16/05/2023
Taking your BBT (basal body temperature - your waking temperature first thing in the morning) is a great thing to do to understand your hormones and especially if trying to conceive.⠀
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It's a huge and helpful piece of info that most people think of as a tool to confirm ovulation... but it also tells us so much more than that!!
It can tell us about progesterone levels, FSH levels, thyroid levels, and overall health of the metabolism. ⠀
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With a BBT chart you can ask your doctor for a thyroid test.
If it comes back as hypothyroid (a huge impediment to fertility) no one would have tested because the patient didn’t have hair falling out, weight gain, unusual fatigue, constipation or any of the textbook signs… but it is evident in the BBT!⠀
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Here are a few of the things to look for in the BBT:⠀
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For ovulation, you want to see a 0.6 - 1 degree temp rise and then three days of sustained higher temps to indicate ovulation.
In Chinese Medicine, we'd say that we want to see that Yin is transforming into Yang. ⠀
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For healthy progesterone levels, we want to see those higher temps sustained for the luteal phase and that they're getting above 98 degrees (36,6C).
In Chinese Medicine, we'd say that we want to see healthy Yang energy.⠀
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For FSH levels, we want to see that follicular phase temps aren't too high (we want them in the mid 97s (36,1C)).
High temps in the follicular phase can correlate to high FSH levels and poor ovarian function.
In Chinese Medicine, we'd think of this as Yin Xu Heat. ⠀
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For thyroid health and overall metabolism, we want to see that overall temps are high enough and not too low.
If temps are too low, this can indicate thyroid insufficiency and slow metabolism - that the body is conserving energy.
In Chinese Medicine, we'd say that Spleen and Kidney energy are weak. ⠀
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Your temperature is an amazing vital sign that can tell us a lot of good information if you know what to look for and what it all can mean.
It's not just a measure of fevers, it's a measure of how your body is burning and using energy, and of your hormone fluctuations.
