For women planning a pregnancy, being examined for infertility, suffering from hormonal disorders, gynecologists quite often recommend monitoring the basal temperature. It is necessary to build schedules for three months, then the specialist, looking at them, can draw conclusions about the quality of the reproductive system.
Women who have been recommended by the gynecologist to use this method are usually interested in how to measure basal temperature correctly. Indeed, its main drawback is the influence on the result of various factors that must be taken into account and, if possible, eliminated. Therefore, in order to obtain reliable data, you must strictly follow the rules.
Quite often, patients are interested in where to measure basal temperature. It is advisable to do this in the anus, but it is possible in the vagina and in the mouth. However, the method in one cycle should not change. Categorically you can’t do this under the armpit.
The question that is asked quite often is which thermometer measures basal temperature? For this, you can use both a mercury and an electronic thermometer. It must be prepared in the morning, put at arm's length, but not under the pillow.
On a mercury thermometer, knock down the previous reading. They need to perform a rectal measurement for 5 minutes, and with an electronic thermometer - before the sound signal. The time should always be the same. You cannot change the thermometer during one cycle.
How to measure basal temperature correctly:
- after 6 hours of sleep;
- before measuring, do not get out of bed, do not move much, do not talk, do not open your eyes (preferably);
- measurements are taken clearly at the appointed time, for example, at 6 o’clock in the morning, the permissible deviation is 30 minutes (every hour adds 0.1 degrees);
- It’s better to record data immediately;
- it is necessary to make notes about all factors affecting temperature (taking medication, sex, stress, alcohol, a business trip that took place the day before);
- measurements are not informative with increasing body temperature.
It is also advisable to make notes about the consistency of cervical mucus, which changes before ovulation.
If the graphs are built correctly, then you can determine from them:
- was ovulation and when;
- suspect the onset of pregnancy, hormonal disorders and some inflammatory diseases;
- days in which pregnancy is impossible and favorable for conception.
We have already figured out how to measure basal temperature correctly, now let's find out what a normal chart looks like and why. The menstrual cycle consists of a follicular and luteal phase, their ovulation separates. During it, the egg leaves the ovary, ready for fertilization.
In the first phase, the follicle ripens and the endometrium grows under the influence of estrogens, which secrete the ovaries. After ovulation, a corpus luteum appears. Its function is the synthesis of progesterone. It prepares the endometrium for implantation of an embryo. In the first phase, estrogens are the main ones, which lower the basal temperature, and in the second, progesterone, which increases it.
Therefore, the normal graph consists of two approximately identical parts: the area of low and high values. Cycle days are plotted on the horizontal axis, and temperature is plotted on the vertical axis. A jump into the zone of high values occurs just after ovulation.
The difference between the average temperatures in the first and second phases should pain over 0.4 degrees. Smaller values may indicate hormonal disorders. The length of the second phase averages 14 days.
So, how to measure basal temperature correctly, we figured it out. We also found out what a normal schedule looks like and why. Learned what you can find out from it.