What is a Basal Body Temperature?
BBT is the temperature of your body before any activity. Taken every morning, before you get out of bed, before ANY activity, with a basal thermometer, it’s your body’s baseline temp. Most women find that their body temperature is lower during the first part of their cycle. It will usually rise slightly (between 0.4 and 0.8 F) on the day of ovulation. It will usually stay up until just before the start of the next period. If a pregnancy occurs, temps stay up past the day that the next period should begin.
What type of thermometer do I use?
For most women, 96 to 98 degrees taken orally is considered normal before ovulation and 97 to 99 after. The changes are small fractions (from 1/10 to 1/2 degree). To register these small variations accurately, it’s recommended that you use a Basal thermometer. They only register from 96 to 100 degrees F. You can find them online or at your local drug store.
Tips for taking BBT:
Print a BBT chart, purchase a BBT thermometer to keep on your bedside table.
First thing in the morning, before getting out of bed, take your temp. This is important because your basal body temperature will change throughout the day.
Take your temperature at the same time every day after a good night’s rest. If you miss a day, just start up again the next day.
Cycle day 1 is the first day your period starts.
Mark the results on your chart and bring your chart to your appointments!