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Understanding Body Basal Temperature (BBT) Charting and Why It’s Helpful

Updated: Oct 14

Flower photographed by Karl Blossfeldt
Flower photographed by Karl Blossfeldt


Understanding Body Basal Temperature (BBT) Charting and Why It is Helpful

Basal Body Temperature (BBT) charting is more than just a way to confirm ovulation. It offers valuable insight into your menstrual cycle, helping to optimise hormonal health and fertility outcomes. By taking your temperature each morning and observing cycle-related symptoms, you begin to see patterns that tell a deeper story about your reproductive health.


BBT Charting is helpful as it can determine the length of your follicular phase, luteal phase, pinpoint ovulation and your fertile window. All essential in understanding your hormonal health and also an invaluable tool if you are trying to conceive or using BBT Charting for contraception.


From a Chinese medicine perspective, it helps us see the subtle rhythms of your body. For example, consistently low temperatures may point toward Yang deficiency, while a jagged “saw-tooth” pattern may reveal that stress is impacting hormone regulation. These patterns, when combined with physical signs like bloating, headaches, breast tenderness, mood shifts, or changes in cervical mucus, allow us to individualise your care and guide treatment more effectively.



What You Need for BBT Charting

  • A thermometer – ideally one that measures to two decimal places (e.g. 36.38°C).

  • A way to record your temperatures – paper charts, or menstrual tracking apps such as Kindara or Fertility Friend


How to Record your BBT Chart

  1. Place your thermometer by your bed before sleep.

  2. Each morning, on waking (before getting up, going to the toilet, or drinking), place it under your tongue.

  3. Record the temperature immediately on your paper chart or in your app

  4. Repeat this daily at the same time each morning for accuracy.

  5. Note any additional context: late nights, illness, alcohol, or disrupted sleep.

  6. Track cycle signs alongside temperature: cervical mucus changes, breast tenderness, headaches, bloating, mood or appetite shifts.



Some recommend taking your temperature at the exact same time every day. While consistency does help, we’ve found it’s more important to simply take it as soon as you wake. If you sleep in, just note it on your chart as that information can be useful when interpreting patterns.

It often takes around three full cycles to see a reliable pattern, but even one or two charts can begin to highlight useful trends.



Download your free Body Basal Temperature Charting Template here.
Download your free Body Basal Temperature Charting Template here.

Keep It Realistic

For some people, BBT charting can feel stressful, especially if you’re already trying to conceive. We encourage you to treat it as a gentle tool for gathering information rather than another pressure. When viewed over weeks or months, the patterns can provide clarity, reassurance, and guidance for treatment, rather than demanding perfection day to day.



Next Steps

If you’d like support in understanding your BBT chart, or you’d like to integrate it into your fertility or hormonal health treatment, our practitioners can help. We offer free 10-minute introductory phone calls to answer questions and discuss your needs.


Book your appointment here or call us on (03) 9132 0287.









(03) 9132 0287


Written Jo Sharkey

BApSci(ChinMed) BApSci(HumBiol)

AHPRA and AACMA





 
 
 

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