A woman who wants to get pregnant is looking forward to the coveted positive test.
But how to determine pregnancy if the test does not show its presence? In this case, a graph with basal temperature readings can help, which helps give one hundred percent results if all the rules are followed. Basal temperature in early pregnancy is a fairly reliable and accurate way to determine conception. A pregnancy test is effective only 3-4 weeks after conception, and basal temperature shows it almost immediately.
Therefore, many representatives of the fair sex are interested in how to measure basal temperature to determine pregnancy. This is not easy to do, but the effectiveness of the indicators is worth the time it takes to create a special schedule.
In order to determine signs such as the onset of ovulation, a disorder or change at the hormonal level, as well as the time for conception, it is necessary to measure basal temperature - this is a low temperature indicator that is determined in the body at rest. Basal temperature is measured rectally, vaginally or orally.
How to measure basal temperature to determine pregnancy as correctly as possible?
Before you start keeping a schedule, you need to figure out how it works. A graph of basal temperature during pregnancy, the photo of which is a scale with temperature indicators, will be most reliable if you comply with a number of important requirements when measuring it. Any external and internal factors that affect a woman’s life can distort the graph’s indicators, including:
- changes in diet, lifestyle;
- hormonal imbalance;
- bad habits;
- stress;
- change of climate zone or relocation;
- various diseases of internal organs;
- colds and viral diseases.
In addition, constant measurements over several months make it possible to identify possible hormonal abnormalities that prevent pregnancy. This allows you to take timely measures to normalize hormonal levels, which means that the possibility of getting pregnant increases significantly.
So, according to the graph, you can trace the deficiency of estrogen in a woman’s body. It manifests itself in elevated basal temperature values in the period before ovulation. If you see reduced temperature readings on the graph during ovulation, this indicates poor estrogen production. Timely detection of disorders of the reproductive function of a woman’s body allows us to solve problems with conception. In this case, you need to contact a gynecologist and receive adequate treatment.
If the graph contains identical readings that do not change over time, then they indicate the absence of ovulation. In this case, the woman is unable to become pregnant. Based on examination and diagnosis, a gynecologist can give recommendations on how to eliminate disorders that negatively affect a woman’s ability to conceive a child. A graph of basal temperature during pregnancy is not only an excellent opportunity to find out about your pregnancy, but also a reliable way to identify disorders in a woman’s genitourinary function.
Basal temperature in early pregnancy will be most accurate and correct if the measurement is carried out:
- early in the morning, before the woman got out of bed;
- at the same time, and the error between daily measurements should not exceed half an hour;
- at the same measurement location, so you need to select one measurement method in advance, for example, orally or vaginally.
In order not to get out of bed in the morning, you need to put a thermometer so that it is always at hand. In this case, the duration of sleep should be at least 5 hours a day. This means that getting out of bed at night to drink water is undesirable, since the readings will be distorted. To get the correct readings, in this case you need to take them after waking up for the first time during the night.
If you are interested in the question of what the basal temperature should be during pregnancy in the first few weeks, then this indicator varies between 37.1o C - 37.2o C. These indicators may change if the woman took alcoholic drinks the day before or had sexual intercourse , suffered from insomnia or suffered from any illness, including colds, acute respiratory infections.
Also, basal temperature readings are significantly affected by taking hormonal medications, so the graph will be uninformative. Any factor can distort the data, so if you want to get accurate information, you need to exclude all factors that affect hormonal levels.
Each measurement method has several nuances. For example, when introducing a thermometer orally, it must be kept under the tongue for at least 4-5 minutes. If the temperature is measured rectally, then the thermometer must be inserted 5 centimeters into the rectum, and it must be lubricated. With the vaginal method, you need to insert the thermometer halfway into the vagina. A regular thermometer should be held for 5-8 minutes, and an electronic thermometer should be held for at least 10-15 seconds or until the signal.
Methods for recognizing signs of pregnancy without taking a test
All sexually mature women experience swelling of the mammary glands from time to time. But if in one case this may indicate the onset of the menstrual cycle, then in the second case it indicates pregnancy itself. Sometimes it is difficult to understand the difference, but the symptoms are extremely similar and equally painful. In addition, the breasts may increase in size and a feeling of heaviness appears. But, of course, every girl at least once thought about how to check pregnancy without a test.
In addition, an important point is the changes in terms of preferences in . If foods that were previously preferred suddenly at some point began to cause disgust, or, conversely, some foods that were previously not tolerable began to be liked, then this is a reason to think about the likelihood of pregnancy.
This is a very common sign that a woman is in an interesting position, and you should also pay attention to your attitude to certain smells. At a time when a woman is in the period of position, the perception is heightened and can radically change the attitude towards certain odors.
Another very common one, which can most likely indicate pregnancy, is that a woman regularly experiences strong vomiting in the morning. These symptoms occur mainly in the morning. This usually happens in the first months of pregnancy and is explained as the development of early toxicosis. Nausea and vomiting are normal and typical signs of pregnancy.
If a woman previously known for her calm and polite character suddenly becomes aggressive, vulnerable and susceptible to everything, then this is a significant sign to think about the likelihood of an interesting situation. This syndrome is inherent in most cases and is difficult to cope with. It is almost impossible to control yourself during this period; this is due to changes at the hormonal level.
Basal temperature during early pregnancy: indications and definition
To determine the onset of ovulation, temperature measurement must begin at the beginning of menstruation. On the 4th day after the onset of menstruation, the basal temperature is within the range of 36.4 o C - 36.8 o C. Such indicators indicate that all the necessary conditions are present for the maturation of the egg.
The period that lasts before the onset of ovulation is characterized by a decrease in temperature, and during ovulation it sharply jumps to 37.4 o C. This is due to the fact that during pregnancy there is an increased production of progesterone, which ensures the full and normal growth and development of the egg . At the same time, progesterone increases basal temperature, which suggests pregnancy.
Pregnant basal temperature charts are characterized by an increase in temperature during and after ovulation; if conception does not occur, then the readings begin to decrease. In this case, progesterone will begin to be produced in smaller quantities and will reduce the basal temperature on the graph to a minimum value, which will be observed until the next menstruation.
It helps determine the onset of pregnancy before a missed period. If, after measuring your basal temperature during ovulation, you find elevated readings that remain stable over the next two weeks, then you can be congratulated on your pregnancy.
How to correctly chart your basal temperature?
First, you need to figure out what data is needed for the graph. To obtain reliable information, the following data is required:
- day of the start of the cycle;
- date of measurement day;
- reading of the thermometer used to measure basal temperature;
- the presence of discharge, as well as its nature;
- a list of provoking factors that could change the indications.
Basal temperature during pregnancy should be elevated before the delay. At the same time, you can track its growth using a special graph, which reflects all the data and indicators. To compose it correctly, you should adhere to clear rules.
So, while maintaining a schedule, a woman’s vaginal discharge may change. For example, they can be bloody, viscous or mucous, yellowish, or completely absent. Taking notes on the nature of the discharge is necessary so that the full picture is presented. So, during ovulation, a woman experiences watery vaginal discharge.
In addition, when drawing up a graph, you need to note all the factors that can change the temperature. If a woman did not sleep well or had sexual intercourse immediately before measuring her temperature, then such moments must be reflected on the graph. At the same time, the basal temperature during the day during pregnancy is unreliable, since the measurement must be carried out in the morning, before the woman gets out of bed.
Making a schedule is not difficult, the main thing is to do it correctly. All you need to draw up is a sheet of paper on which you need to mark two lines: vertical and horizontal. This creates a coordinate axis. The first axis indicates the days of the menstrual cycle, and the other indicates the degree of basal temperature. Degrees are indicated based on the calculation - 1 cell of the sheet is equal to 0.1 o C. On the sheet with the graph, you need to indicate the measurements obtained daily.
To obtain the most reliable and correct information, the schedule must be maintained for at least 2-3 months; if necessary, this period can be extended. This will help to understand whether there are any deviations in the woman’s health and how the nature of basal temperature and discharge changes.
What do you need to know to make a schedule correctly? Firstly, a healthy woman has a menstrual cycle of 21-35 days. If it is shorter or longer than the specified norm, then this is a good reason to consult a gynecologist, since a woman may have ovarian dysfunction or other disorders of the genitourinary system or diseases.
The graph reflects the onset of ovulation, which divides it into two phases. In this case, the middle of the graph is ovulation. The most optimal time for conceiving a child is the day of ovulation and a few days after it. There are situations when, during the preovular period, the value does not decrease before ovulation, but increases. There is no need to worry about this, as this phenomenon is normal. Most likely, ovulation has already occurred.
Do you want to know what the basal temperature is during pregnancy? Each woman is individual and has her own menstrual cycle, so these values can be observed within the range of 37.1o C - 37.3o C. In this case, you need to pay attention to the difference in basal temperature between the phases. If it exceeds 0.4o C, then these elevated values indicate a hormonal imbalance. Therefore, you need to take a blood test to measure the level of progesterone and estrogen, which will help identify the cause of the deviation, and therefore increase the chances of conception.
Basal temperature during frozen pregnancy
Frozen pregnancy is extremely rare. But such a phenomenon does happen. If you trace the readings of the graph in the early stages, then there are significant visual differences between a normal and frozen pregnancy. So, when the development of the embryo stops, the level of progesterone decreases, which means that the basal temperature will be significantly reduced. If it drops to 36.9o C or lower, then this indicates a frozen pregnancy.
It can occur due to many unfavorable factors, including:
- the presence of infectious diseases of the genitourinary system;
- hormonal imbalance, which causes progesterone levels to decrease;
- increased production of male hormones;
- stress;
- bad habits;
- in vitro fertilization.
A slight decrease in values in the range of 0.1-0.3o C, the absence of other symptoms of a frozen pregnancy, indicates an insufficient amount of progesterone, as well as a possible threat of miscarriage. In this case, it is better to visit your local gynecologist and dispel your doubts. If necessary, the doctor prescribes medications that help strengthen hormonal levels.
Thus, basal temperature and its tracking allows us to identify not only the presence of pregnancy, but also possible disorders in a woman’s health. It is especially necessary to keep a schedule for those women who have not been able to conceive a child for a long time, as it will help to identify disorders in the genitourinary system. The only condition is the correct and accurate maintenance of the schedule.
More than just a thermometer
A thermometer is an indispensable tool for monitoring the health of the body and the condition of a woman. With its help, you can not only measure body temperature, but also protect yourself, plan and determine pregnancy. True, for this it will be necessary to monitor the basal temperature for several months.
What you need to prepare for:
- pen or pencil
- piece of paper or notepad
- thermometer, mercury or electronic
Basal temperature is measured in the vagina or rectum. For a more accurate result, a thermometer, mercury or electronic, should be kept at the measurement site for about five minutes
