Basal temperature...

Basal Temperature Body Chart: The basal body temperature is the temperature of the body at rest. The most accurate basal temperature can be obtained in the morning before getting up from the bed and before doing any work. A special thermometer called the basal body temperature thermometer is used to record the basal body temperatures to the tenth degree and is the most precise thermometer. This charting technique uses the waking body temperature, the cervical fluid and the cervical position to pinpoint the most fertile times during a woman's monthly cycle. The intercourses during these peak days enhance the chances of the pregnancy. The charting is also used to detect the early signs of pregnancy, alert the hormonal imbalance and even indicate the possible miscarriage. The charting is a regular process. The resources required are a graph paper, a pen or pencil, a watch or clock preferably digital and a BBT thermometer. It is the first thing in the morning to be done even without moving a muscle. The temperature should be taken as directed and recorded immediately on the graph under the day’s date. To be accurate, the temperature must be taken at the same time every day. The temperature fluctuations can be seen by connecting the dots from day to day recording over a period of each cycle. The first day of the period is treated as the day one of the cycle. The patterns can be analyzed later over a period of several cycles.

Basal Temperature and Pregnancy: There are two hormones which are actively involved in the monthly menstrual cycles. During the first half of the cycle or the follicular phase, the hormone estrogen is active. It is a cool hormone and helps the ovaries to produce an egg that is released during ovulation. The body temperature will be marginally lower than the normal. During the second half of the cycle or the luteal phase, the hormone progesterone dominates until it falls in the anticipation of the menstrual period. As progesterone is a warm hormone, there is a sudden increase in the temperature after ovulation. Typically, the pre-ovulation temperatures range from 97.0 to 97.6 and the post-ovulation temperatures will be above 97.7. So, right before ovulation, there will be a slight drop in temperature followed by a sharp rise in temperature. When the drop in the temperature or low temperature is observed, it is the time to start having the intercourse to conceive pregnancy.

Basal Temperature and Ovulation: The basal temperature chart will show when the woman has ovulated, but does not predict the ovulation. It is assumed that every woman ovulates on the 14th day of her cycle. But, a woman's normal pattern has the ovulation on the 10th or the 21st day. The normal ovulation schedule can be easily tracked through the chart.

Free Basal Temperature: To record a range of temperatures along the days of the cycle, a graph is required. There are sample graphs which can be enlarged and duplicated, available with most of the digital base thermometers. The type of the chart used is a matter of personal preference. There are many free sample charts and blank charts available online. Even there are many websites offering the software which allows the posting of the daily temperatures. The same can be downloaded freely from www.fertilityfriend.com.