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NOTE: Quite a bit more information on this and more It's easiest to use a digital thermometer, since it's faster. If you do decide to use a non-digital thermometer, make sure you shake it down the evening before. It is preferred to use a thermometer (either digital or otherwise) specified as a BBT thermometer, because they tend to be more accurate. If one is just taking one's temp to see whether one has a fever, it doesn't really matter if the thermometer is off a little bit or not (for example, you know you have a fever if it's 100-something, and who cares if it's 100.1 or 100.3?). However, for the purposes of BBT charting, one is very interested in the range of the temperatures – did it go up or down when compared to yesterday's temp, and by how much? – so accuracy is desired. The thermometer does not need to go to two decimal points (i.e., 98.00); one decimal point (i.e., 98.0) is sufficient. There are several brands of BBT thermometers. My favorite is the Omron brand: other brands beep constantly and loudly until they are finished, but the Omron digital BBT thermometer only beeps when it's done, and it's much quieter – so you don't end up waking up the rest of the house! Charting your temps. You can either manually chart your temps on some graph paper (homemade or purchased), or you can use one of several online charting services (some of which are free). See the Resources section for online charting links, and also for chart galleries (examples of others' charts). What does it mean? Before a woman ovulates, the basal body temperatures range from around 97.0 to 97.5 degrees Fahrenheit (36.1 to 36.3 Celcius). This is due to the presence of estrogen, which keeps temps down. Once ovulation has occurred, the temps go up to a new, higher level, usually ranging from around 97.6 to 98.9 F (36.4 to 36.6 C). The rise in temps to this new, higher range after ovulation occurs due to the presence of progesterone, which is being created by the corpus luteum on the ovary. Temps will stay in that range until the next menstrual period. The temps often drop just before menstruation, thus acting as a "red flag" (sorry for the pun) that one's period is on the way. However, this is not always the case, and the temps often do not drop until a few days into menstruation. Why should you temp? Temping is only useful to help determine that ovulation is occurring, at what point in one's cycle ovulation is occuring, and whether one's luteal phase is sufficient in length. It does not tell one that ovulation is going to occur, although some women experience a substantial temp dip on the actual day of ovulation, which is due to a surge of estrogen which often (but apparently not always) occurs just prior to ovulation. But this is not a sure thing, and one really just cannot forecast ovulation by one's temps.The day after ovulation, the temp generally jumps up by at least 0.2 degrees F (0.11 degrees C), and then continues to rise somewhat. It will become apparent after a few days that it is in a new, higher range. The temps themselves will continue to rise and dip day by day, but will remain in the higher range. Some women experience a slow rise over a period of days rather than an immediate rise, which makes it more difficult to ascertain ovulation. However, even with the slow rise, a pattern of temps in a higher range will become evident after several days and one can generally pinpoint the day of ovulation with some degree of accuracy. It is helpful to also take note of other fertility signs, such as cervical mucus and cervical position (discussed elsewhere in this section). During pregnancy, temps tend to remain elevated. Once one has a feel for one's cycle through several months of temping, it is not necessary to continue doing so. In fact, many find it to be a very stressful experience, in that every morning they are worried about what one's temp will be – did it go up? did it go down? – and this is especially bad during the 2WW (two-week wait – the waiting period between ovulation and the next menstrual period, or hopefully the discovery of pregnancy). Blighted Ovum What is it? "Blighted" means "ruined, impaired, destroyed". "Ovum" means "egg". A "blighted ovum" is a pregnancy that stops developing very early in the pregnancy: the fertilized egg ceased to develop. The egg is fertilized and attaches itself to the uterine wall, but the embryo doesn't continue to develop. Cells develop to form the pregnancy sac, but not the embryo itself, so the amniotic sac may only contain fluid (no fetal tissue) at the time of miscarriage.Blighted ova are the cause of around 50 percent of first-trimester miscarriages. There may be no bleeding; however, later on, one might notice some brown discharge. There may be no indications of a problem until one's healthcare provider fails to detect a heartbeat, an ultrasound reveals an empty gestational sac, or a blood test shows up low or falling levels of hCG (pregnancy hormone). In rare cases, the body continues to believe it is pregnant for a few more weeks, then miscarries an empty sac and placenta. A blighted ovum can be the result of chromosomal problems, or the egg or the sperm may be of poor quality. Most women never even know that they were pregnant. Since most women who are actively trying to conceive are constantly taking pregnancy tests, they are more likely to be aware of this situation having even occurred. What can you do about it? There is no way to prevent a blighted ovum from occurring. In fact, it is really nature's way of handling severe genetic defects. What to do? Continue TTC'ing! Having had a blighted ovum does not mean you cannot get pregnant again. Keep your chin up, and keep at it! Cervical Mucus (CM), Cervical Fluid (CF) What is it? Cervical fluid is "stuff" (moisture, cream, boogers) found in the vagina, which comes out of the cervix. It varies greatly throughout one's cycle. The vagina is generally very acidic (providing a somewhat hostile environment for sperm). However, around the time of ovulation, the vagina becomes more alkaline and provides nourishment for the sperm, allowing them to swim about. During this "fertile" time, the cervical fluid appears very much like mucus (it is mucus!), and tends to resemble egg whites; thus, the name "EWCM" (egg white cervical mucus). This form of cervical fluid allows the sperm to live long and prosper for the few days around the time of ovulation (this is when one is fertile), and acts as a sort of a ladder up which the sperm can swim straight into the uterus. Cervical fluid generally follows a pattern of sorts throughout a woman's cycle: Following the menstrual period, there is usually no cervical fluid, and the vagina feels rather dry. After a few days of dryness, some cervical fluid starts to appear that seems somewhat sticky (not wet). The next sort of cervical fluid to arrive on the scene is often creamy in texture. The vagina may now start to feel "wet", and this indicates possible fertility. The most fertile type of cervical fluid now makes its appearance: EWCM. It's slippery and may be stretched several inches (kind of like boogers, ewww!). It is usually clear or a little bit milky, and may be very watery. The vagina feels wet and lubricated. This indicates that one is fertile. If you are trying to get pregnant, this is definitely the time to "do it"! Once ovulation has occurred, the cervical fluid dries up, and the vagina remains dry until the next cycle. However, many women do experience periods of "unexplained" EWCM both before and after ovulation. Also, many women experience blood containing much mucus at the onset of their menstrual period. This is also normal. What can you do about it? For starters, do not douche, at least during your fertile period! Women have had vaginas for a reallllly long time, and those vaginas are properly designed to provide the proper environment for making babies. The proof of this is the fact that mankind is still around. Rumors abound that one should "douche with baking soda" to make the vagina more alkaline, and so forth. This is unnecessary, and is not a good idea. It will wash out the cervical mucus that is so much needed by the sperm. Further, it can create an overly-alkaline environment in which a candida yeast infection could absolutely thrive. Ouch! Now, there are various supplements that some people find to be helpful in creating more EWCM. See the "Supplements in TTC & Pregnancy" section for more information on this. It should also be noted that hormone deficiencies, and in particular low estrogen, can cause "dry vagina". So if you find that you tend to have this condition, see a doctor or certified nutritionist and have your hormones checked. Make sure your doctor also checks your cortisol levels (adrenal glands), because if this is low, it could easily be the basic cause of the low estrogen and/or progesterone. Checking cervical mucus. You can check cervical mucus to help determine whether you are in your fertile period (EWCM) or maybe getting near to it (creamy). WASH YOUR HANDS first! You can do this sitting on the toilet, standing with one leg up on a footstool, squatting, or in the shower – whatever works best for you. Just go for it and stick your finger up there, and see what you find! Don't worry about "removing" the cervical mucus and thus leaving none for the spermies – there is plenty more where it came from – the cervix! What is it? The "cervix" is the opening between the uterus and the vagina. Amazingly, the cervix changes position throughout one's cycle, moving up and down with rapidity. At around the time of ovulation, the cervix becomes soft and open, allowing sperm to pass through the uterus and up into the fallopian tubes (which is where one of them will hopefully find and fertilize your egg). It feels sort of like your lips (the ones on your face – sorry!!!). It further goes "up" (high position) and can be difficult to reach with the fingers. Before and after ovulation, however, the cervix feels firm (sort of like the tip of your nose), and remains in a low position, is closed, and feels somewhat dry. Women who have previously given birth may find that the small opening in the cervix feels somewhat oblong as opposed to round. What can you do about it? You can check your cervical position to help determine whether you are in your fertile period (cervix soft and in high position). WASH YOUR HANDS first! You can do this sitting on the toilet, standing with one leg up on a footstool, squatting, or in the shower – whatever works best for you. Just, um, stick your finger up there, and see what you find! If the cervix is in low (non-fertile position), it will be easy to come across, and, as mentioned above, will feel somewhat firm, like the tip of your nose. If the cervix is in high (fertile) position, however, you may have difficulty reaching it at all. If you do manage to reach out and touch it, so to speak, you will find that it feels somewhat soft and poofy, sort of like your lower lip. What is it? A "chemical pregnancy" is another word for "early miscarriage" or "spontaneous abortion". It's a pregnancy that was confirmed by a pregnancy test, but an ultrasound shows nothing. The pregnancy test is often barely positive, or blood hCg levels are very low and don't increase as they should. It is likely that fertilization occurs, but the egg dies shortly after implantation. These days, a woman can test positive for pregnancy as early as 1-2 days before a menstrual period is missed, usually 11 or 12 days after conception. Without having tested, most women would never have known that they were briefly pregnant. Most people are not aware of just how common chemical pregnancies are: it is likely that 30-40% of all pregnancies end up in a chemical pregnancy, and without testing (such as is constantly being done by women who are actively trying to conceive!), most women would never even know about it, possibly getting their period a few days late or maybe experiencing a slightly heavier flow than normal. If the pregnancy develops several more weeks into a sac but without an embryo, then it's called a "blighted ovum". There are several different reasons why a chemical pregnancy may have occurred, and sometimes the reason is just not discoverable. Some reasons include low progesterone; uterine lining is not thick enough to support the implanted egg (which may indicate low estrogen); chromosomal (genetic) abnormalities with the sperm or the egg; immune issues (see inciid.org for more information on this); possible obstructions in the uterus (for example, fibroid tumors); infections and diseases (many bacterial and viral infections can contribute to a miscarriage, including viral infections such the cytomegalic virus, bacterial infections such as chlamydia, mycoplasma, ureaplasma and streptococcus, or in rare cases, parasitic infection such as toxoplasmosis; disease, such as undiagnosed diabetes, can also cause a miscarriage); age of the mother – approximately 50% of all pregnancies over the age of 40 end in early miscarriage; exposure to environmental toxins (such as certain metals); stress; chronic illnesses (examples include thyroid abnormalities – either overactive or underactive, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, or intrauterine adhesions (most commonly caused by previous infections or D&C's)). High dose x-rays and chemotherapy are known toxins that can cause pregnancy loss; working with chemicals long-term such as with dyes, metals, solvents or chemical production plants; maternal stresses; and heavy use of tobacco, caffeine, alcohol and drugs can also contribute to chemical pregnancies/early miscarriages. If one continues to experience repeated chemical pregnancies, you might want to see your doctor to determine the cause and handling. What can you do about it? Occasionally, not all of the material is fully expelled, and a D&C is required. This is not usually the case, however. Your doctor can tell you whether a D&C would be required. Other than that, go and have that cup of coffee you were avoiding while you were waiting to see if you were pregnant, or a nice, big banana split, and then get back to trying to conceive!!! What is it? An early miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of pregnancy during the first 20 weeks of gestation. See "Chemical Pregnancy", above. Also click here for more information. What can you do about it? See "Chemical Pregnancy", above. Again, click here for more information on early miscarriages. What is it? Estrogen is is the name of a group of hormones. There are three principle forms of estrogen found in the human body: estrone, estradiol and estriol (also known as E1, E2 and E3, respectively). Estradiol is the primary estrogen produced by the ovaries. Estrone is formed from estradiol; it is a weak estrogen, and is the most abundant estrogen found in the body after menopause. Estriol is produced in large amounts during pregnancy, and is a breakdown product of estradiol. Estriol is also a weak estrogen and is the primary form of estrogen used to treat vaginal dryness, hot flashes and night sweats. However, artificial estrogen has been found to cause multiple serious health problems, so only natural estrogen should be used for supplementation when needed. Prior to menopause, estradiol is the predominant estrogen. After menopause, estradiol levels drop significantly, and estrone becomes the predominant estrogen. The role of estrogen. Here are some of the functions of estrogen: It stimulates the rebuilding of the uterine lining after menstruation; it helps cells in the fallopian tubes, uterus and vagina divide and mature, and it helps to maintain the structure of the vagina and prevent atrophy. It helps to form the shape of the breasts and hips during puberty; it helps to dilate blood vessels to carry more oxygen, and helps maintain a healthy cholesterol balance. It also helps to maintain the blood supply and prevent atrophy in the urinary tract, and in the skeleton, it slows the rate of bone loss in the maturing body; in the brain, it helps to regulate the menstrual cycle and the body's thermostat. Here is a very neat animation about estrogen. However, please take this warning to heart: artificial estrogen is not good for you. Estrogen imbalance. Vitamin B6 reduces blood estrogen and increases progesterone. Therefore, a deficiency of Vitamin B6 can cause decreased liver metabolism of estrogen, further causing an excess of estrogen. This then results in "estrogen dominance". Yet another reason to take B6! Estrogen imbalance contributes greatly to mood swings by increasing the activity of epinephrine, norepinephrine and serotonin. Norepinephrine causes hostility and irritability. Serotonin at too high a level creates nervous tension and an inability to concentrate. Dopamine, produced by the brain, balances out the effects of these substances by inducing relaxation, increasing mental alertness, and working to prevent sodium and water retention. Without sufficient dopamine, moods are greatly affected in a negative manner, and sodium and water retention increase. Estrogen also increases the level of the adrenal hormone "aldosterone", which prevents the normal excretion of salt from the kidneys, adding to fluid retention. This creates edema-like (swelling) symptoms of bloating, abdominal swelling, and swollen breasts. Excess fluid swells the nerve tissue and membranes surrounding the brain. The brain is encased within the skull, and can only expand as far as the skull permits. This often leads to painful migraine headaches. Estrogen can be made "imbalanced" by definition (and with the same symptoms) when a deficiency of progesterone exists, because when progesterone is low, estrogen therefore becomes dominant by default. Women who began to use natural progesterone cream experienced relief from menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia, dry eyes, bloating, irritability, gall bladder problems, osteoporosis pain, hair loss, and lumpy or sore breasts, among other things. For more information on hormone imbalance, click here. What can you do about it? Coming soon! What is it? Coming soon! What can you do about it? Coming soon! What is it? Coming soon! What can you do about it? Coming soon! What is it? The luteal phase is the time from ovulation until menstruation. During this time, a fertilized egg travels from the fallopian tube into the uterus to implant. The luteal phase should be at least 10 days long, and is usually 10 to 17 days long. A luteal phase under 10 days is called a "luteal phase defect". In the presence of a luteal phase defect, the uterus cannot sustain a pregnancy. The uterine lining begins to break down, causing menstruation and, in the case where an egg was fertilized, causing an early miscarriage. One cause of luteal phase defects is low progesterone. A doctor can do a progesterone test at 7 dpo to determine if this is indeed the case. What can you do about it? Doctors often prescribe medical means to correct luteal phase defects, such as progesterone suppositories or fertility drugs such as Clomid (clomiphene). One should consult with one's doctor in any case. However, there are natural methods which are often helpful. Vitamin B6 and natural Progesterone cream or natural sublingual Progesterone are helpful for this. (See the "Supplements in TTC & Pregnancy" section for information on these supplements.) What is it? Coming soon! What can you do about it? Coming soon! What is it? Coming soon! What can you do about it? Coming soon! What is it? Coming soon! What can you do about it? Coming soon!
DISCLAIMER: The information on this web site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of physicians or health care practitioners, nor is it intended to diagnose or prescribe treatment for any illness or disorder. Anyone already undergoing physician-prescribed therapy should seek the advice of his/her doctor before reducing the dosage or stopping such treatment.
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