Do's
and don'ts of basal body temperature charting
Do
take your temperature at the same time every day.
You may want to set your alarm clock to wake you up each morning.
Do take your temperature consistently.
You can take your temperature orally, rectally, or vaginally.
Whichever method you choose, make sure you are consistent.
Do keep a chart beside your bed.
Keep Justmommies
fertility chart beside your bed at night with
your thermometer and pen ready. It is important that you take
your temperature while your body is at rest and rummaging
around the house looking for your thermometer or pen may be
the best way to get your temperature rising.
Do take your temperature after at least three
hours of restful sleep. Try to get a good night's
sleep before taking your temperature. If for some reason you
did not get a lot of sleep or you woke up frequently through
the night, you should still take your temperature. Just make
a note of it on your chart.
Don't get upset if you oversleep or forget to
write a temperature down. The purpose of charting
is to help you determine when you ovulate and to hopefully
help you have a baby! If you forget to chart one day, just
plot your temperatures anyway. Make a note of what time you
took your temperature or if you skipped a day.
Don't drink, smoke or eat anything before taking
your temperature. Hopefully, you won't be smoking
if you are trying to conceive. Eating or drinking can affect
the temperature in your mouth if you are taking your temperature
orally.
What
to look for on your basal body temperature chart.
During the first part of a woman's menstrual cycle basal body
temperatures will be lower. The first half of your menstrual
cycle is called the follicular phase. Right before ovulation
you will have a slight drop in temperature followed by a sharp
rise in temperature. Not all women will have a drop in temperature
before ovulation but if you notice your temperature drop,
you should start having intercourse then.
Around
the time of ovulation, you will see a rise in temperature.
By the time you notice this rise in temperature, you have
already ovulated. That is why charting works best when done
for a few months. What you are looking for is a rise in temperature
of about .4 degrees or more. If you have ovulated your temperature
will remain higher. If your temperature remains higher for
three days or more, then you can assume you have ovulated.
Other
things to look for on your chart.
You
may want to draw
a coverline on your chart. This is not something
that you have to do but it will help you see if your chart
has two phases (is biphasic). The easiest method for drawing
a coverline is the three over six method. To draw a coverline
using this method, look at the six days before you ovulate.
Take the highest temperature during these six days and draw
a horizontal line 1/10th of a degree higher than your highest
temperature. Notice how the temperatures before ovulation
are lower temperatures and the temperatures after ovulation
are higher temperatures? This is typical of a normal biphasic
chart.
After
ovulation your temperatures should stay above the coverline
for at least twelve days. If your temperatures fall below
your coverline this may be an indication of a short luteal
phase or a luteal
phase defect.
Another
thing many charting women look for is signs
of pregnancy. If your temperature remains high
for eighteen days after ovulation, this could be an indication
of pregnancy. You may also see a third rise in temperature
occuring about seven to ten days after ovulaton. This is called
a triphasic chart. Sometimes this can be a seen with pregnancy
but it is not a definite sign. Women can have triphasic charts
and not be pregnant.
If
you have charted your cycle for several cycles and have not
acheived pregnancy or are concerned, consult your doctor.
Bring your charts with you as they will be helpful in determining
if there are any problems.
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