Chinese medicine has evolved through keen observation of both the universe at large and the human body. Through out its long history of treating infertility, information such as the timing, duration and color of menses has been an integral part of diagnosis and assessing response to treatment. In modern times, Chinese medical gynecologists have integrated basal body temperature charting (BBT) into their diagnostic process.

It was a learning experience for me to study in renowned GYN hospitals in China, as every woman seeking treatment for: infertility, painful and irregular periods brought their BBT chart. The CM gynecologist incorporated the chart into traditional methods of diagnosis like pulse and tongue readings. All of this information was used to form diagnosis of imbalances and formulate herbal formulas specific to that patient’s condition and phase of her cycle. Now let’s put all of that information we learned in Fertility Awareness for Women parts 1 and 2. The more you know about your individual cycle, the better able you will to answer such questions as: are you ovulating, if so, when? What is the strength of your follicular/yin and lutial/yang phases? These fertility awareness methods will help you pin point your fertile times and give you information about any obstacles you may have to pregnancy such as irregular follicular/yin or lutial/yang phases, erratic temperatures, and overall low or high temperatures.

What is a BBT?

Efforts to improve the effectiveness of the rhythm method of birth control (the only birth control method approved of by the Catholic Church) prompted research into the effect hormonal shifts have on women’s temperatures. The goal was to determine when ovulation occurred to avoid conception. However, this same process can be used to increase the chances of pregnancy by determining fertile days and engaging in, rather than avoiding intercourse during that time.

Getting Started

First you need to buy a specific type of thermometer.  It should be called a Basil Body Temperature Thermometer or Fertility Predicting Thermometer etc. These types of thermometers are readily available at drug stores. Any other type of thermometer is not sensitive enough to reliably show your temperature to 1/100 of a degree. Keep your thermometer and your BBT chart (available under “pages”)

Start recording your temperature on day 1 of your cycle (the first day of menstrual bleeding). For an accurate reading the temperature should be taken at roughly the same time every morning and after at least 3, though 5 is preferable, hours of uninterrupted sleep. As soon as you wake up, before urinating, cuddling, drinking water etc. take your temperature and record it on your graph.

During the follicular phase (the cool, creative yin phase) temperatures tend to be lower. Typically, at ovulation time the temperature will dip, and then shoot up over the next day or two. This is the sign that yin has reached its height and turned to yang. In other words, ovulation has occurred and progesterone levels are rising. Your temperature should stay elevated until both progesterone and estrogen levels drop which will reflect as a dramatic temperature decrease when menses begins and the process starts all over again. If after 18 days your temperature does not drop and you do not get your period, this could indicate that progesterone levels have remained elevated and pregnancy has occurred. Now its time to take a pregnancy test!

When evaluating the BBT for a full menstrual cycle, take the average follicular phase temperature and subtract it from the average lutial phase temperature. This is the overall temperature change between the two phases. Ovulation and progesterone levels that are sufficient to maintain a pregnancy are reflected by a rise in temperature of at least .04 degrees, though .06 is preferable. Follicular phase temperatures are typically between 97.0 and 97.7 while lutial phase temperatures should range from about 97.7-99.0 degrees. The healthiest follicular phases are marked by relatively stable temperatures that don’t fluctuate more than .4 degrees. The key thing to look for in lutial phase temperatures is that the rise after ovulation is maintained for at least 12 days. Also, we don’t want to see temperatures drop to pre-ovulation levels until menses occurs. 

Interfering factors

It is important to take your temperature as close to the same time each morning. Your temperature will naturally be lower in the early morning and rise through out the day. It is less important what time you take your temperature (i.e. either 6am or 9am) and more important that you take it at a consistent time. Also illness, stress, late nights and restless sleep can raise your temperatures and give you erroneous or misleading information regarding your hormone levels. This should be taken into account when calculating your overall follicular and lutial phase temperatures.

Now print out your BBT chart under Pages: Basil Body Temperature Chart and start learning about your cycle and your fertility