how to take basal body temperature

She attended medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and completed her residency at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2010, where she was awarded the Most Outstanding Resident in Maternal Fetal Medicine, Most Outstanding Resident in Oncology, and Most Outstanding Resident Overall. Those are normal body temperature readings for an adult and nothing to be alarmed about. {Learn how to fix your low basal body temperature – a guest post by Matt Stone of www.180degreehealth.com} Donielle contacted me recently because so many of her readers were complaining about having a low body temperature – something that is very common, practically universal, among women with standard menstrual and fertility issues. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. Have sex every other day, aside from the menstrual period, if you want to increase your chances of conceiving and keep things simple, or have sex two days before ovulation and on the day of ovulation. Knowing when you are most fertile is a great advantage if you want to have a baby. The change in your body temperature is very slight, so you need to use a special thermometer. In this case, 83% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Will my basal body temperature rise if I am pregnant? Try keeping the thermometer by your bed on a bedside table so it is easy to reach first thing in the morning. What is a normal body temperature? The "basal body temperature" test was developed by Broda O. Barnes, M.D. To use the basal body temperature method: 1. If you are using a glass thermometer, make sure you shake it down at night before you place it on your bedside table. What's my best option? Your basal body temperature (BBT) is your temperature when your body is at rest. A basal thermometer shows you the temperature in tenths of a degree. You should take your basal body temperature every day and log it to keep a record. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. Even if you have a digital thermometer which can record and store the readings keep a record. All these are ways that they can stay informed about their next ovulation which assists them in timing their sexual intercourse accordingly. Don’t get up early for that purpose, because then you may not be able to maintain that time. As you sleep, your body shuts down the temperature and uses the energy for regeneration processes. ", "Clear article. Some digital BBT thermometers also store the temperature for you. However, you should still record the temperature in a more permanent way, such as in a BBT journal or in a BBT app on your smartphone. In women, BBT follows a biphasic pattern throughout the menstrual cycle—that is, it’s lower in the first half of the cycle. Now you know how to take basal body temperature in the perfect way. Can I use a regular thermometer? Before ovulation, a woman’s BBT averages between 97°F (36.1°C) and 97.5°F (36.4°C). However, your cervical mucus can tell you when you are about to ovulate. Now you know how to take basal body temperature in the perfect way. Naturally Warmed Up, How to Raise Your Basal Body Temperature Bio; Twitter; Facebook *Disclaimer; Natasha. It is only because sperm can survive in the female body for two to four days that the fertile days exist. Stay alert if you are stressed, ill or if you have taken alcohol or you have any other disorders, as all of these could influence the outcome of your basal body temperature. Your basal body temperature can only tell you that you ovulated after it happens. patterns on your chart is very significant and this can help in getting accurate information about your fertility. It should have an horizontal section with a temperature range of 99°F to 96°F. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. It's nice to sleep in at the weekend, but if you really want to get pregnant, or avoid getting pregnant, you have to put a little effort in. Taking your BBT is a pretty straightforward process. The best way to ensure you get accurate basal body temperature is to record your temperature every morning at a specific time before getting out of bed. A woman’s body temperature varies from time to time as it ranges from 97.2 to 97.7 degrees Fahrenheit just before ovulation but may rise by 1 degree or more the day after ovulation. You can also take basal body temperature rectally or vaginally. It's best to do this first thing in the morning before you get out of bed. Always make sure you get at least three to five hours of continuous sleep before you take your basal body temperature to ensure the reading is accurate. To get an accurate reading, you need to use a basal thermometer, which is sensitive enough to measure minute changes in body temperature. ", "Not only did it answer my question, it showed me how. There are some rules to follow though: You should take it at the same time every morning (not earlier or more than 30 minutes every day). By using our site, you agree to our. Once you have had your ovulation and the temperature won’t go down for close to 3 weeks, you should have a pregnancy test done as you could be pregnant. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. These thermometers give an accurate and quick reading and may store the temperature automatically although it’s best that you record it somewhere else. The temperature should be measured with your mouth closed for at least 5 … Dr. Windham is a board certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist in Tennessee. Let's get to know more about basal body temperature now. You can also take basal body temperature rectally or vaginally. This is a sign that you are ovulating. Some women take their basal body temperatures vaginally or rectally, especially if they find it difficult to get an accurate reading using the oral option. This allows you to note tiny changes in body heat. The temperature shift should be higher than the highest temperatures that you recorded the previous six days. Today, I want to talk to you about basal body temperature, and whether or not it has any use when it comes to predicting thyroid disease. This article has been viewed 527,992 times. Amid the current public health and economic crises, when the world is shifting dramatically and we are all learning and adapting to changes in daily life, people need wikiHow more than ever. Be sure to use an alarm you can easily turn off without getting out of bed. Basal body temperature is the body temperature you have in the morning after waking up. Chart your ovulation for a few months. It is usually the lowest measurable value of the day. Today, there are several methods to keep track of basal body temperature. In her newest book, Counting Grains of Sand: Learning to Delight in a Promise-Making God infertility, adoption, hope, and … Ovulation occurs during the fertile days. Although some digital ones give readings to a hundredth of a degree, all you really need is one … I work nights so I am either going to bed at 8am or waking up at 8am depending on my work schedule. There's no perfect time to have sex to guarantee conception. For over a century, the relationship between basal body temperature and thyroid disease has been known and well-documented. Thyroid hormones are made in the thyroid, but most of the active (energy) thyroid hormone T3 is converted … Dr. Windham is a board certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist in Tennessee. Without a chart containing accurate recordings, it will be a challenge for you to predict your ovulation date which will frustrate you further if you really want to get pregnant. The general recommendation used to be that women needed to take their basal body temperature vaginally rather than under their tongue. How to Take Basal Body Temperature. Since basal body temperature is not an approved birth control method, other approved birth control methods should be used in order to avoid pregnancy or get pregnant effectively. 5 Records Immediately and Daily. You don’t want to take it before 6 am or take it after 7 am on other days. They can be confusing to sort through because many appear to allow your Apple watch or your Apple iPhone to take your temperature. Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist. To make things easier, there are many samples on the internet. Download our sample chart and instructions. For those that want to get pregnant, they should have unprotected sexual intercourse about 2 days before ovulation or before the rise of the basal body temperature. http://www.cigna.com/healthwellness/hw/medical-topics/basal-body-temperature-charting-hw202058, http://www.fertilityfriend.com/courses/lesson.php?p=1;8;0;0, http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/basal-body-temperature/basics/what-you-can-expect/prc-20019978, http://www.fertilityplus.com/faq/bbt/bbtfaq.html, http://www.upmc.com/patients-visitors/education/pregnancy/Pages/basal-body-temperature.aspx, http://www.early-pregnancy-tests.com/bbt-basal-body-temperature.html, Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. To record your BBT, you need to use a basal thermometer. You need a specific thermometer to measure basal body temperature, this shows two decimal places. Since you'll need to take your temperature first thing in the morning before moving around, keep the thermometer at your bedside. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. What temperature changes am I looking for? This has a finer scale than a normal thermometer and lets you record tiny changes in your body temperature. Using the basal body temperature readings developed by Dr. Barnes can help you to hone in on a potential thyroid condition and allow you to seek the help you need to support your thyroid. The temperature should be an average of 97 degrees. Head to a local supermarket or drug store and get a digital BBT thermometer that is preferred by many people. Basal body temperature is the body’s lowest resting temperature which is best measured first thing in the morning, just after you’ve woken up. When is the perfect time to have sex in order to get pregnant: during ovulation, or during fertile days? This can make a difference when you are bleary-eyed first thing in the morning. After you have the reading from your thermometer, immediately put it on a physical chart or on an app that you can refer to. You can opt to put the thermometer in your month for a few seconds, but do keep it in the same location and depth every morning to get an accurate reading. Find out how to measure body temperature here. Low Basal Body Temperature = Poor Thyroid Function As your thyroid starts to fail in this major function of maintaining body temperature, it's no longer able to keep your body warm at a constant level, and you'll find your temperature becoming persistently lower. This is in fact the period that most women tend to get pregnant. For tips on how to chart your basal body temperature, keep reading our OBGYN’s review! You can buy glass or digital BBT thermometers in your pharmacy or online. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 527,992 times. Easy to read and understand.". Notice if there is a temperature shift of at least 0.4 degrees within 48-hours on your chart. At what point is it a fever? Please Log In or add your name and email to post the comment. You can also take basal body temperature rectally or vaginally. Once you have your BBT, you can chart it on a graph to help you determine when you are most fertile. How was that idea borne out, and is it accurate to tie body temperature … The temperature should be an average of 97 degrees. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. A mildly hypothyroid person can still appear to have normal thyroid lab results. Once you download the app, you will find that you can enter your temperature and track it. Health experts advise that you should not move, talk, stretch or engage in any other activity before recording your temperature as this may disrupt the actual basal temperature. But the accuracy of today’s thermometers means that taking a vaginal temperature reading is no longer necessary. You can use this information to help you get pregnant or to avoid getting pregnant. The chart should have horizontal section that has the temperature range and a vertical one with the records of the dates. This is the core step in learning how to take basal body temperature. prefer to chart their basal body temperature; others use ovulation predictor kits; and some others prefer to monitor their cervical mucus. For tips on how to chart your basal body temperature, keep reading our OBGYN’s review! For example, Monday through Friday I wake up at 6:00 AM, but Saturday and Sunday I wake up around 9:45 AM. X Is my basal body temperature related to my thyroid? A woman’s body temperature changes throughout the menstrual cycle and changes in her body temperature … Step one in using the BBT method is to purchase a basal thermometer. Your basal body temperature (BBT) is your temperature when your body is at rest. Natasha is an author and blogger from a small farm in northern New York where she lives with her mechanic-husband and two miracle-children. Please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Your thermometer will likely store your reading for you, though we recommend to record it right away, either using a bedside notepad or using your Fertility Friend Mobile App on your smartphone. To get the most precise reading of your body's temperature at rest, not only do you need to take your temperature as soon as you wake up, but … BBT is the lowest temperature your body reaches in a 24-hour period. After a month of two, a pattern will emerge that shows when ovulation happens. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. For you to get to know your BBT, you need to have a basal thermometer and a chart to record your temperature every morning before you leave your bed. Since one can oversleep or just forget to take the temperature, you can set an alarm to alert you. It is important to use an accurate thermometer. Basal body temperature (BBT) is your temperature when you first wake up in the morning, or after at least three hours of uninterrupted sleep. If you want to determine when in your cycle you ovulate, tracking your basal body temperature (BBT) is a good starting point. This article has been viewed 527,992 times. Need help using the chart? This article was medically reviewed by Lacy Windham, MD. These specially made, large-scale thermometers are sensitive enough to measure minute changes in body temperature, unlike regular thermometers. A digital BBT thermometer gives a quick reading, beeps when it is finished recording the temperature, and is easy to read. Basal body temperature (BBT) can be measured in three ways: orally, vaginally or rectally. Women can track their BBT to determine when they are ovulating and when they are most fertile. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. You can use that information to know when to have sex. Barnes developed and promoted a diagnostic test for thyroid function that became known as the "Barnes Basal Temperature Test". Patterns could include a temperature rise or fall around certain days during your cycle. Basal Body Temperature and Your Thyroid . Most women have a basal body temperature of 96 to 98°F (35.6 to 36.7°C) one to two days before ovulation. How do I take my basal body temperature? [1] This way, it will be ready to use when you wake up. The woman must have ovulated to have fertile days. You can always go back to sleep after you have checked your temperature. In order to effectively measure your BBT, follow these simple steps closely: Each night, set your thermometer by your bedside. Set an alarm to wake you up at the same time every day. While you sleep, your basal body temperature drops and does not raise back to normal until you get moving around. You should adhere to one of them throughout the entire measurement period. How To Use The Basal Body Temperature Method. Approved. To take your basal body temperature, start by buying a digital BBT thermometer to get a quick, accurate reading. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Take-Your-Basal-Body-Temperature-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Take-Your-Basal-Body-Temperature-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Take-Your-Basal-Body-Temperature-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid277640-v4-728px-Take-Your-Basal-Body-Temperature-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"