Yesterday I went out to lunch with some girlfriends. One friend was recently diagnosed with an early stage of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). It was a stressful event for her, particularly since this condition might affect her fertility and she’s been longing to conceive a baby for a while.
Deeply concerned, I shared a couple of dietary tips to help bring her body back to balance. Her experience also reminded me of the importance of caring for our ovaries, not just for our fertility, but for our overall health as well, because the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone are both produced in the ovaries, so their health directly affects our endocrine balance.
But how can you monitor the condition of your ovaries and spot any sign of abnormality early on, before it becomes a more serious medical condition? There is actually a simple way, which I’m going to share with you today.
You can gauge the condition of your ovaries by understanding your basal body temperature (BBT), something every woman needs to know in order to better understand her bodily rhythms and her menstrual cycles.
BBT is your body’s temperature during rest (usually during sleep). It is generally measured immediately after waking up and before any physical activity, including eating, drinking, speaking, or emptying the bowel.
Normal BBT during a Menstrual Cycle:
- For a woman in her reproductive age, the BBT is lower before ovulation, and higher after ovulation. It’s the lowest at around ovulation.
- The luteal phase (the period after ovulation and before menstruation) should not be less than 12 days.
- The rise of BBT after ovulation should not be more than 0.5 degrees F (0.3 degrees C).
- The BBT drops at the onset of menstruation if no pregnancy occurs.
- In summary, the BBT chart should look something like the chart below.
Watch Out For Warning Signs:
If the BBT does not rise during the second half of the menstrual cycle, this means that there is no ovulation. It also reflects the condition of progesterone (whether it’s present and sufficient).
To ensure accurate assessment, it’s recommended that you track your BBT for three consecutive months. If you notice any abnormal patterns of your BBT chart, you may want to schedule a medical checkup with your doctor. The earlier you spot any abnormality, the easier it is to fix it and bring your body back to balance.
I highly encourage you to track your BBT with our free BBT Chart, whether you want to conceive, gauge the condition of your ovaries, or to learn more about your bodily rhythms. The only investment you need is a basal digital thermometer.
Take good care of your ovaries my dear ladies. They are one of God’s precious gifts to us as women!
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