Some women measure their basal body temperature when they are preparing for pregnancy to find out whether their ovaries are ovulating or not and the status of luteal function. But did you know that basal body temperature is also important in the treatment of gonorrhea?
The relationship between basal body temperature and ovulation The general basal body temperature is 36.5°C. Since the thermoregulatory center is extremely sensitive to progesterone, an increase in progesterone will lead to an increase in body temperature. After a woman ovulates, a large amount of progesterone secreted by the corpus luteum can cause the body temperature to rise by about 0.3-0.5℃, and the high temperature period usually lasts for about 12-16 days. If there is no pregnancy, the corpus luteum atrophies and secretes less progesterone, and the body temperature drops and returns to the low-temperature phase. This low-temperature-high manifestation is called biphasic body temperature. (Figure 1)
(Figure 1 Basal body temperature biphasic performance graph)
If there is no ovulation and no corpus luteum formation, i.e., no progesterone secretion, the body temperature will not rise and will show a continuous low temperature, which is called monophasic body temperature. The accuracy of basal body temperature for monitoring ovulation is 70% to 80%. (Figure 2)
(Figure 2 Basal body temperature monophasic performance graph)
The role of basal body temperature in the diagnosis and treatment of gonorrhea
After understanding the concept of basal body temperature, let’s go back to meritorious blood. In the process of treatment, basal body temperature can assist the doctor in determining the efficacy of the treatment, for example, in adolescent patients who are not ovulating, if the basal body temperature is still monophasic after several courses of treatment, it is necessary to continue the treatment.
Basal body temperature can also reflect luteal function to a certain extent. Some patients with gonorrhea may have luteal insufficiency or luteal atrophy. Although the basal body temperature of luteal insufficiency is biphasic, it will show a stepwise rise or fall, with high temperature shortened to 10-12 days (Figure 3).
(Figure 3 Basal body temperature expression in luteal insufficiency, high temperature in this figure starts to decrease from day 10)
The basal body temperature of luteal atrophy shows a slow decrease in high temperature and remains high temperature during menstruation (Figure 4). Therefore, the basal body temperature is one of the important references to adjust the treatment modality at each follow-up visit.
(Figure 4 Luteal atrophy insufficiency)
(Click to download blank basal temperature sheet)
How to measure basal body temperature
①One thermometer, electronic thermometer is recommended in case of inadvertent chewing. electronic thermometer readings can accurately count to one decimal place and automatically retain data until the next test, compared to mercury thermometer readings are more clear and concise.
②If it is a mercury thermometer, then be sure to shake the thermometer mercury column to below 36°C every night before going to bed, electronic thermometers can be exempted from this step. Then be sure to place the thermometer in a place where it can be reached.
③When you wake up the next morning, do not talk and do not get up, immediately place the thermometer under your tongue and take your oral temperature for 5 minutes, preferably at a fixed time each day. The electronic thermometer will automatically sound a beep when the measurement is completed in 5 minutes.
④ Night shift workers should measure their body temperature as described above after 6 to 8 hours of sleep and rest.
⑤You should also record the relevant conditions in your life such as sex, menstruation, insomnia, cold and other factors that may affect your body temperature and the treatment used on the basal body temperature sheet at any time for reference.
(6) Record the daily temperature on the basal body temperature sheet, and finally draw a curve. If the paper form is too troublesome to record, you can also choose to download an app for recording basal body temperature to help patients record basal body temperature, menstrual volume, sex life, etc. There is also the option of outputting images, outputting forms, etc., and taking the available forms directly to the doctor during medical visits.
(7) Generally, at least 3 consecutive menstrual cycles need to be measured.