Pregnancy Symptoms: Basal Body Temperature

If you are currently tracking your cycle and notice your basal body temperature, the temperature of your body at rest, has been consistently high for more than two weeks, then you are more than likely pregnant. The increase in hormones during pregnancy causes your basal body temperature to remain elevated beyond your menstrual cycle. This is a key pregnancy sign and symptom for women who chart their fertility cycles.

What is Basal Body Temperature?

Basal body temperature is your temperature at rest and tends to be lower during the first two weeks of your menstrual cycle. When you begin ovulating your hormone levels change and cause your BBT to increase slightly.

Charting your basal body temperature (BBT) with a special thermometer will help you predict your ovulation and fertility cycles. By tracking these cycles, you can also plan intercourse accordingly to increase your chances of conception.

How do you chart Basal Body Temperature?

Your BBT must be taken orally first thing in the morning before you become active - before you even get out of bed. Normal BBT levels will range between 97.0 to 97.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and a temperature increase of at least 0.5 to 1.5 degrees will let you know ovulation has occurred. By charting your ovulation pattern, you can determine when to have intercourse in the future. However, BBT tracking only tells you when ovulation has already occurred.

You can also keep track of changes in your cervical mucus - a form of vaginal discharge. When you are most fertile you will have an increased amount of discharge that is clear and slippery in texture, similar to the consistency of egg whites.

How do you know if you are pregnant?

If your temperature remains elevated past your menstrual cycle, this may mean you are pregnant.

You can download this Basal Body Temperature Chart to help track your cycles.