title: Basal body temperature assessment: is it useful to couples seeking pregnancy?
abstract: Advanced practice nurses in primary care settings are often asked to give appropriate advice to couples seeking pregnancy. This article examines the issue of basal body temperature (BBT), a time-honored way to establish the presence of ovulatory cycles, and asks if BBT is an outdated recommendation. The article also reviews the benefits and limitations of recommending BBT to couples seeking pregnancy in light of recent fecundity research.
authors.affiliation: Center for Fertility Education, School of Nursing, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA. barronml@slu.edu
authors.forename: Mary Lee
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Barron
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Fehring
mesh_terms: D001831:Body Temperature; D004282:Documentation; D005260:Female; D046910:Fertile Period / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000652:urine; D012252:Natural Family Planning Methods / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010053:Ovary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D010060:Ovulation / Q000502:physiology / Q000652:urine; D010061:Ovulation Detection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012736:Sex Education; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D007986:Luteinizing Hormone