What is the Difference Between Basal Body Temperature and Regular Temperature

The key difference between basal body temperature and regular temperature is that basal body temperature is the temperature when the body is at rest and is the lowest temperature of the body, whereas regular temperature is the average body temperature found in healthy humans.

The temperature of the body fluctuates throughout the day. It often rises from childhood to adulthood. Temperature is one of the important signs to indicate the status of health. A part of the brain called the hypothalamus is responsible for regulating the temperature in the body. A temperature change within the healthy range is normal as an individual moves throughout the day.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Basal Body Temperature 
3. What is Regular Temperature
4. Similarities – Basal Body Temperature and Regular Temperature
5. Basal Body Temperature vs Regular Temperature in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Basal Body Temperature vs Regular Temperature

What is Basal Body Temperature?

Basal body temperature is the temperature of the body during resting. It can minimally increase during the ovulation period. When women are at the most fertile period, the basal body temperature tends to increase. There are no side effects in the increase of the basal body temperature. Stress, sleep cycle, tiredness, traveling, illnesses, and alcohol also affect the change in basal body temperature. It is a very sensitive measurement, and it links to ovulation after the menstrual cycle. This occurs with the increase in progesterone hormone.

The basal body temperature is measured using a special thermometer that shows up to two decimal places. It is usually measured first in the morning to capture the body’s lowest resting temperature. Basal body temperature is important in keeping track of the fertility period. Keeping track of the basal body temperature indicates where the cycle is at in women. It is important for women looking for their best chance of conceiving as well as for the prevention of pregnancy.

The normal basal body temperature is approximately between 97°F (36.1°C) and 97.5°F (36.4°C). This temperature range usually rises after the egg cell is released at ovulation and remains at that level for the second half of the cycle. The temperature drops again if pregnancy does not take place. This causes the uterus to shed, causing periods and beginning of a new menstrual cycle.

What is Regular Temperature?

Regular temperature is the typical temperature found in healthy humans. It ranges between 97.7°F (36.5°C) and 98.6°F (37°C). Human body temperature varies with age, gender, time of day, health status, exertion level, state of consciousness, physical activity, and emotions. Regular temperature is maintained at a normal range by thermoregulation by the central nervous system. Thermoregulation is a homeostatic mechanism that keeps an organism at a suitable operating temperature as the temperature may vary according to various factors. In a very hot environment, the blood vessels in the skin dilate to increase the blood flow and carry excess heat to the skin surface. As a result, sweating takes place. When the sweat evaporates, the body starts to cool. If in a cold environment, the blood vessels in the skin constrict to reduce the blood flow to save body heat. Consequently, shivering takes place, and muscles tremble. This helps to produce more heat. Regular temperature varies from one person to another and by the time of the day.

The regular temperature fluctuates throughout the day following a circadian rhythm where the lowest temperature is around 4.00 AM, and the highest temperature is in the late afternoon between 4.00 PM – 6.00 PM. Regular temperature is usually measured using a medical thermometer. An increase in regular temperature causes fever, and a decrease in regular temperature is called hypothermia. Both conditions are likely to become serious if ignored.

What are the Similarities Between Basal Body Temperature and Regular Temperature?

• Basal body temperature and regular temperature are measured using a thermometer.
• Moreover, both can be written as degrees Celsius or degrees Fahrenheit.
• Both are body temperatures.

What is the Difference Between Basal Body Temperature and Regular Temperature?

Basal body temperature is the temperature of the body at a resting period. It is the lowest temperature of the body. Regular temperature is the average body temperature of a healthy individual at any time. Thus, this is the key difference between basal body temperature and regular temperature. Besides, the basal body temperature is measured using a special and sensitive thermometer. But the regular temperature is measured using the regular medical thermometer. Moreover, basal body temperature is usually taken in women to track the menstrual cycle and period of ovulation or at special conditions, while the regular temperature is maintained at a normal range by thermoregulation.

The below infographic presents the differences between basal body temperature and regular temperature in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Basal Body Temperature vs Regular Temperature

Temperature is one of the most important signs to indicate the status of health. Basal body temperature is the lowest temperature of the body indicated when the body is at rest, while the regular temperature is the average normal body temperature of a healthy human. So, this is the key difference between basal body temperature and regular temperature. The basal body temperature ranges between 97°F (36.1°C) and 97.5°F (36.4°C) and the regular temperature ranges between 97.7°F (36.5°C) and 98.6°F (37°C).

Reference:

1. “Basal Body Temperature: BBT.” Natural Cycles.
2. “Content Map Terms- Body Temperature” | HealthLink BC.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Basal Body Temperature” By BruceBlaus – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Normal body temperature. Thermometer showing slightly above 36°C” By Ivan Radic (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr