Basal temperature - what is it? Basal temperature during pregnancy in the early stages

Every woman has probably heard such a term as "basal temperature". What is it, the concept has developed for everyone its own, but most will say that this is the indicator that is needed to track ovulation in planning pregnancy. In general terms, yes, but it is necessary to reveal this topic more fully, so that there are no white spots left in it. We will begin with the definition, we will touch on the technique of measuring and plotting. In addition, I would like to consider how the basal temperature changes with the onset of pregnancy.

Basic knowledge

We will begin from the very beginning, that is, with the definition of "basal temperature". What it is, now it becomes clear. This is the temperature that is measured rectally. Here are two points that are important to consider. To obtain accurate and reliable information, measurements must be carried out strictly at the same time and after a long rest. That is, the optimal time is at 6 am, when you just woke up.

What are these indicators for? To analyze the hormonal background. And all the changes due to biological factors and causes occur only locally, so putting a thermometer under the mouse is meaningless. There is one more point to consider: if a person is overheated or sick, the basal temperature also changes. That this can cause a distortion of data, unnecessarily add.

It is necessary to know

For what you will conduct research. In itself, the performance of a single measurement does not give anything. But the combination of data for several months allows you to get a fairly bright and visual picture. Another important point. Performing measurements, women achieve exactly one, they can visually see how their menstrual cycle passes, when the ovum ripens and ovulation occurs.

But if you take hormonal contraceptives, then this technique ceases to work for the simple reason that the cycle is regulated by the hormones taken, and not by your own. And their action is aimed at ensuring that the eggs do not ripen. Therefore, no matter how long you build the charts, the basal temperature will always be the same. That it is completely uninformative, you already guessed it yourself.

Learning to measure the temperature

Once again remembering the basic rules, you must perform the entire procedure in the early morning, without getting out of bed even behind the thermometer. That is, we put within an reach alarm clock and, barely opening our eyes, perform the measurement. Only in this case the indicators can be considered informative. Once again, we emphasize that the body should be at rest. Do not stretch and sit in bed, do not throw back the blanket. Only slightly bend your legs and insert the tip of the thermometer into the anus. Approximately 5 minutes you need to lie still.

After this, lay it on a pre-prepared napkin and can safely fill or stand up. Basal temperature in the daytime is not measured for the simple reason that physical loads make the indicators completely uninformative. Even having built a schedule based on the results of months of measurements, you can not see anything about it. So, we got a little distracted. The result should be immediately put in a notebook, and it is better to immediately transfer to a simple graph, where one axis is the date, and the second is the BT.

Measurements during the day

Sometimes, wanting to get the most reliable data, a woman begins to take measurements every two hours. This not only does not add information, but also confuses. It turns out a huge data array, which is more difficult to process, because the indicators contradict each other. Depending on the physical load, emotional state, food intake and other environmental factors, the figures will change constantly. To find during the day the optimal time for measurement is almost impossible.

Drawing a graph

More often than not, women begin to take measurements in order to track ovulation and not prokarauliit pregnancy. The basal temperature during pregnancy in the early period really varies greatly. As we said above, you can not say anything until you have accumulated information in a few months. Only then you will be able to visually evaluate the cyclicity and determine which of the peaks is ovulation. By results you can calculate the days of ovulation and determine the period of the greatest fertility.

First of all, this information is important for couples who plan a child. This method is also used by those who want to avoid unwanted pregnancies. However, doctors recommend in this case, in addition to use other methods of contraception. Basal temperature during pregnancy in early terms rises sharply, after which for some time it keeps on indicators of about 37.2.

Technical details

So, let's get down to practice. You will need a notebook in a box, a pen and a thermometer, preferably digital, and not mercury, so as not to be afraid of sleep by accidentally breaking it. Prepare the coordinate axes in advance. The day of the cycle is plotted on the horizontal axis. Here there are nuances. Countdown should be conducted from the first day of menstruation. Taking it as a starting point, you will create the most accurate schedule. On one axis, you will postpone your measurements every day. It is important to keep the accuracy to 0.1 degrees.

What allows you to see the graph

Basal temperature should be reported daily. Leave just one day, and reliable information will not work. In a couple of months it will be necessary to determine reliably:

• The time of ovulation. Most often they are interested in those who are planning to conceive for a long time, but for different reasons this does not happen. When referring to a doctor, the first recommendation is the construction of a graph.
• With the help of such material, an experienced specialist can understand what causes the imbalance. In addition, he will need ultrasound and laboratory tests.
• The onset of pregnancy. Basal temperature during pregnancy in early terms demonstrates stable stability. Not a hint of a drop, as it usually does before the onset of menstruation. Thus, you can find out whether the pregnancy has come.
• Moreover, such a valuable diagnostic material the doctor can use to suspect the endometritis or other formidable disease, which the sooner you reveal, the easier it will be to cure.

The fluctuation of the graph is normal

It is important to be able not only to build, but also to read the schedule correctly. For this, it is not necessary to have a medical education, it is enough to get acquainted with this material. Once again, we draw your attention to the fact that we are talking about the indicators of a healthy woman, any diseases can distort information.

From the first day of the cycle, BT decreases. From the index of 37.2 it reaches 36.5. These fluctuations you can easily see on your monthly chart. Approximately to the middle of the cycle, the egg ripens and leaves. It is at this time within 3-4 days that the temperature slowly rises to 37.1-37.3 degrees. It is this lingering, gentle lift that you will see on the vertical axis.

After this comes the most stable period, the line goes on one level throughout the second half of the cycle. The indicators remain at the level of 37.2-37.4. Regular changes are expected 2-3 days before the start of menstruation. Now you fix the indicators that were at the beginning of the cycle (36.9). Basal temperature during pregnancy in early terms remains stably high, this characteristic decrease is not observed.

Waiting for a miracle

Let's once again dwell on how to determine what you are really waiting for the baby. Recall that we are talking about those terms when only the most sensitive tests can correctly diagnose conception. The basal temperature at an early stage, when life is just beginning in you, changes its character. The indicators that were to decrease will remain at the same level as throughout the second half of the cycle. The temperature will remain at the level of 37.2 and throughout the period of the supposed monthly.

Pathological basal temperature

However, it also happens that you can adopt completely different indicators for successful conception. That's why we say that even the best schedule will not replace competent advice of a specialist. The average BT should be kept at 37.2 degrees. In some cases, it is permissible to raise it to the level of 38. However, this is already the upper limit of the norm. If BT has reached such indicators or has risen above, you should immediately consult a doctor.

High basal temperature before menstruation can not only talk about conception, but also suggest the presence of various kinds of inflammatory diseases. But you should not make your own diagnoses yourself. It is better to see a doctor. Do not forget about the likelihood that you can just make incorrect measurements, because of what you get unreliable results.

How correctly to measure temperature to pregnant women

Even after the interesting position of a woman has been confirmed, the doctor can recommend continuing to monitor. Sometimes this is done because on the basis of the examination the gynecologist can only assume the presence of pregnancy, and additional data are required to confirm the diagnosis.

Basal temperature at early stages is very indicative. Analyzing the table, you can see the following patterns:

• The increase in indicators keeps at least 3 days longer than on standard charts. This is the time when, after ovulation, a few days, the temperature remains high.
• If, by reading the graph, you see that the phase of the yellow body lasts more than 18 days.
• In the standard, two-phase graph, you see the third peak.

From the point of view of diagnosis of BT, the first 2 weeks of pregnancy are reliable. After that, the hormonal background changes. Therefore, the basal temperature after the first delay is already very little that will give the patient herself. However, if the doctor asks for further observations, it is worth listening to.

Developments

These are already quite reliable signs of pregnancy. You will soon notice more obvious symptoms that are familiar to every woman. What is the basal temperature in the first trimester? To answer this question, you need to go a little deeper into physiology.

The prepared reader knows well, due to which the BT indicators increase. This is responsible for the hormones, which are designed to prepare the walls of the uterus and fix the fertilized egg. When pregnancy occurs, hormones continue to be produced in large numbers, so the first three months of the schedule will show a practically flat line, at the level of 37.1-37.3. Approximately after 20 weeks of pregnancy, it begins to decline.

Possible causes of decline in BT

Low values are considered if their value is below 37 degrees. This may mean that there are complications of pregnancy. Therefore in this case it is necessary to make measurements for the next day, and if the indicators again are low, then consult a doctor. In addition, it is recommended to make additional measurements during the day and compare them with the morning indicators.

If doctors diagnose a low level of progesterone, then the woman is hospitalized for preservation. Sometimes a decrease in BT indicates fetal fading. In this case, the yellow body ceases to perform its functions. However, only on the basis of the schedule can not be diagnosed, because sometimes and in the presence of a frozen pregnancy, the temperature remains high. This again emphasizes the fact that any data should be analyzed by a specialist, by checking them with the results of the examination and by laboratory tests.

Instead of concluding

If you want to better know your body and understand the processes that are taking place in it, we advise every woman to take a measurement of BT. Only 4-5 months of regular measurements will give you the richest material on the basis of which you can plan a future pregnancy or avoid it more effectively.