Brian Kwon Acupuncture Basal body temperature is a person’s lowest body temperature at rest on a given day. It is usually measured in the morning when you wake up before any activities begin. Why is basal body temperature important for fertility?
Basal body temperature can help you to determine:
- Whether ovulation has started
- When ovulation has started
- When your period cycle is likely to start
- Whether the cycle is delayed or you are pregnant
- How well the ovary functions
The key information you can gather using basal body temperature is whether you are in the ovulation phase. Women’s body temperature usually changes by the 2 week interval. Most women’s basal body temperature is between 97 and 97.5 degrees Fahrenheit before ovulation. Once the ovulation phase begins, it may go up by a 0.5 degree F (or 0.3C) or less and would stay at the higher temperature for about 2 weeks.
If you end up not being pregnant, your basal body temperature will start to fall off and your period cycle will begin. If your basal body temperature stays high for more than 2 weeks, you are likely pregnant.
A digital oral thermometer (placed underneath your tongue) can be used for measuring basal body temperature. You could place it underneath or next to your bed and measure your body temperature when you wake up before starting your activities. Just be sure to use the same method each time and close to the same time every day.
