Basal Body Temperature Tracking Do's & Don'ts - What Is Basal Body Temperature?

Summary

Dr. Patty Havey, Senior Medical Advisor at Premom, explains the significance of basal body temperature (BBT) tracking in identifying ovulation and fertility. She emphasizes the importance of progesterone, which raises BBT post-ovulation. To ensure accurate tracking, she advises taking BBT daily upon waking, using a specialized thermometer, and avoiding activities before measurement that could skew results. Dr. Havey also highlights the benefits of using the Premom app with a smart Bluetooth thermometer for seamless tracking and prediction of ovulation, making the process user-friendly and effective.

Takeaways

• 🌡️ Basal body temperature (BBT) tracking helps identify ovulation by detecting a rise in temperature due to increased progesterone post-ovulation.
• 📈 A sustained increase in BBT of half to one degree Fahrenheit after ovulation indicates successful ovulation and sufficient progesterone levels.
• 📱 Smart apps like Premom can use BBT data to predict future ovulation dates and enhance fertility awareness.
• 🚫 Avoid sporadic temperature tracking; measure BBT consistently every day for accurate cycle understanding.
• ⏰ Take your BBT immediately upon waking, as movement and activities can affect the resting body temperature.
• 🚫 Refrain from eating, drinking, or even chewing gum before taking your BBT to prevent skewed results.
• ⏰ Consistency is key—take your BBT at the same time every day to minimize variability in readings.
• 🛌 Stay in bed and avoid talking or moving before taking your BBT to ensure it reflects your body's true resting state.
• 🌡️ Use a specialized BBT thermometer that provides an extra decimal place for more precise temperature readings.
• 📊 Combine BBT tracking with a premium app to automate data recording, reduce human error, and better predict ovulation.
• 💤 Ensure at least three hours of consecutive sleep before taking your BBT for accurate readings, especially important for new moms.

Q & A

What is basal body temperature (BBT) tracking?

Basal body temperature tracking is a method used to identify and confirm ovulation by tracking a rise in progesterone levels, which causes a thermal shift in body temperature.

How does progesterone affect BBT after ovulation?

Progesterone raises the basal body temperature by about half to a full degree Fahrenheit after ovulation, indicating that sufficient progesterone was produced, which helps confirm successful ovulation.

Why is it important to take BBT consistently every day?

It is important to take BBT daily to identify six consecutive low temperatures followed by three high temperatures, which helps confirm ovulation and allows the app to create a cover line separating low and high temperature phases.

When should you start taking your BBT during your cycle?

It’s recommended to start taking your BBT about five days into your period if you have a long period. You don’t need to take it during your period, but taking it consistently throughout the cycle is essential for accurate tracking.

What are some key factors that can affect the accuracy of BBT readings?

Factors such as moving, talking, eating, drinking (even water or coffee), and not using a proper BBT thermometer can affect the accuracy of readings. It’s also crucial to take the temperature at the same time every day and immediately upon waking.

Why is a special thermometer needed for BBT tracking?

A BBT thermometer is more precise than a regular thermometer, as it extends an extra decimal place to detect small changes in temperature, which are crucial for tracking ovulation.

How can the Premom app assist with BBT tracking?

The Premom app can synchronize with a Bluetooth-enabled BBT thermometer to automatically record and chart temperature data, removing human error and helping predict ovulation more accurately.

Why is it important to focus on trends rather than individual temperature readings?

Focusing on trends over the course of the cycle is key because individual readings can vary, but the overall pattern of low pre-ovulatory temperatures followed by high post-ovulatory temperatures is what confirms ovulation.

How much sleep is necessary for accurate BBT readings?

You need at least three consecutive hours of sleep before taking your BBT to ensure your body is fully rested and to get an accurate reading.

How can BBT tracking help avoid pregnancy?

BBT tracking can help avoid pregnancy by indicating the end of the fertile period through a temperature spike after ovulation, allowing women to identify when their fertile window has closed.

Outlines

00:00

🌡️ Understanding Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Tracking

Dr. Patty Havey, a senior medical advisor at Premom, explains the importance of nasal body temperature tracking to identify ovulation. BBT tracking detects the rise in progesterone post-ovulation, which raises body temperature. This increase indicates successful ovulation. Dr. Havey emphasizes the use of smart apps like Premom to predict ovulation based on BBT data. She outlines the correct method for BBT tracking, including taking temperatures daily upon waking, avoiding food or drink beforehand, and using a specialized thermometer. Dr. Havey also stresses the importance of consistency in timing and the need for at least three hours of sleep before temperature measurement. She recommends using a smart thermometer that syncs with the Premom app for ease and accuracy.

05:01

🚫 BBT Tracking for Pregnancy Avoidance

The second paragraph discusses the application of BBT tracking for those looking to avoid pregnancy. Dr. Havey points out that the BBT spike post-ovulation can signal the end of the fertile window, making BBT a useful tool for family planning. She advises setting reminders in the Premom app to ensure consistent temperature tracking. The paragraph also touches on the historical significance and simplicity of BBT tracking, and how it provides valuable insights into women's fertility when combined with modern technology like Bluetooth thermometers. Dr. Havey concludes by encouraging viewers to engage with the content, share it with others, and seek further information on fertility.

Keywords

💡Basal Body Temperature (BBT)

Basal body temperature (BBT) refers to the body's temperature at rest, typically measured first thing in the morning before any activity. In the context of the video, BBT is used as a method to identify ovulation by tracking the slight increase in temperature that occurs after ovulation due to the rise in progesterone levels. The script emphasizes the importance of consistent daily BBT measurements for accurate fertility tracking.

💡Ovulation

Ovulation is the process where a mature egg is released from the ovary, typically occurring in the middle of a woman's menstrual cycle. The video discusses how tracking BBT can help identify when ovulation has occurred, which is crucial for both fertility awareness and family planning.

💡Progesterone

Progesterone is a hormone that plays a significant role in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. After successful ovulation, progesterone levels rise, which causes an increase in BBT. The video explains that this increase is the basis for BBT tracking as a fertility method.

💡Thermal Shift

A thermal shift, as mentioned in the video, is the slight increase in BBT that occurs post-ovulation due to the rise in progesterone. It is a key indicator used in BBT tracking to confirm that ovulation has taken place.

💡Cover Line

The cover line is a term used in BBT tracking to describe the point on a temperature chart where the temperatures shift from lower pre-ovulatory to higher post-ovulatory levels. The video stresses the importance of identifying this line to accurately determine the fertile window.

💡Fertility Awareness

Fertility awareness involves understanding the menstrual cycle and identifying fertile periods to either achieve or prevent pregnancy. The video uses BBT tracking as a tool for fertility awareness, helping women to know their cycles better.

💡Smart Technology

Smart technology, as discussed in the video, refers to the use of apps and devices that automate and simplify the process of BBT tracking. The video mentions the use of a smart Bluetooth-enabled thermometer that syncs with an app, making the tracking process more accurate and user-friendly.

💡Consistency

Consistency is emphasized throughout the video as a key factor in successful BBT tracking. It involves taking one's temperature at the same time every day, without eating or drinking beforehand, and ensuring at least three hours of sleep before measurement.

💡Fertility App

A fertility app, like the one mentioned in the video, is a tool that helps track BBT and other fertility signs. It uses data input by the user to predict ovulation and fertility windows, making it easier to plan for pregnancy or avoid it.

💡Bluetooth Thermometer

A Bluetooth thermometer is a device that can wirelessly connect to a smartphone or app, automatically syncing data. The video highlights the benefits of using such a thermometer for BBT tracking, as it eliminates the need for manual data entry and reduces the chance of error.

💡Human Error

Human error refers to the potential for mistakes when manually recording or interpreting data, such as BBT readings. The video suggests that using smart technology and apps can reduce human error in fertility tracking, leading to more accurate predictions of ovulation and fertility.

Highlights

Nasal body temperature tracking can identify ovulation and confirm it for the last cycle.

Basal body temperature (BBT) tracking is based on the increase in progesterone post-ovulation.

Progesterone raises basal body temperature by 0.5 to 1 degree Fahrenheit after ovulation.

Elevated progesterone levels confirm successful ovulation.

Smart apps like Premom can predict next month's ovulation using BBT data.

BBT tracking requires daily temperature measurements for accurate cycle understanding.

It's best to start BBT tracking about five days into the menstrual period.

BBT should be taken immediately upon waking to ensure accuracy.

Avoid eating or drinking before taking BBT to prevent inaccurate readings.

Consistency in taking BBT at the same time each day is crucial.

Stay in bed and avoid talking before taking BBT to maintain resting state.

Use a specialized BBT thermometer for more precise readings.

Premom's smart Bluetooth thermometer syncs with the app for ease of use.

Charting BBT manually is prone to error; using an app is more reliable.

Focus on the trend of BBT rather than individual readings for fertility insights.

BBT tracking is essential for understanding low pre-ovulatory and high post-ovulatory temperatures.

Ensure at least three hours of sleep before taking BBT for accuracy.

Premom's app reminder feature helps users remember to take daily BBT readings.

BBT can be a helpful tool for both fertility tracking and avoiding pregnancy.

BBT tracking is a long-standing, cost-effective method for understanding female fertility.

Transcripts

hi there i'm dr patty havey senior

medical advisor at premom nasal body

temperature tracking is a way to

identify when you've ovulated and

convert that you have ovulated in the

last cycle

the basis for basal body temperature is

or bbt tracking is identifying the

increase in a hormone called

progesterone that occurs after

successful ovulation

progesterone actually raises your basal

body temperature a half to about an

entire degree fahrenheit after ovulation

when this thermal shift is present it

indicates that sufficient levels of

progesterone were produced and they

helped confirm that you actually

ovulated you really won't have these

elevated levels of progesterone unless

you truly successfully ovulate smart

apps like free mom can use this

information to help predict when your

next month's ovulation will occur

ebt is quite simple once you get the

hang of it but there are some key do's

and don'ts that will ensure you have

better success with temperature tracking

to get to know your cycles and to get to

know your fertility most importantly

for starters don't take your temperature

sporadically or only around ovulation

you don't necessarily have to take it

during your period but if you have a

long period it's best to start testing

your bbt about five days into your

period

do take your bbt

daily that's right every single day the

reason being that we look for six

consecutive low temperatures followed by

three consecutive high temperatures in

order to confirm ovulation if you aren't

testing every day throughout the cycle

it means that you could miss this key

shift and it doesn't allow us to assign

something called the cover line to your

chart which is again separating those

highs from the lows

do take your bbt immediately upon waking

your basal body temperature is your

body's lowest temperature at rest when

you begin to move or out and about it

increases your body temperature and it

doesn't let us get an accurate picture

of your body temperature at rest

it's only in these resting states that

we can really see the impact that sex

hormones

fluctuating can have on your bbt

don't eat or drink before taking your

bbt

cold water hot coffee even gum can all

throw off your bbt

because we want to get an accurate

snapshot

um stick that thermometer in your mouth

in the morning bad breath and all

do take it at the same time every day

it's best to set that alarm clock and

take your bbt at the same time every day

when you wake up daily at 6 00 am but

not until 11 a.m on the weekends it can

cause a variance to your temperature

readings so it really is best to keep it

consistent within an hour or two when

you normally wake up don't talk or get

up before taking your bbt remember we

want this temperature at rest

talking can cause a cooling effect and

potentially lower your oral temperature

reading

moving walking even if it's just to the

bathroom could begin to alter your body

temperature so again it's best to take

that temperature before you move a

muscle stay in bed a few minutes longer

do use a special thermometer meant only

for bbt don't use a regular thermometer

for bbt

basal body temperature thermometers

extend an extra decimal place which

gives you a more precise temperature

reading and these little changes

actually really matter a standard oral

thermometer for when you are sick will

simply not do for this case

preamom actually has a smart bluetooth

enabled thermometer from easy at home

that automatically syncs with your phone

and your primo app so you don't have to

worry about writing it down manually or

inputting numbers it just automatically

locks those numbers for you and as a

doctor i see a huge improvement in

compliance and success when my patients

utilize this as a tool

do

use your bbt in conjunction with the

premium app to synchronize and chart

your temperature

average charting just leaves too much

room for human error and takes a while

to get used to pre-mom smart technology

removes the guesswork for you

it grasps your temperatures and actually

helps to predict your ovulation and

identify that cover length we talked

about earlier separating the low

prealatory from the high post auditory

temperatures

don't focus on any one individual

temperature but rather the trend this is

the cover line it's the trend that

matters

our key takeaway is low pre-auditory

temperatures versus high post auditory

temperatures this is why tracking daily

and throughout your entire cycle is

essential

do get at least three hours of sleep

before you take your temperature

sorry for new moms but you'll need three

hours of consecutive sleep before waking

to take your bbt

this allows your body to fully rest and

get an accurate reading so if

breastfeeding with a newborn take extra

caution of using bbt to avoid pregnancy

as you do need consolidated sleep for

accuracy with bbt

do turn on the bbt reminder in your

primo app primo makes it super easy to

remember to take your temperature just

set that reminder and it will remind you

every single day

for those trying to avoid pregnancy bbt

can actually be a super helpful tip um

the bbt spike after ovulation actually

indicates the end of the fertile period

so many women use bbt for this sole

purpose

basal body temperature tracking has been

around for a long time and for good

reason it's easy it's inexpensive and it

gives women tons of information about

their bodies especially when you take

advantage of smart technology with an

easy at home bluetooth thermometer that

sinks directly into that premium app

thanks for hanging out with me today

please like this video if you enjoyed it

to support our women run business we

always appreciate you sharing this with

friends and family you can follow us for

more tips and tricks about all things

fertility and leave any questions you

may have below

you