BBT
Completing a BBT (basal body temperature) chart gives your acupuncturist and you some key pieces of information for working towards conceiving. It lets you know if/when you are ovulating and how long the luteal phase of your menstrual cycle is. Your acupuncturist can also use the chart to help your diagnosis and treatment.
Taking your temperature is not a good way to predict ovulation since by the time your temperature goes up, ovulation has already occurred. Overtime, however, understanding your body’s patterns and rhythms will help you identify when you ovulate. The change in the patterns will also indicate how the life style changes you made and acupuncture treatments you had are improving your fertility.
You can either use an app or print out a BBT chart.
To Fill Out a BBT chart, here’s what to do:
- Use a special BBT thermometer which records temperature in smaller increments than an ordinary one you use for fever.
- Take your temperature orally, first thing upon waking, before you do anything else (peeing, moving around, drinking coffee…)
- Take your temperature at the same time every day. If you sleep past your usual time, decrease the number by 1/10 of a degree for every half hour later than your usual time, because your temperature goes up 1/10 of a degree every half an hour.
- Record your temperature on your BBT chart. Bring your chart to your acupuncture appointments.
