Basil Body Temperature and Ovulation

Many women who are trying to conceive use the Basil Body Temperature (BBT) method to help them determine when they are ovulating. This helps them detect when they are most fertile thereby optimizing their chances for getting pregnant.

Basil body temperature is the temperature of the body when it is at rest. For the most accurate results temperature should be taken first thing in the morning after waking up. This means before getting out bed, eating, drinking or using the bathroom. A digital thermometer should be used because change in temperature can be slight, measured in tenth of degrees. There is even a basil body temperature thermometer available that is very precise in measuring BBT. For successful measurement of basil body temperature and prediction of ovulation a woman should do the following:

• Become familiar with the different phases of the menstrual cycle.
• Take her temperature first thing in the morning, at the same time every morning.
• Take her temperature the same way each time. It doesn’t matter if it is oral, vaginal or rectal, as long as it is consistent.
• Do not eat, drink or smoke before taking her temperature.
• Record her temperature on a BBT chart.
• Start on day one of the menstrual cycle, which is the first day of bleeding. Day one of the menstrual cycle is day one on the BBT chart.
• Know what to look for to determine ovulation.

When a woman is in phase one of her menstrual cycle, the follicular stage, her BBT tends to run low. As she gets closer to ovulation her BBT will decrease and then there will be a sharp increase. After ovulation temperature will remain higher, usually by .4 degrees.

It may take a couple of months of charting BBT to get the hang of it and understand when ovulation is about to happen. Once that is understood, a woman should start to have intercourse when her temperature drops just prior to ovulation. She should continue to have intercourse at least once day every other day for the next five days. This will optimize her chances of getting pregnant.

The relationship between basil body temperature and ovulation can be confusing. However, with a little effort and commitment to tracking BBT, it can be understood and a useful tool to help with achieving pregnancy.