NPT Articles

When finding it difficult to conceive many couples have relied on the use of an ovulation chart. Charting your BBT, or basal body temperature, is an extremely easy way to help pinpoint fertile days during your cycle. During a woman’s cycle many things happen to let her know she is about to ovulate, the rise and fall of your BBT is just another of these signs. Right before you ovulate your body temperature will drop slightly and then jump again after ovulation, this jump can be anywhere between a tenth of a degree to a full degree Fahrenheit. To notice changes this minute in nature you need a special thermometer call a “basal body thermometer”, the use of this special thermometer will make your ovulation chart more accurate.

A helpful tip for monitoring your basal body temperature (BBT) is to do it at the same time every day. I recommend starting it on day one of your cycle. This is when your period starts. Keep your basal thermometer on your nightstand or bedside table, as you will need to take your reading immediately upon waking - before going to the bathroom or moving about. If you can use a paper chart to mark your temperature, this will be a lot easier than having to boot up the computer first thing in the morning to enter a few digits.

There are a few things to remember about taking and recording BBT. Do not eat, drink or exercise before taking a reading. If you are taking the reading vaginally or orally, keep using the same site for each reading every time. Keep the thermometer in place for as long as is directed on the package (digital models generally work faster and make a noise to indicate that the reading is complete). Use a digital oral thermometer and record the results on a graph to better visualize what trends are occurring. Free computer graphing and printable sheets are available on a website I’ll share with you in a moment.

Keep in mind that the increase of progesterone creates the rise in body temp, so if the elevated body temp last a couple of days this will indicate that ovulation has already occurred. By charting these changes on your ovulation chart you will start to notice a pattern after a few months, this should give you a very good idea of when you ovulate, in turn letting you that you may need to put a “do not disturb” sign on the front door during these days!

Unfortunately, these tips don’t work for everyone, so it’s important to work around your situation. For example, if you work irregular hours, such as shifts, you’ll need to take the readings at the same time of day (it could mean taking your temperature to work with you and setting an alarm). Similarly, if you’re stressed, suffering from sleep deprivation, experiencing jet lag or some other sleep disturbance, your readings may become erratic. Even lifestyle factors such as being a smoker or sleeping with an electric blanket can affect your reading.

While there are many things that can alter the results of your BBT being consistent and unwilling to give up will ultimately pay off in the end. That said, I know life happens when you make other plans and just because you unexpectedly had to up and go some where, or you aren’t sleeping well because of work, or whatever the case, don’t give up! Don’t let one “off” month discourage you from creating an extremely accurate and helpful ovulation chart.