Tracking Basal Tempurature When Trying To Conceive

Getting pregnant is a life changing event, and many couples conceive without difficulty. However, if pregnancy is not immediately achieved the couple may become more aggressive in their efforts. Since a woman only ovulates one time per month, it is critical that the couple does not let such an opportunity pass by. One of the most traditional ways to monitor ovulation is by tracking the woman's basal body temperature. Many mothers have successfully conceived by taking the following steps to closely monitor their basal temperature and detect ovulation.

1. Use a digital thermometer. The body's basal temperature is a very sensitive figure that only fluctuates a small amount. It is very important that accurate temperature measurements are recorded in order to closely monitor changes due to ovulation. Therefore, experts recommend that women track their basal temperature using a digital thermometer. These thermometers give clear, precise readings and they are also quick and easy to use.

2. Measure the body's basal temperature at the same time each day. A woman needs to be consistent when tracking her body's basal temperature. Sporadic readings can make it hard to detect patterns or variations, and ovulation can be overlooked. Experts advise women to measure their basal temperature at the same time each day. More specifically, it should be measured at the same time every morning. Before a woman gets out of bed, eats, drinks, or even talks on the phone she should take her temperature so that she gets an accurate reading of her body's temperature at a resting state. The digital thermometer should be kept near the bed so that a woman doesn't have to move around very much to reach it. Many women set an alarm clock for the same time each morning as a reminder to take their temperature.

3. Track basal temperature by creating a chart. To monitor trends in the body's basal temperature, women should record each day's reading in a chart or a table. One column should identify the day and another column should be created to track the corresponding temperature reading. This information can also be tracked by creating a simple line graph so that temperature changes can be easily recognized. For most women, a temperature change of at least 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit over a 48 hour period can indicate ovulation.

4. Examine the results at the end of the month. Many women get excited when they see a change in temperature within the first week. However, because each woman is different, no conclusions should be made until the month is over. To get a better idea about personal temperature patterns, the results from several months should be analyzed to determine a specific time each month that ovulation typically occurs.

Couples who are trying to conceive may get discouraged when pregnancy is not achieved right away. However, sometimes they just need a little help to determine when ovulation is taking place. Tracking a woman's basal body temperature can provide fairly reliable information about a woman's most fertile time of the month, and it costs much less than ovulation tests bought at a pharmacy.


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