How to use basal temperature to track ovulation

Basal Body Temperature can be used as a natural method for predicting ovulation, writes HANNAH CHIRA

Knowing the exact time you are ovulating so you can time sex accordingly is key to getting pregnant. Considering that there are many ways, and even kits manufactured and sold to help you predict the time of your ovulation, there exists a natural and free way to get a sense of your ovulation cycle. That is by charting your Basal Body Temperature (BBT).

BBT is your lowest body temperature of the day and it is best taken when you first wake up in the morning. This temperature should be taken before you get out of bed to brush your teeth or start your day.

Using a basal thermometer (the thermometer that shows the vey tiny degree changes that a regular one cannot), take your temperature (in the mouth). It is important that you take this temperature at the same time each morning.

Usually, before ovulation, your BBT ranges from 36.22 to about 36.5 degrees. Two or three days after you ovulate, hormonal changes cause a rise of 0.4 to 1.0 degree in you BBT, which lasts until your next period.

Remember that you may notice your temperature rising on erratically some days, but unless it stays up, you probably have not yet ovulated.

Your temperature will stay elevated when you become pregnant and throughout your pregnancy.

Perfect timing

Take and chart your BBT and after two to three months, you will be able to determine the pattern of your cycle, hence be able to predict ovulation and the best days to have procreative sex. Usually, try this four months before you start trying to conceive.

When you determine your ovulation, have intercourse within 24 hours of ovulation when the ripened egg is released from the ovary.

Keep in mind that if you’re sick or don’t take your temperature immediately after waking up, any pattern that you find may be inaccurate.

In addition to helping you predict the day of ovulation, BBT charts are important in helping shed some light on infertility issues. If certain phases of your cycle are short, you may have a hormonal imbalance, for example.