Despite the huge arsenal of clinical and labortornyh methods used in obstetrics and gynecology, the method of measuring and monitoring basal body temperature is still not lost its significance. Measuring basal body temperature during pregnancy allows you to confirm or deny the fact of pregnancy, determine the risk of interruption before the appearance of clinical and complaints, to monitor the effectiveness of treatment. The prevalence of this method due to its simplicity, accessibility and informative enough. It is particularly convenient to use the measurement of basal body temperature in small hospitals and clinics that do not have modern diagnostic equipment.

What is basal temperature?

Basal (substantially constant) temperature - a body temperature which is more or less constant, regardless of ambient conditions. According to various data, basal temperature measured in the rectum, vagina or mouth. Some authors are inclined to think that it is better to measure the basal temperature in the rectum. Indicators of basal body temperature are regulated by sex hormones, and vary depending on the increase or decrease their level. Thus, the temperature schedule throughout the menstrual cycle of normally biphasic curve looks like. In the first half cycle, under the influence of estrogen, the basal temperature is below the limit of 37 degrees during ovulation Ovulation - How to determine as accurately as possible?   sharply reduced, and then in the luteal phase, progesterone under the influence of basal temperature rises to 37, 2-37, 6 degrees.

Basal body temperature during pregnancy

Based on the above, it becomes clear that the basal temperature during pregnancy will be higher than 37 degrees, due to the continued production of progesterone. That is, normal pregnancy is characterized by higher rates of basal body temperature. In the case of reduction (less than 37) is an urgent need to consult a doctor for further examination and treatment assignment threatened abortion.

But with constant monitoring of basal body temperature during pregnancy, it can be observed once a sharp decline (36, 8-36, 6 degrees), does not indicate a threat of termination. This is due to the so-called implantation retraction. Implantation retraction due to two factors. Firstly, after fertilization reduced levels of progesterone produced by the corpus luteum of menstruation, pregnancy and the corpus luteum has not yet begun to function and produce progesterone Progesterone - norm and pathology   in full strength. Secondly, after conception, pregnancy and held is released estrogen, which in turn reduces the performance of basal body temperature.

It should be noted that the basal temperature is only informative and 16 (four months) weeks of pregnancy, the placenta is not formed. Further, the hormones produced by the placenta, inhibit the synthesis of progesterone in the corpus luteum.

This shows the measurement of basal body temperature during pregnancy?

There are a number of indications, when necessary to control temperature during pregnancy:

• the threat of termination of pregnancy;
• ultrasound data without the presence of external signs of threat of termination;
• women with a history of miscarriage and missed abortion Missed abortion - do not lose faith in yourself ;
• monitoring the effectiveness of treatment interruption threats.

Terms of the basal body temperature

To obtain reliable results when measuring basal body temperature must adhere to certain rules:

• Measurements are made at the same time, with a maximum difference of 30 minutes;
• measure the temperature in the morning without getting out of bed after sleeping Dreams: how to understand our dreams   not less than four hours;
• the temperature measured by the same thermometer (preferably a conventional mercury);
• Temperature is measured in the same location (preferably in the rectum);
• keep the thermometer during measurement are not less than 5-10 minutes,
• the findings immediately to fix the schedule;
• measure the temperature should be in a horizontal position.

Anna Sozinova

Meningitis and pregnancy - a very rare combination, however, exclude the possibility of meningitis during pregnancy impossible. The meningitis prevention is timely treatment of infectious and inflammatory purulent processes and maximum limitation of the contacts of pregnant women with possible sources of infection.

Meningitis during pregnancy - is there a risk?

Meningitis during pregnancy could theoretically grow more frequently than non-pregnant women, since the beginning of pregnancy is associated with reduced immunity. This physiological reaction of the organism, which protects the fetus from rejection by the mother, for whom it is alien tissue.

Immunosuppression pose a threat of infection. Pregnant women often develop a variety of bacterial, fungal and viral infections. Not excluded and various diseases that lead to meningitis.

These diseases primarily include chronic foci of infection in the upper respiratory tract and periodontal tissue. Very often lead to the development of chronic purulent meningitis in the middle ear, sinuses, purulent gum disease. Development of meningitis during pregnancy is quite real.

Immunosuppression leads to active propagation of conditionally pathogenic microflora living on the surface of the body, such as yeast fungi genus Candida, which can also cause the development of meningitis.

Finally, a pregnant woman can get menengokokkovoy or enterovirus infection and the subsequent development of meningitis.

Meningococcal meningitis in pregnancy

Meningococcal infection is quite common. For pregnant women, a particular danger are the carriers of this infection and patients who have had it in the form of nasopharyngitis. They are the source of infection - the infection is transmitted through airborne droplets when sneezing and coughing.

A pregnant woman meningococcal infection in most cases, also takes place in the form of a carriage or nasopharyngitis, without causing any complications. Nevertheless, possibly severe course of meningococcal disease Meningococcal disease: the danger you need to know in person   with the development of meningitis. The course of the disease in pregnant women is usually heavy. And as the disease causes increased vascular permeability, it is possible the penetration of infection through the placenta to the fetus, so meningococcal infection is usually a cause for termination of pregnancy.

Serous meningitis in pregnancy

Serous meningitis often has a viral origin and called enteroviruses Coxsackie and ECHO. But there are serous meningitis Serous meningitis - a consequence of serious infection   and bacterial origin, such as tuberculosis, syphilitic, leptospiral meningitis. Of all these meningitis for pregnant women more real than just a disease of enterovirus infection and the subsequent development of meningitis.

Enterovirus infection is transmitted through dirty hands and objects, which touched the patient (contact transmission of the disease). Not excluded, and airborne transmission, if the patient has a catarrhal phenomena such as cough, runny nose and sneezing.

Hydromeningitis Meningitis - an inflammation of the meninges   - Is a form of enterovirus infection, occurring with lesions of the meninges. The disease mainly affects children, adolescents and young adults, including can develop in pregnant women. The incubation period of the disease from 2 to 12 days. It starts acute meningitis, with a temperature rise, and repeated vomiting. Sometimes there are seizures and impaired consciousness. Febrile period lasts from three to 10 days. On the second - the third day of the disease appear meningeal symptoms: severe headache, stiff neck, and so on.

Prenatal care is dependent on the state of women who had aseptic meningitis. When a moderate course of infection of the disease through the placenta does not usually occur, so the question of continuing the pregnancy is usually solved positively.

How to prevent meningitis in pregnancy

For the prevention of meningitis Prevention of meningitis - reasonable precautions   during pregnancy should be:

• no contact with patients suffering from any acute respiratory infections;
• wash hands frequently; all fruits and vegetables thoroughly washed under running water and parboil;
• promptly treat all acute and chronic purulent ENT diseases and periodontal tissues, as well as any other foci of infection; is optimal treatment of these processes in preparation for pregnancy;
• strengthen the immune system by the maximum stay in the fresh air and the daily consumption of fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals.

Galina Romanenko