What is the basal body temperature test?
During the menstrual cycle, an increase in the hormone progestin causes your temperature to elevate slightly (between 0.5 to 1.6 degrees Fahrenheit) as your body prepares to be home to a fertilized egg. The basal body temperature (BBT) test measures temperature changes that occur using a basal thermometer. A basal thermometer is different from a regular thermometer in that it can measure much smaller fluctuations in temperature. How do I use a basal thermometer? Before getting out of bed in the morning, quickly check your temperature with the basal thermometer and write it down on a calendar. When your temperature stays slightly elevated for at least three days in a row, it is a good sign that ovulation has occurred. Do not eat, drink, talk, or smoke until after you have taken your temperature. Be sure that you recognize things that could interfere with your temperature readings, such as activity, infections, and stress. Some thermometers have built-in memory that will allow you to sto
