Natural Family Planning: Temperature Method

Natural Family Planning Instructions:
Basal Body Temperature Method

You need detailed instructions in all Natural Family Planning Methods. This is to give you an overview and basics so you can make a choice.

A woman's body temperature varies throughout her menstrual cycle. This temperature variation is mediated by the hormone progesterone and, to a minor extent, the hormone LH. You can use this information to predict ovulation.

Using a special thermometer, called a basal body thermometer, you must take your temperature every morning BEFORE getting out of bed and record this on a chart (such as the one below). Your temperature rises between 0.4°F and 0.8°F on the day of ovulation. (Your temperature will begin to rise on Day 13 of a 28 day cycle and continue to rise until approximately day 15 - these are the three days you are COMPLETELY UNSAFE.) From the day after ovulation until a few days before your period, it will remain elevated. Your temperature will begin to drop a few days before your period. You should refrain from intercourse seven days before the temperature rise until four days after.

Just because temperature changes are very accurate in predicting the day of ovulation, they do not predict it before it happens. To be completely safe, you should consider unsafe days from the first day of your period until the fourth day after the temperature rise. Don't forget, sperm can live up to seven days after intercourse.

You can use Ovulation predictor kits with the temperature charts to more accurately pinpoint your day of ovulation. They work by detecting the small amounts of LH that is present in the urine before ovulation. There is a rise in the amount of LH in the body approximately 24 hours before ovulation. This increase is registered by a color change. You must follow manufacturer's directions precisely to get the best results.

hart your basal body temperature daily on a graph similar to this.

You can download a blank one in HTML Format that you can print out from your browser by clicking the chart. You will need an unzipping program to extract it. An evaluation version is available free on their web site.

Before using this method, you must chart your temperature DAILY for three months so you can learn the temperature pattern for your body.

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