Basal Body Temperature Method - How Can It Help In Natural Family Planning?

Family planning is an important aspect of modern healthcare and public policy systems. The basal body temperature method is a type of awareness-based procedure that promotes natural family planning. The basal body temperature is the temperature of the body when the person is at complete rest. Ovulation tends to cause a slight rise in the basal body temperature. Most women are in their most fertile state during two to three days before the increase in body temperature. Therefore, tracking the basal body temperature every day enables women to predict the probable date of ovulation. This, in turn, can help women determine the time spans when they are most likely to conceive.

Importance of basal body temperature
When women wish to get pregnant, the basal body temperature can be used to determine the best days to perform sexual intercourse. On the other hand, women that want to avoid pregnancy can use this technique to help prevent unprotected intercourse. This method alone does not provide adequate warning time to prevent pregnancy efficiently; it should be used in combination with other fertility awareness methods when women want to avoid pregnancy.

Tracking the basal body temperature for contraception or fertility reasons is not just economical but the method offers no side effects. Some women choose this method because it conforms to their religious beliefs.
This method can also be used to detect pregnancy. Immediately after ovulation, a rise in the basal body temperature (lasting for more than 18 days) can signal the onset of pregnancy.

Are there any risks?
We must mention that using the basal body temperature method does not have to carry any risks or complications. However, the method does not offer any protection from sexually transmitted diseases and other infections. Women that are not ready to conceive should avoid sexual intercourse altogether. Else, they may use the barrier method of contraception during the fertile days in each month.
It is crucial to bear in mind that the basal body temperature can be affected by various factors. These include physical and psychological stress, fever, illness, interruption in sleep cycles, the consumption of alcohol, gynecological disorders, taking certain medicines.

Preparing for basal body temperature method
Women who are interested in using this method can track basal body temperature without any special preparations. Healthcare professionals recommend the use of a digital thermometer. Alternatively, women can use a thermometer mainly devised to measure basal body temperature. Also, women must ensure that they allow themselves regular hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. This schedule will enable them to gain accurate readings of body temperature. Also, they must consult with a gynecologist if they have recently given birth or have stopped taking hormonal contraceptives, are breastfeeding, or about to approach menopause. These actions and processes can help women to control their reproductive health.