There are many reasons to track a BBT such as evaluating thyroid, tracking hormonal fluctuation, and assessing baseline temperature for metabolic rate and low grade infection. Alone a BBT is not useful, but when coupled with a clinical picture and other objective data; the Basal Body Temp is a useful tool.
To take a BBT:
Before going to bed put a digital thermometer beside your bed. Make sure you will be able to sleep uninterrupted for at least 4 hours. Do not use heated blanket or water bed for this test.
Upon waking, before getting up or moving about; take and record your Temperature. In general you will do this for at least a calendar month.
Other data may be taken to correlate with the temperature such as fertility signs, symptoms relating to thyroid function ( pain, illness, headaches, etc), or other health parameters that may be impacted by metabolic rate or hormone fluctuations.
