Question

The nurse should teach the patient that a decrease in body temperature of what commonly occurs immediately prior to ovulation?

a) 0.2°F (0.1°C)
b) 0.5°F (0.3°C)
c) 1.0°F (0.6°C)
d) 2.0°F (1.1°C)

Answer 1

The nurse should teach the patient that basal body temperature (BBT) rises slightly after ovulation by about 0.5°F (0.3°C) and does not predict ovulation in advance.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should teach the patient that a decrease in body temperature commonly occurs immediately prior to ovulation. However, it is important to note that basal body temperature (BBT) does not decrease before ovulation; rather, it typically rises slightly after ovulation occurs and stays slightly elevated until the start of the next menstrual period. While monitoring BBT using a special, highly sensitive thermometer, it has been observed that the rise in temperature is typically around 0.5°F (0.3°C). This increase in BBT can be used to determine when ovulation occurs, although it indicates that ovulation has already occurred and cannot predict it in advance.