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| The Basal Body Temperature Method |  One of the changes, which occur in a woman’s body during her ovulation, is a slight temperature rise. Thus, the temperature is somewhat lower during the first part of the menstrual cycle, and as the ovulation comes, it rises a bit and remains so during the second part up until just the menstruation begins. The Basal Body Temperature Method of Fertility Awareness consists of recording every day’s temperature, which helps to indicate the day when ovulation takes place.
The application of the Basal Body Temperature Method requires charting woman’s basal body temperature (BBT), which stands for the temperature the human body registers when a person is completely at rest. It is necessary to keep in mind that everyone has his or her own basal body temperature, which varies slightly from person to person, though in average for most healthy women it ranges between 96 – 98 degrees F, before ovulation and between 97 – 99 degrees F after the ovulation occurs. Because the changes are small fractions from 1/10 to ½ degree, it would be advisable to get a special large – scale, easy – to – read basal thermometer, which registers only from 96 to 100 degrees F.
Taking the Basal Body Temperature
It should be mentioned, that this method of Natural Family Planning is considered somewhat more complicated, in comparison with other Fertility Awareness Methods, because it requires a bit more effort and quite a few more rules, in addition, there is a necessity to obtain or create a chart where the daily temperature will be recorded, though as only a woman understands how to apply it correctly, it will not take more than five minutes of her morning time. As for these charts, they are possible to be found free by doing a mere online search, or every woman can simply make one by herself simply by photocopying it from a book. Usually temperature on the graph runs from 97 to 99 degrees, and there is a mark on every tenth of a degree in between. As a woman will take and record her basal body temperature, she should follow the following rules:
• The basal body temperature is to be taken every morning before a woman gets out of her bed. It is to be the first thing a woman does when she wakes up, as the temperature is to be measured BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE IS DONE;
• If a mercury thermometer is used for the temperature measurement, it is to be shaken down the night before and placed it on the woman’s nightstand. It is necessary to do so, because shaking the thermometer down in the morning can elevate the temperature of the body;
• The basal body temperature should be measured with a special thermometer, which is designed for this very purpose, because a usual thermometer, which is made to detect fever, may not be sensitive enough. Such a special thermometer is possible to find at any drugstore or order online. And, of course, ear thermometers should never be used, as they are much less accurate, even in comparison with the usual ones.
• The basal body temperature is to be taken by either way: orally or vaginally, however, a woman is to be sure of using the same route every time;
• The basal body temperature is to be taken at the same time every day. In case if a woman sleeps in, her temperature will tend to rise about one tenth of a degree for every half hour she sleeps past her normal waking up time;
• The basal body temperature is to be taken in at least three hours of sleep. In case if a woman gets out of bed an hour before her alarm goes off in the morning, to use the bathroom, for example, then her temperature gets falsely elevated. This is why it would be better to record the basal body temperature a bit early, if it happened so, rather than checking it after a woman has already got up.
Charting The Basal Body Temperature Pattern
Every morning the woman, who decides to apply this method of Fertility Awareness, is to record her morning Basal Body Temperature, and plot it on the graph. Then, when the temperature is plotted, she will be able to learn to recognize her own temperature pattern. It is possible that the temperature rise may be sudden, gradual, as well as in steps. Moreover, it is also possible that the pattern may be different from one menstrual cycle to another.
It is also necessary to realize for every woman, that there are many physical and / or emotional factors, which can influence the woman’s Basal Body Temperature, just as well as disturbed sleep, drinking an unaccustomed amount of alcohol the previous night, emotional distress, illness, jet lag, smoking, using an electric blanket, may influence the Basal Body Temperature. In case if the woman will make notes of any event like these, then it will be easier for her to interpret the readings correctly.
When a woman decided to try to apply the Basal Body Temperature Method, she should better get help in reading her BBT chart from her physician, gynecologist, nurse or family planning specialist. As the time goes, under supervision, she will gain all the necessary knowledge and confidence to use the chart by herself. Anyway, it is necessary to make sure to chart her Basal Body Temperature for at least as long as three months before she can rely on this Natural Family Planning Method.
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