basal body temperature
- noun
- /ˈbeɪsəl ˈbɑdi ˈtɛmpərətʃər/
- Specialized
- A consistent method for tracking basal body temperature can be useful for those trying to conceive.
Examples
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NFPers who use a symptothermal method take their basal body temperature upon awakening, not prior to intercourse.
Blog text (1) -
Also take note of the days of your menstrual period, and you'll want to begin your own basal body temperature when trying to get pregnant; that is, your body's temperature immediately after waking up each morning.
Blog text (4) -
Your basal body temperature is best taken first thing in the morning, before any activity.
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Monitoring your basal body temperature can help identify changes in your fertility cycle.
Synonyms
Body temperature measured in the morning before getting up
Surface Forms
Morphology
basal + body + temperature
The components 'basal' (baseline/basic), 'body', and 'temperature' transparently combine to indicate a baseline body temperature, so a learner who knows the words can infer the general idea. However, the specific clinical convention (measured immediately after waking before any activity) is a technical detail not predictable from the parts alone, making the expression only partially predictable.
Etymology
Basal body temperature uses basal to mean the body's lowest heat at rest and body and temperature to show it's the person's heat level. It is the temperature you measure right after waking and before any activity, and that's why a small rise can show 'ovulation'.