Progesterone Cream & Basal Body Temperature: Impact on Ovulation Tracking

Question
Hi, I am using all natural progesterone cream to lengthen my leutal phase. Do you know if it can effect your BBT? I read on fertilityplus.org that it will only raise it by 0.1 or 0.2 degrees. I am trying to make sure that I am actaully ovulating and it's not the progesterone cream giving me a false positive reading when my BBT goes up. Thanks you if you can help!

Answer
Hello Catie from the U.S.,

You should not be starting the progesterone cream until after you ovulate, so the cream should not affect your BBT.  The temperature rise with BBT charts is due to the rise in progesterone.  If you use it before ovulation, your BBT will be invalid.

Sincerely,

Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com

Monterey, California, U.S.A.

for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on facebook and twitter with me at @montereybayivf