1. What does BBT stand for?
BBT stands for Basal Body Temperature, which is basically your body's resting temperature found during your deepest sleep.
2. Does BBT predict ovulation?
No and this is a common misconception.
BBT doesn't tell you when you're about to ovulate. It tells you when you have ovulated.
If you're trying to time intercourse for conception, you'll want to combine BBT with other fertility signs like cervical mucus.
3. How much should my temperature rise after ovulation?
At a minimum we want to see at least a 0.2°C rise.
Don't stress about the number though, I've seen women rise anywhere from 0.2-0.7°C, but whats more important is how many rises you have and consistent patterns.
What I'm looking for is a clear shift and a sustained pattern rather than one random high temperature.
4. How do I know if I've actually ovulated?
Okay, so first of all, one large rise after the ovulation dip, doesnt confirm ovulation.
I am looking for 3x consecutive temperature rises at least 0.2°C each. We want the 3x temperature shifts to all be higher than the 6 days leading up to ovulation.
In the image below you can see cycle day 15, 16 and 17 have the consistent rise of at least 0.2°C. This shows us that ovulation on day 14 was a healthy one.
5. My temperatures are all over the place. Whats wrong with me?
Crazy temperatures aren't always a reflection of crazy hormones.
First of all, I would check in with myself and see if any of the following align with me, as these can all impact your reading:
- Sleep deprivation
- Sickness
- Alcohol
- Stress
- Travel
- Room temperature changes (turning the aircon on in the middle of a summer night).
Secondly, it's important to check if your BBT device is working for you. Oral thermometers are tricky as your resting temperature (your BBT) has already risen as you've started to wake up, and needs to be taken as soon as possible to get the closest correct reading (forget about the rumour of taking it at the same time every morning, that makes no sense here). I always suggest investing in a Tempdrop, so you can rest peacefully knowing it will record your correct BBT while sleeping.
This is why I always look at patterns rather than obsessing over individual temperatures.
6. Do I need to take my temperature at the exact same time every day?
No. It is more important to take it as soon as possible after waking.
One of the reasons I love Tempdrop is because it was designed for real life... shift workers, mums, people who don't sleep through the night and those of us who aren't waking up at 6:00am every morning.
7. Can I use BBT if I have PCOS?
Abso-fucking-lutely.
In fact, you are the BEST candidate for it. BBT charting is really helpful for people with long or irregular cycles, so we can see if and when your body is trying to ovulate.
8. Can BBT tell me if I'm pregnant?
Yes and No.
Your BBT will remain high if you are pregnant. It will only drop if you are about to bleed. So if you have a consistent high temp for at least 18 days after ovulation, its a good time to take a pregnancy test.
This can be confirming for people with regular cycles, but confusing for people with long/irregular cycles.
9. Can I use BBT while breastfeeding or postpartum?
Yes.
Ovulation can return before your first postpartum period, which is one reason BBT can be so helpful during this season.
It can give you clues about what's happening hormonally before your cycle fully returns.
10. What if I never see a temperature rise?
There''s a few things that could be going on.
- You may not have ovulated that cycle
- There may be disruptions affecting the chart mentioned earlier in Q.5
- We made need some more time to identify your patterns (I recommend at least 3 cycles).
11. Should I track cervical mucus as well?
One thousand times yes. I LOVE WHEN MY PATIENTS DO THIS!
BBT tells us ovulation has happened, cervical mucus helps tell us that ovulation is approaching.
Together, they're far more useful than either one alone.
12. What's the biggest mistake people make with BBT?
Looking at a single temperature and trying to make it mean something.
One high temperature doesn't confirm ovulation.
One low temperature doesn't mean anything is wrong.
Zoom out and look at the overall pattern.
13. Whats your favourite BBT device to use?
I will forever scream from the rooftops that Tempdrop is number one! Because most women don't live in perfect fertility charting conditions, so I see it reduce SO MUCH stress.
It also gives a much more reliable reading and gives us beautiful charts which are easy to pick patterns from.
14. How many cycles does it take to learn my patterns?
At a minimum I say give it at least 3 cycles.
However, the longer you track, the more information we have and the easier it becomes to recognise what's normal for your body.
And honestly? That's the goal. It's not about perfect temperature readings, but understanding patterns over time.
