Is it possible to measure basal temperature in the evening. When is the best time to measure basal body temperature?

Measurement of basal temperature strictly at the beginning of the day helps a woman, in combination with medical methods of examination and observation, to control the process of embryo development at the initial stage of pregnancy in order to avoid various pathologies, the threat of miscarriage, and fetal fading.

Meanwhile, even at the stage of pregnancy planning, changes in basal temperature, with a certain degree of accuracy indicating the process of ovulation, will tell the woman the most. Usually this is an indicator of 37.2 degrees. The basal method is also quite informative for a woman to independently determine the onset of pregnancy in the first weeks, provided there are no hormonal disruptions and a stable menstrual cycle.

What should be the basal temperature in the first days of pregnancy

In fact, there is no rigid formula that allows you to answer the question on which day of pregnancy the basal temperature rises, and to draw an unambiguous conclusion about conception from this. The approach requires long-term observations and their systematization.

After ovulation, which occurs approximately in the middle of the menstrual cycle, the basal temperature will be kept at a fairly high level characteristic of "critical" days, ranging from 37 to 37.5 degrees for 8-10 days. After that, for about a day, a noticeable drop in numbers is recorded, which, in the case of pregnancy, may indicate the process of fixing a fertilized egg in the uterus. Further, the basal temperature will again return to its previous values. If after that the elevated level persists for another two to three weeks, this may be the basis for the assumption of a pregnancy. It is better to confirm your conclusions with a test.

How many days does basal temperature last during pregnancy

Experts believe that it is advisable for a pregnant woman to continue measuring the basal temperature for about three to four months. Then the hormonal background in connection with the processes taking place in the body of the expectant mother changes, and observations of temperature changes lose their diagnostic meaning. For the same reasons, it is considered inappropriate to measure basal temperature during the day or with a spread throughout the day. Due to the change in activity, and, accordingly, noticeable temperature fluctuations of the whole organism, the results will be unreliable, “blurred”. The informativeness of measurements of basal temperature during pregnancy is effective only in the case of a systematic approach to this issue, in compliance with the conditions recommended by specialists.

How to measure basal temperature during pregnancy

  • Temperature measurement must be done at rest, immediately after waking up, preceded by at least 4-6 hours of sleep.
  • You should worry about the thermometer in advance. It should lie nearby, in its original state, so that even the slightest effort does not increase the internal energy of the body.
  • Measurements should be taken at the same time of day, with an error of no more than an hour, within 10 minutes.
  • It is better to measure the temperature lying down by inserting a lubricated thermometer into the anus.
  • Based on the measurement results, a graph is drawn up. Basal readings are plotted on one axis, date is plotted on the other.

The results will help evaluate the observing gynecologist. If in the indicated period up to 16-20 weeks there are obvious dips below 37 degrees, or bursts up to 38 degrees, this should alert the pregnant woman. Such temperature fluctuations may indicate a threat of pathologies, up to fetal fading or inflammatory processes, which is also extremely dangerous for the unborn baby. In any case, you should contact the supervising doctor.

Methodical measurements of basal temperature can only be regarded as an additional means of monitoring the course of pregnancy and maintaining the health of the unborn baby.

Not all women manage to get pregnant quickly after getting married. And the test can not always show the fact of conception in the early stages. One hundred percent readings can be given almost immediately by measuring the temperature in a certain way. How to measure basal temperature to determine pregnancy and will be discussed today.

For the sake of the effectiveness of the indicators, you will have to spend time on drawing up a certain schedule. Basal temperature (BT) also shows the onset of ovulation and various hormonal changes. It is measured at rest by methods such as rectal, vaginal, or oral.

First you need to understand the mechanism of the graph (scale with temperature indicators).

These numbers are influenced by many factors, such as drastic changes in diet or lifestyle, but not only:

  • deviations in hormonal levels;
  • if you smoke or abuse alcohol;
  • being in constant stress;
  • change of residence or change of climate zone;
  • pathologies of internal organs and colds.

Important: with constant temperature measurement, it is possible to detect a problem at the level of hormones that prevent pregnancy, and accordingly, promptly take measures to restore it.

To obtain the most reliable indicators, it is necessary to measure correctly - in the morning immediately after waking up, without getting out of bed. Every day, these manipulations should be carried out at the same time - an allowable error of 30 minutes. And one more rule - to carry out measurements in one of the three chosen ways, that is, if you did it orally on the first day, then all subsequent days should be carried out only in this way.

What thermometer to use

If we talk about a thermometer for such measurements, then any one is suitable - digital or mercury. If we compare them, then a mercury thermometer gives more accurate information, but a digital one (the error is 0.2-0.3 degrees) is more convenient to use.

You will receive complete information when measuring basal temperature for 3-4 cycles.

How long to measure

It is not advisable to get out of bed at night for any needs - the measurement is done after you wake up and immediately. If this happened at night, then you are measuring at this moment. But remember that the next day you will need to wake up at about the same time, otherwise the information will be distorted.

The measurement time depends on the selected measurement method:

  • by oral 4 to 5 minutes under the tongue;
  • rectal up to 8 minutes by inserting a thermometer into the rectum by 5 cm;
  • vaginal mercury lasts up to 8 minutes;
  • electronic 10-15 seconds or until the signal, entering the vagina halfway.

Perhaps you are interested in the question - is it possible to measure the basal temperature in the evening? It is better not to do this, since at this time of day the indicators are always higher than in the morning. With constant nighttime wakefulness, measure BBT during the day immediately after waking up, but sleep should last at least 5 hours in a row.

What the measured values ​​show

Regularly measured BBT allows you to know how the level of hormones fluctuates throughout the cycle, how it deviates, shows the day of ovulation and conception. The basal temperature chart also helps to identify the reason for the delay in menstruation.

With the help of such measurements, it is possible to identify disorders in the body due to a malfunction in the hormonal system. If you are protected by the calendar method, then this method is also shown. It is also possible to plan the gender of the unborn child if BT data is used. With unsuccessful attempts to get pregnant and if infertility is suspected, a similar method can help.

How to chart your basal temperature

Basal temperature is an indicator recorded at rest, which is not affected by external factors, heat, stress, and so on. The results are taken every day in the morning after at least 6 hours of sleep. It is best to do this rectally, which will give the most reliable indicators.

Bring down the thermometer to 34-35 degrees and insert into the anus at the required distance. After the specified time, remove it, and write the result in a notebook, making notes about existing violations, for example, alcohol taken the day before, bad sleep, and so on. And so every morning.

In the first phase of the cycle, the temperature will be from 36.4 to 36.6 degrees. Ovulation raises this level to 36.9-37.1. The day of ovulation, or when the temperature drops, is the most favorable for conception. If the temperature is too high or low, we can talk about existing violations, to identify which you need to contact a gynecologist.

It will be possible to talk about accurate diagnostics after temperature measurements for three cycles in a row.

Important: drinking in the evening before measuring alcohol affects the results. Certain medications work the same way.

And if you drink hormonal contraceptives, then such manipulations are generally meaningless, since any useful information will be missing.

Early indications and definitions

An important hormone for attaching a fertilized egg to the uterine wall is progesterone, and it is most abundant during ovulation. It is thanks to this process that BT in the early stages of pregnancy reaches values ​​from 37 to 37.3 degrees.

BT during pregnancy: norm and deviations

The above figures will indicate the normal development of the process. Although it happens that the temperature reaches up to 38 degrees, which is explained by the individual characteristics of the woman's body. But just in case, with such indicators, you need to visit a doctor.

The determination of BT is also carried out in the morning after waking up at the same time. Eating, emotional overload or physical, greatly affects the basal temperature, which is why it makes no sense to do this in the afternoon or evening.

If there is a low temperature in phase 2, then there is a risk of miscarriage. Similar indicators in a non-pregnant woman will indicate possible infertility.

An appeal to a specialist will be required if the numbers are less than 37 degrees or more than 38. In the first case, this is a lack of progesterone, which is dangerous for the baby, and in the second, the development of some kind of inflammatory process.

Diagnosis of pathologies using BT

There are a number of diseases that directly affect the BT schedule, for example, with endometritis, the temperature rises to 37 degrees, keeping it that way even when menstruation occurs.

Adnexitis will also show an elevated temperature for several days in a row, then returning to normal values. The same result indicates the inability of the egg to fertilize.

Jumps in indicators when measuring BT will indicate the death of the egg due to stress, the use of pharmaceutical drugs or other factors.

If menstruation does not occur on time and BBT is reduced, then most likely it is ovarian dysfunction, to confirm which you will need to visit a gynecologist and undergo additional examinations.

Elevated temperatures in the proliferative phase mean a lack of estrogens, and low progesterone and corpus luteum.

Indicators for a frozen pregnancy

Unfortunately, pregnancy does not always end in childbirth, miscarriages, premature births and missed abortions occur. This happens in 15% of women, which is difficult to determine. It can occur at any stage of pregnancy, but most often during the initial period, up to 13 weeks.

And it is the measurement of basal temperature (low rates) that helps to see this process in a timely manner, when it can still be prevented. The causes of this condition can be infectious diseases and the endocrine system, disruptions in hormonal levels, alcohol and nicotine abuse, as well as age after 30 years.

It happens that the basal temperature is kept at 37 degrees, and the development of a missed pregnancy has begun. This can be judged then by the sharp disappearance of all symptoms - suddenly the toxicosis disappeared, the chest does not hurt, you began to look at any food normally without any special changes. In this case, the lower abdomen may begin to hurt and blood may appear in the secretions. All this should force you to immediately consult a doctor.

If nothing can be done and the pregnancy has stopped, then the only treatment is an abortion, if the period is long, then curettage. Before the next fertilization after such procedures, it is necessary to wait six months, which will allow you to fully recover and conceive safely.

Regular and correct measurement of basal temperature will not only help you get pregnant, but also identify various abnormalities in your body. Health to you and your loved ones!

Basal body temperature, abbreviated as BBT, is a very important indicator, by observing which a woman can find out about the onset of ovulation, pregnancy, and the presence of health problems. Some representatives of the fair sex determine BTT in order to calculate the days of abstinence if they do not want to use contraceptives, while others determine the favorable days for conceiving a baby. Now we will talk in detail about how to measure basal temperature correctly.

Basal temperature is determined in the morning immediately after waking up. You don't need to get out of bed. It is advisable to prepare a thermometer for measurement in the evening and put it next to your bed. The slightest movement, moving around the room can affect the indicator. Measurements should be taken daily at the same time for several months.

For those who do not know how to measure basal temperature at home, it is worth noting that it is very simple to do this. It is enough to insert a thermometer into the rectum, into the vagina or into the mouth.

The first option is the most preferred. If there is no desire to measure BBT in the rectum, then you can use other methods, but here you need to remember that they are less accurate. In addition, you cannot determine the indicator in different ways on different days. Under the arm, BBT is not measured.

In order for the readings to be correct, it is recommended to refuse to take alcoholic beverages, it is worth avoiding stressful situations. Basal temperature can be inaccurate due to various diseases, insomnia, frequent flights and moves, sexual contact that occurred a few hours before waking up.

When taking oral contraceptives, it makes no sense to think at all about where it is better to measure basal temperature. Its level is set by drugs. In women who use pills, the hormonal background does not change much.

That is why the basal temperature on any day is almost the same. There may be slight ups and downs, but there are no peaks characteristic of ovulation.

What thermometer to measure basal temperature?

To determine the basal temperature, a conventional mercury thermometer is used. You can also use electronic, but it shows the temperature with small errors. When measuring an indicator, accuracy is very important.

Features of scheduling BTT

It is necessary to start measuring basal body temperature from the first day of the menstrual cycle. The results obtained should be recorded daily. It is also necessary to indicate the factors that could affect the numerical indicator (whether alcohol was consumed or not, whether you had to get into stressful situations, whether a high physical load was transferred, etc.).

It is recommended to note the nature of the discharge (viscous, bloody, yellowish, watery, etc.). Using the results obtained, you can make a graph from which it will be clearly seen whether the day of ovulation is approaching or not.

Drawing a graph is easy. To do this, follow simple steps:

  • prepare a piece of paper (preferably in a cage);
  • draw 2 perpendicular lines (horizontal and vertical axes);
  • on the horizontal beam indicate the days of the menstrual cycle;
  • mark the degrees on the vertical axis.

It is necessary to measure basal temperature no more than 5 minutes. This time is enough to accurately determine the indicator and understand what processes are taking place in the body.

Every day, a corresponding mark is placed in the graph - the result obtained is noted as a dot opposite the day of the cycle and degrees. Then all marks are connected by a line. To notice a pattern in temperature changes, it must be measured over 3 menstrual cycles.

BTT during and after menstruation

It is necessary to measure the basal temperature every day, even during menstruation. What should it be on critical days? This indicator is individual for each woman. However, there are average values ​​that are typical for all the fair sex.

Normal basal temperature during menstruation is 37 ° C. At the end of critical days, it drops to 36.4 degrees. Such a drop is explained by the fact that the hormonal background changes in the woman's body - the level of progesterone decreases and the number of estrogens increases.

After menstruation, the basal temperature is 36.4-36.6 degrees. In the middle of the cycle, before ovulation, the value of the indicator decreases sharply. During the release of a mature egg from the ovary, the basal temperature increases by 0.5-0.6 degrees. It is the rise after the fall that indicates that ovulation has occurred.

In the second half of the menstrual cycle, BBT is usually slightly above 37 degrees. Before menstruation, the value of the indicator decreases (by 0.3 degrees). Recession is a sign of approaching critical days.

If you measure basal temperature to determine pregnancy, you need to learn how to analyze the graph. This is done very simply. The indicator is measured every day, recorded and marked on the graph.

If there is no decrease in temperature before menstruation, then the woman may be pregnant. In some cases, the fair sex does not observe ups and downs at all. This may be a sign that ovulation is not occurring and the woman is infertile.

If there is a delay in menstruation, and the numerical indicator is not normal and too low, then there may be a risk of spontaneous miscarriage. If, during menstruation, BBT continues to grow after a fall, then this is a sign of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the uterine cavity.

As you can see, every health-conscious woman needs to know how to measure basal temperature in the rectum. Measuring BBT and plotting is a simple procedure. ITS is recommended in the following situations: attempts to conceive a child fail, there is a suspicion of health problems (hormonal disorders, infertility), there is a desire to increase your chances of pregnancy. The main thing is to do this regularly, and you will have accurate data on the state of the reproductive system.

It is incorrect to measure basal temperature in the evening. Yet some women are interested in what the basal temperature is in the evening.

Is basal temperature measured in the evening or during the day? Of course, in the evening you can measure the basal temperature. It is known that the basal temperature rises in the evening. Since this indicator is reliable only at rest, the evening measurement, when the woman is awake, will not give any accurate result. The basal temperature in the morning and evening is very different, and the difference between one indicator and another can be a whole degree. And for medicine and, in particular, for gynecological observations, such discrepancies are very significant.

Women should remember that the temperature inside the body is measured daily. And this should be done in the morning, when the body is most relaxed. the temperature will then be displayed most accurately.

Why is basal body temperature higher in the evening than in the morning? This is due to the fact that during the day a woman leads an active lifestyle, works, moves, which increases metabolic processes inside the body, which are reflected in an increase in basal temperature. Moreover, the temperature increase can be different depending on physical exertion, emotional state, stress on the digestive system. All these moments lead to the fact that there is a difference in basal temperature in the morning and evening. Due to the complete non-informativeness of evening measurements, it is not recommended to measure basal temperature in the evening before menstruation.

Attention should be paid to such aspects of measurement.

  1. Sleep should be at least 6 hours.
  2. The thermometer should be inserted into the anus. Here the temperature parameters will be the most correct. You can also measure the temperature in the armpit or in the mouth (about half a degree higher in the mouth than when measuring in the armpit).
  3. The measurement should take at least 5 minutes. Moreover, the method of change should always be the same.
  4. You do not need to take oral contraceptives in the process of monitoring BBT indicators.
  5. It is best to bring down the thermometer in the evening in order to take it already prepared in the morning.

Is it possible to measure basal temperature in the evening?

This, of course, can be done, but at the same time, her readings will differ significantly from those received in the morning. And if in the evening the basal temperature is 37, this still does not mean anything: in the morning it may be lower. The same happens in a situation where the basal temperature in the evening is 37 5: in most cases this can be just a certain variant of the norm: at this time of day it is already high.

Women should remember that at about five to seven o'clock in the evening, the temperature in the body is the highest. That is why all measuring procedures are done only in the morning, and on their basis, doctors determine the diagnosis.

The same can be said about the measurement of BT during the day: at this time, all parameters of the body's activity are the highest. This means that the temperature will be the same.

It is not recommended to measure BBT in the evening. It will always be higher than the exact indicators used to determine, say, the moment of ovulation. But is it possible to measure basal temperature in the evening if, say, a woman works at night because of her occupation? This can be done: the main thing is that the sleep during the day should be at least five hours.

During the measurement, you should follow all the same recommendations about such a simple, but at the same time responsible procedure. Otherwise, the parameters will be inaccurate.

Remember that for a medical diagnosis, evening BT in most cases will be uninformative. To accurately determine the processes occurring in the female body, it is very important to obtain morning readings.

What are the features of diagnosis during pregnancy? Women planning pregnancy are interested in whether it is possible to measure the basal temperature in the evening. We will find out how justified such a procedure is from the point of view of determining the beginning of the period of gestation of the embryo.

A woman can carefully maintain a BT schedule even at the stage of pregnancy planning. According to the general rules, such a procedure can be completed after the first trimester has passed: it is at the initial stages that thermometry will allow diagnosing the first signs of trouble. At this time, such a simple and reliable method can determine the state of the hormonal system and start correcting its deviations in time. Of course, the doctor will receive complete and correct information only when his patient adheres to all recommendations regarding the measurement.

Of course, a complete medical examination of women at risk will give incomparably more necessary results. And in no case should you refuse the recommended diagnostics. There will be no harm from diagnostic procedures to either the mother or her child.

The basal temperature in the evening in the early stages of pregnancy may drop slightly by several tens of degrees. This is due to a breakdown, since the body at this time is still difficult to adapt to new conditions. And if you have to measure the temperature in the early evening in the evening, then the daily results are not taken into account: they will be false. And certain adjustments are made to the data of the evening changes.

There is an opinion that before spontaneous termination of pregnancy or its fading, there is a slight decrease in basal temperature. You don’t need to take the drop in BT indicators seriously, just as you don’t need to panic. So, a single slight decrease in BT can occur due to a breakdown, exhaustion, or errors in the measurement process. But still, if the first alarming symptoms of a hormonal disorder appear, it is recommended, without delay, to consult a doctor for a comprehensive diagnostic examination.

If it turned out that during pregnancy, the basal temperature rises to 37.8 or even more, then this may be a sign of the onset of the inflammatory process. During the gestation of the embryo, the treatment of inflammatory phenomena is difficult due to the limited choice of drugs. Therefore, a woman should be extremely careful about her health: do not overcool, eat right, exercise. Then you can prevent the occurrence of dangerous complications that can threaten miscarriage, pregnancy fading and other problems.

Correct measurement of basal temperature is the key to obtaining accurate diagnostic data and determining the correct treatment tactics if signs of a deviation from the norm are found in the body.

The normative indicator for the temperature of the human body is 36.6 ° C, but if you dig deeper, this is not quite the figure. During the day, it fluctuates, as energy metabolism takes place in the body every minute. Some proteins, fats and carbohydrates break down, while others are formed. These processes are due to the release of thermal energy, which is concentrated in the intercellular substance and body cells.


Most of these processes occur in the liver, so this organ is the hottest 38 ° C. The temperature in the rectum and oral cavity varies from 37.3 to 37.6 ° C, and the skin at the same time is much cooler: 36.6 in the axillary zone and approximately 28 ° C in the heel area.

The basal temperature demonstrates the amount of heating of the human body only by the internal organs. Without taking into account the heat generated by the muscles during the work of the lower, upper limbs and torso. Simply put, basal body temperature is the temperature of the body, recorded immediately after waking up only the brain, and not the whole body as a whole. You need to measure it immediately after sleep, lying in bed with your eyes closed.

Basal temperature can be measured in order to:

  • Determine ovulation and favorable days for conceiving a child;
  • Determine the days on which you can not use protection during sex;
  • Diagnose pregnancy at an early stage;
  • Assess the woman's hormonal status.

Today it is the most effective, affordable and cheap method for determining hormonal imbalance and ovulation. For early diagnosis of pregnancy, it is not very suitable, only if the woman has a healthy body and a stable menstrual cycle.

Basal body temperature is measured every morning at the same time (± 30 min.), Without getting out of bed and using a conventional mercury thermometer;

  • Sleep before the measurement should last at least 4-6 hours;
  • The thermometer is inserted into the rectal opening (rectum), can be inserted into the vagina or into the mouth. The most accurate readings will be if you insert a thermometer into the rectal opening. In the oral cavity, the temperature index is only 0.25-0.5 ° C higher than in the axillary fossa. This method is used in the diagnosis of thyroid diseases;
  • Measurement time - 7-10 minutes. You can not measure the temperature every day in different ways. If you undertook to measure in the vagina, then throughout the entire time you need to measure only there. Under the arm, BBT is not measured. You can not change thermometers;
  • For the reliability of the indicators, it is desirable to stop smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages, and avoid stress. Inaccurate readings can be caused by insomnia, oral contraceptives, sleeping pills, various diseases (inflammations), frequent flights or moving, sexual intercourse a few hours before waking up, overeating at night;

  • So that efforts are not in vain, do not forget to put a downed thermometer next to the bed in the evening, so that you can easily reach it with your hand;
  • Indicators for 3-4 measurement cycles are recorded in a graph, which then must be presented to the doctor. The graph represents two coordinate axes: temperature and day of the month. A few days of information is enough to determine pregnancy.

Basal temperature increases with each additional hour of sleep, so it should be measured at the same time and preferably before 8 am. During the day, the temperature of the body and internal organs of a person is constantly changing and this is normal. It depends on physical activity, food intake, experienced emotional stress, clothing and other environmental factors.

It is almost impossible to find the optimal time for measurement during the day. If in the evening and in the morning the biological activity of the organism is moderate, then during the day it can approach the maximum value.

BT in the evening is always higher than morning readings, it is not recommended to measure it at this time of day. But if you are awake at night, then you can measure BBT during the day after sleeping for at least 5 hours.


The basal temperature, recorded in the morning waking up, may differ from the temperature in the evening by one degree. For medical analysis, this is quite a large discrepancy. It is the morning value that is the norm from which women and the doctors treating them are repelled.

You can start keeping a graph of basal temperature even when planning a pregnancy and complete observations after the first trimester. It gives relatively reliable information about the work of the ovaries, the state of the uterine epithelium. The work of these organs is controlled by the hormones progesterone and estrogen, periodically increasing and decreasing on certain days.

Often the "thermometer method" is criticized: not following the rules of measurement leads to blurry results and confuses the woman in the analysis. Of course, a medical examination is much more reliable, but there is nothing wrong with self-monitoring of your own health during pregnancy. There will be no harm from additional precautions unless the mandatory medical accompaniment is avoided.

Due to the evening breakdown, the basal temperature during pregnancy can drop by 0.1-0.2 ° C. The temperature during the day is not taken into account, from the varying degree of activity of the body, it tends to decrease and increase every hour.

How does the temperature change during the cycle

The menstrual cycle has two phases. Basal temperature fluctuates depending on the phase. In the first phase of the cycle, estrogen exerts its influence, and after ovulation (the second phase), progesterone begins to act. During menstruation, the temperature is always elevated (37 ° C). At the end of menstruation, it decreases to 36.2 - 36.7 ° C. Ovulation takes place with a jump to 36.9-37.2 ° C for three days, so you can easily calculate it and find out the date of release of the egg next month. The second phase of the cycle is due to an increased temperature, and a week before the next menstruation, there is a decrease to the previous value - 36.2-36.7. If BBT continues to stay at 37 °, then the hormone progesterone has begun to prepare the uterus to receive a fertilized egg. This is the first sign of pregnancy before the delay.

However, it should be borne in mind that, in addition to pregnancy, increased BBT at the end of the second phase can be caused by infectious gynecological diseases, physical activity, and certain medications. The increased rate persists throughout almost the entire pregnancy.


There is an opinion that before a miscarriage or fetal fading, a decrease occurs. This information should not be taken seriously. A single decrease may be due to the general condition of the body or measurement error during pregnancy. But if there is a persistent decrease, then you can play it safe and consult a doctor. An increase to 37.8 ° C and above can also be an alarm signal of the body about the course of inflammation during pregnancy.

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