We all know that a person's body temperature is not constant; it fluctuates within a normal range depending on the time of day and the level of activity. A woman's basal body temperature, like her menstrual cycle, fluctuates cyclically with changes in estrogen levels. This undoubtedly provides an important reference for those trying to conceive or using contraception. Abnormal basal body temperature can also indicate certain endocrine problems.
Basal body temperature reflects the body's rhythm
A normal basal body temperature can reflect the changes in estrogen levels in the body. During the first two weeks of the menstrual cycle, basal body temperature remains at a relatively low level, known as the low-temperature phase, generally fluctuating between 36℃ and 36.6℃. During the two weeks after ovulation, due to the secretion of progesterone, the temperature will rise by about 0.6℃, entering the high-temperature phase. A basal body temperature cycle is 28 days long, and this cycle continues.
Measuring your basal body temperature can help predict when your body is most fertile, allowing you to plan for pregnancy or use contraception. You can keep a dedicated basal body temperature thermometer by your bedside and take your temperature under your tongue for 3 minutes each morning upon waking. If you can't measure your temperature every morning, choose a consistent time and avoid strenuous activity for at least 30 minutes before taking the temperature.
(Abnormal basal body temperature may indicate illness)
Abnormal basal body temperature may indicate disease
Basal body temperature can predict ovulation. However, if your basal body temperature is abnormal for a long period of time, or if the duration of the high-temperature phase and the low-temperature phase is unstable, you may need to be aware that you may have certain endocrine disorders.
1. Shortened high-temperature phase. A shortened high-temperature phase can have various causes, including problems with progesterone secretion or excessively high prolactin levels. Ultimately, both can affect egg quality, increasing the risk of infertility and miscarriage. Furthermore, if a shortened high-temperature phase is accompanied by weight gain, acne, or irregular menstruation, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) should be suspected.
2. Prolonged high-temperature period. If the high-temperature period lasts for more than 3 weeks and there is no menstruation, it may indicate pregnancy; if there is unexpected bleeding during this period, miscarriage should be considered.
3. Only a low-temperature phase. If the basal body temperature remains low, it indicates that ovulation does not occur during this period, and therefore no progesterone is produced. This may be due to anovulatory menstruation.
4. Shortened basal body temperature cycle. If the basal body temperature cycle, which is normally around 28 days, gradually becomes 24 days, 22 days, or even shorter, it may indicate a problem with ovarian function. In this case, comprehensive conditioning should be carried out.
