutrition. Make an appointment with a gynecologist, who will confirm the increase in temperature due to the production of the hormone progesterone, which indicates successful conception.

BT in case of pregnancy

The graph indicators in the early stages have diagnostic value and allow you to learn about pathologies before their immediate manifestation. Basal temperature during pregnancy during the day may vary slightly within the range of 37.1-37.3°, but in individual cases BT up to 38° can be considered normal. The female hormone progesterone is responsible for the increase in temperature, the production of which increases in a pregnant woman.

If the expectant mother measured her BBT during the quarter and kept a chart, then she will note that 5-7 days before the next menstruation the temperature did not drop (as it should have happened). It remained at 37-37.4°, which highly likely indicates the onset of pregnancy even before the delay.

If BT sharply increases or decreases, then there is a threat to the course of pregnancy and directly to the fetus.

Too low BT is often observed when the risk of miscarriage increases or during a frozen pregnancy (the fetus stops developing in the womb). In this case, the indicators deviate from the norm by 0.7-1°, so that the “normal” basal temperature of 36.6° should be considered pathological in the case of a pregnant woman. But if in the 1st half of the cycle the patient had a decreased BT level (by 0.4 degrees or more), then doctors declare a temperature of 36.6-36.8° as the norm.

An increase in BT to 37.4° and higher may indicate inflammatory or infectious processes in the pelvic area. Also, high rates are typical for ectopic pregnancy, since progesterone in this case continues to be intensively produced.

Keep in mind that not all patients need to have their rectal temperature recorded. Doctors often advise this to women who have a history of miscarriage or cessation of child development, and also if at the appointment the doctor noted the risk of miscarriage. By monitoring the BT schedule during early pregnancy, the doctor can draw conclusions about the course of pregnancy at the beginning of the first trimester and, possibly, send the expectant mother for preservation.

Can you trust basal temperature?

Unfortunately, this method cannot be considered reliable and reliable, because BT can change for a number of reasons: gynecological, inflammatory, infectious and viral diseases, stress, medication, etc. In addition, a decrease in BT before a miscarriage or in the case of pathologies of fetal development does not always indicate threats, so you should not panic before visiting a doctor.

Modern medicine is of the opinion that keeping a schedule for home diagnostics is inappropriate. It can only be useful for identifying suitable days for conception.

Reasons for increasing or decreasing BT

Indicators may increase for the following reasons:

systemic diseases: infectious, viral, colds, bacterial and fungal;
inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs;
individual characteristics of the expectant mother’s body, when 38° is considered normal basal temperature;
incorrect measurement (you walked before the procedure, performed the slightest physical activity).

The temperature is considered low if the readings do not reach 37° (except in individual cases). This often indicates threats, pathologies and complications. Often mothers ask what the basal temperature is during a frozen pregnancy. As a rule, it should be below 37° for several days (provided you take the correct measurements). In the case of serious pathologies or frozen pregnancy, the production of progesterone is suppressed, which is associated with low BT. In such a situation, the patient is immediately hospitalized and procedures are prescribed to save the pregnancy.

Having determined what the basal temperature should be during pregnancy, remember that the reliability of the readings may change under the influence of factors.

Regular physical activity, sports, weight lifting. If you measure your temperature after stressful situations, the indicator may be higher.
Psychological stress, emotional experiences, problems in the family and at work. Depression and stress, as well as constant thoughts about it, can affect the increase in BT at the time of measurement.
Incorrect temperature measurement. Violation of at least one measurement step can lead to unpredictable distortion of the result. For example, some women measure BT in a sitting position, and then rejoice at the “coming pregnancy”. The high temperature in this case is due to the fact that blood is actively flowing to the pelvic organs. Therefore, readings should be taken correctly in a lying position immediately after sleep.
The indicators will change if the woman's sleep duration changes. If you slept less than 4-5 hours at night, then there is no point in recording the result in a chart.
Sexual contact less than 12 hours before measurement. Sexual activity (like any other physical and psychological stress) in the evening before the measurement day can change the measurement results.
Snack after waking up. In many expectant mothers, toxicosis is quite acute, for which doctors recommend eating immediately after getting up. However, eat after measuring the rectal temperature, otherwise the results cannot be considered reliable.
Taking medications. Some drugs can affect the result, increasing or decreasing it. Complete the course of therapy and only then begin maintaining a schedule.
Diseases (including gynecological). If you are aware of a mild cold or infection, it is not advisable to take measurements on these days.

During your first visit to the gynecologist, you will find out what your basal temperature should be in the early stages of pregnancy. However, scheduling and monitoring BT is only appropriate during the first 2 weeks of the first trimester. After the sixteenth week, indicators decrease and are more difficult to control, and

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

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

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

What is BT?

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

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

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

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

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

Why measure BT?

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

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

How to measure it during pregnancy?

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

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

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

Normal after conception

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

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

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

Determining pregnancy by basal temperature

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

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

Daily fluctuations in BT

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

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

Promotion

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

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

A fall

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

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

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

When and how to measure?

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

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

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

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

Why do you need a schedule?

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

Typically, fluctuations on the chart look like this:

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

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

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

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

"Pregnant" charts

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

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

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

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

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

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

Factors influencing performance

To get a reliable result, exclude the following situations:

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

Do I need to be monitored during pregnancy?

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

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

At different stages of pregnancy

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

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

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

Deviation from the norm

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

Why is she too tall?

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

Possible threat of interruption

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

Frozen pregnancy

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

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

Does low BT occur during normal pregnancy?

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

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

Basal temperature of a healthy woman

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

Signs of probable infertility according to schedule

This is indicated by the following:

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

Schedule for ovulation stimulation

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

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

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

When to contact a gynecologist?

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

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