Which statement about basal body temperature is true?

• A. The normal range is 97.6 to 98.2°F.
• B. The normal range is 96.0 to 97.0°F.
• C. The normal range is 99.0 to 100.0°F.
• D. Basal body temperature is not used in clinical assessment.

Answer: (A)

Basal body temperature reflects the small rise in resting body temperature that happens after ovulation due to progesterone. When you measure it first thing in the morning after several hours of rest, the baseline temperature typically falls in the mid- to high 97s Fahrenheit. About 97.6 to 98.2°F is a commonly cited normal range for this resting temperature. Before ovulation, temperatures stay near this baseline; after ovulation, a rise of roughly 0.4–1.0°F occurs and remains elevated for the rest of the luteal phase. This is why the 97.6–98.2°F range is considered the typical baseline.

The other ranges are outside what’s usually seen as the normal basal level, so they don’t fit. And while tracking BBT can be used for fertility awareness and cycle monitoring, it isn’t a standard standalone diagnostic tool in most clinical assessments.