The association between basal body temperature, sexual swelling and urinary gonadal hormone levels in the menstrual cycle of the chimpanzee

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Abstract
Basal body temperature (BBT) was measured continuously by radiotelemetry throughout 14 chimpanzee menstrual cycles and correlated with daily observations of the sexual skin swelling. A biphasic BBT shift from a pre-nadir mean of 36.12.degree. C to a post-nadir mean of 36.67.degree. C was observed in 12 cycles. The temperature nadir showed a close temporal relationship with detumescence of the sexual skin swelling (an early luteal event), but the rate of temperature rise after the nadir was variable. In 3 normal cycles studied, the temperature nadir occurred the day after a urinary estrone peak, but there was no consistent temporal association between BBT rise and pregnanediol increment. Progesterone secretion is therefore probably not the sole determinant of the BBT shift; the changing estrogen/progestin ratio may be the more important factor regulating body temperature during the luteal phase.

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