Basal Body Temperature Charts

When treating infertility in my practice, I will give most patients a Basal Body Temperature chart, which they are advised to use to record their morning body temperature, along with other relevant information, on a daily basis. Through this, trends can be identified, from which other information relating to ovulation and hormonal balance can be discerned. Although the BBT has, to a large extent, been superseded by advancements in medical technology, it remains a simple, practical and effective means of attaining such information.

In using a BBT, patients record their body temperature on a daily basis, plotting a point indicating this on the corresponding day. Through joining the points using a continuous, patients will begin to notice clearly identifiable trends that repeat themselves in a cyclical manner. Ovulation is identified as being followed by a marked spike in temperature. Patients are most fertile 2-3 days before they ovulate, and for about 12-24 hours after ovulation. Through determining ovulation, patients may use the 'three over six rule' - as soon as three consecutive temperatures, all of which are above the previous six, are recorded, the patient has entered an infertile phase. Through use of the BBT, the patient and doctor can, over time, begin to identify the nature of such trends, providing both with highly useful information on ovulation and fertility.