To those who BBT chart?

Question

This is my first month charting. My BBTs have remained very high since ovulating. On average, between 98.6 to 98.9. I realize I'll have to wait it out and see if I'm pregnant, but in your experience, how high are your temps normally after ovulating before your period?

Answer 1

In my experience, my temperatures have climbed higher post O when pregnant than when I wasn't. In my non pregnant charts, I almost always have a sharp temp drop the day before AF...sometimes the temps beging to fall less dramatically a few days before AF.

A pregnant chart can sometimes show a triphasic shift, which is a 3rd set of temps above the pre O temps...it looks like a second thermal shift after ovulation. I had a very clear triphasic chart w/ my daughter (and a miscarriage before conceiving my daughter) but not w/ my son. So a triphasic isn't always obvious or present.

If your temps remain elevated 18DPO, you are almost certainly pregnant. You can also look for 3 days of elevated temps beyond yyour longest luteal phase if you have a shorter or longer than average LP.

Some good sources for charting your fertility signs: Fertilityfriend.com (free software as well as a pay-for version and on-line charting turorial); ovusoft.com (discussion boards for many fertility related issues, much info on fertility after the pill, and a very good software for purchase). The books Taking Charge of Your Fertility (associated w/ the the ovusoft website and software), The Art of Natural Family Planning, and Garden of Fertility

Answer 2

Not having any other charts to look at or compare your current chart to, it would be difficult to say. In my experience with charting, the day that my period begins my BBTs fall considerably even if my period has not yet started.

If you are pregnant, your BBTs will stay high after ovulation and not fall until after you deliver. They typically say that if you have regular cycles and your BBTs are still high 18 DPO then you should take a test (most of the time though, you will already have missed your period).

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I have to agree with the previous post. After O, my temps are around 98.4-98.6 and will stay that way for about 18 days. Then on day 18, my temp will fall to something around 97.8. That's when I know my "friend" is coming that day. Since this is the first month you are temping, you don't know how long your lutal phase is yet (in case you don't know, the lutal phase is the # of days from the day of ovulation until your period comes) I believe the average is 14 or 16 days. But until you know, what 18 days so you don't waste money on tests!

Good Luck to you