Her body may mistake the sperm for a hostile invader, such as a cold or virus, and produce defensive antibodies. These antibodies incapacitate the sperm before it can pass through the cervix and reach the egg. Antibody testing may be done after a post coital test indicates a potential antibody problem. Treatment may consist of techniques such as intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization that bypass the cervical mucus. BBT monitoring is recommended by many gynecologists as a first step in the infertility workup.
Women experience a rise in body temperature during ovulation.
Daily monitoring can be used to document that ovulation has occurred and to time intercourse. Body temperature can vary for a variety of reasons other than ovulation. The LH kit allows the couple to predict ovulation 24 hours before it occurs whereas BBT changes occur after ovulation. In the endometrial biopsy, a small piece of uterine lining is removed for microscopic examination. The lining of the uterus responds to hormones produced during ovulation by thickening.