Very low temps - does this mean anything?

[iwantbabies]

I've just started charting my temps and am a bit concerned that they're lower than average. The lowest I've had was 35.11 and the highest was 36.02. I have PCOS - will this have anything to do with it? Should I mention it to GP?

Would appreciate some advice.

Yes. With PCOS as well there is a high chance that you are not ovulating regularly. When were you diagnosed with PCOS?.

PCOS and temp charting are uneasy bedfellows, I would refrain from charting in your circumstances. It could leave you even more confused if you ended up with a chart akin to the Rocky Mountains.

PCOS is a buuger of a condition and often requires careful management. You should ideally be under the care of a gynae at a subfertility unit. GPs don't always know enough about PCOS either.

Thanks for your reply Attila. I don't believe I'm ovulating at all as I have very long cycles. GP diagnosed a few months ago after internal scan and blood tests. She has referred me to the fertility clinic and I have first appointment in May. Hoping they'll prescribe clomid straight away - what's the chances?

I thought I would give the charting a go for a couple of months. The last time my temp was very low was the day I had bleeding. Since then my temps have been consistently higher although they do resemble the Rocky Mountains as you say! I just want to see if there are any patterns.

It sounds more like a problem with your thermometer or temping technique, to me. Temps below 36 are clearly not accurate, as "normal" core body temperature should fluctuate around 37 and I would say anything over 36 is probably reasonable because your mouth/armpit/whatever will never get quite as warm as your core temperature.

Are you temping first thing in the morning before doing anything else? (Including talking, drinking water, going to the loo...) And how are you temping? Vaginally/rectally is the most accurate but many people prefer not to... Taking the temp at the back of your mouth under your tongue is the next best thing.

AFAIK, if you have PCOS then temping is the most accurate way to tell if you're ovulating, as you will still get a sustained temp rise after ovulation (although that might not occur until CD 50 or whatever). Whereas with CM and other signs you may get signs that you are about to ovulate several times during the month (but only one of them at most will actually coincide with ovulation).

You should be getting more "realistic" numbers than this, though, and if you are doing what I've mentioned above and getting numbers below 36 then you probably need a new thermometer.

Hope this helps.

Hi iwant,

Clomid is often prescribed as a first line of treatment for women with PCOS but there are a couple of caveats to it. First of all not all women with PCOS are actually suitable to take it (usually as a result of sky high LH levels to start with) and you need to be monitored consistently whilst on it as clomid can affect hormone levels markedly. No monitoring whilst on this drug treatment is unacceptable as you have no way of knowing whether its working or not. Clomid's main job is to make the ovaries work harder.

Unfortunately the assertion made with regards to temp charting and PCOS is not correct. You can get a sustained temp rise in the second half of the cycle when an egg has not been shed so charting is not infallible and can be very problematic with PCOS in particular. Also cycles of over 35 days if consistently over that length are more likely than not to be anovulatory ones (again this is far more likely if PCOS is present). Blood tests if done consistently as well will give a far more accurate picture of overall hormone levels. If you still want to temp despite all this I would take the temp each morning before you get out of bed and give yourself a set time limit to this of say no more than 2-3 months. If you continue to get Rocky Mountain type charts I would refrain from charting because it could just lead to more confusion.

Thanks for the advice. Jen86 I have followed the guidance in Toni Weschler's book TCOYF re oral temping so perhaps I need to get a new thermometer.

Attila I wasn't aware that clomid isn't suitable for all women. My GP told me that PCOS it's a relatively easy problem to treat and I'll simply be asked to take clomid for a few days. I'm not that optimistic but who knows. Good advice re the time limit on charting. My last cycle was over ten months long so I certainly won't be doing it for that long!! I'm just curious to know what's going on with my body and hoping that the lifestyle changes I am making will help regulate things. I've already seen a slight improvement. I will use your info to prepare myself prior to first appointment to prevent them fobbing me off!

"Attila I wasn't aware that clomid isn't suitable for all women. My GP told me that PCOS it's a relatively easy problem to treat and I'll simply be asked to take clomid for a few days".

Hi iwant,

Your GP is misinformed I am sorry to say (as some are when it comes to such an issue). PCOS is a bugger of a condition and the root causes of it are still not fully understood. No one therapy or treatment completely cures it. It can also requires careful management and usually such women are seen by a gynae at a subfertility unit.

Verity's website www.verity-pcos.org.uk may be helpful to you as well.

Clomid is usually taken between days 2 and 6 daily. It is usually only given for a max of six months after which other treatments are tried (clomid resistance can be a problem). You should certainly be monitored whilst on this drug treatment, no monitoring is unacceptable.

Do try and stay within the correct weight range for your height as any excess pounds can exacerbate symptoms. Some PCOSers find that following a low GI/GL (glycaemic load) eating plan helpful and it is sustainable in the longer term as well.

Thanks for the info Attila. I am attempting to follow a low GI diet, have purposely gained a few pounds as BMI was borderline too low, having reflexology sessions and am exercising regularly. It may have helped as I had a period recently after almost a year. Fortunately I'm not under any illusions about clomid being a wonder drug, despite what my GP told me although I know some women who have had success with it quite quickly.

Do you know whether the doctors at the fertility clinic will want to try me on Metformin to try and bring some regularity to cycles? I'm really not keen on that.

Hi Iwantbabies :) sorry for the short message I haven't much time, I would get the doctor to check your thyroid I had the same problem and it turns I have an underactive thyroid