Problems in using basal body temperature recordings in an infertility clinic.
Br Med J 1977; 1 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.1.6064.803 (Published 26 March 1977) Cite this as: Br Med J 1977;1:803
- E A Lenton,
- G A Weston,
- I D Cooke
Abstract
Basal body temperature recordings are extensively used to diagnose and treat infertility, but too great an emphasis on the interpretation of these charts might be counter-productive in managing these patients. Several gynaecologists who use temperature charts clinically were asked to score 60 charts taken from a selection of normal and infertile women, and their results were compared with those obtained by a group of non-experts. Since the full hormonal profiles had been obtained for each of the 60 charts the accuracy of the predictions could be assessed. About 80% of the temperature charts were correctly interpreted by both groups as being either ovulatory or anovulatory but the day of ovulation was predicted correctly for only about 34% of the charts. When the charts were examined retrospectively the thermal nadir was found to coincide with the luteinising hormone surge in 43% of the charts from normal subjects but in only 25% of those from the infertile patients. Predicting the day of ovulation from the temperature recording, particularly in infertile women, is clearly unjustified.