Basal Body Temp question?

Question

I have been TTC for almost a year, so I've started tracking my BBT. I have two questions. The first is that I am using a regular digital thermometer, not a BBT thermometer. Will this still get the job done right? Second, my numbers are all over the chart. Rarely do I ever have two days the same. For example 3 days ago it was 97.5 then it was 95.7 today was 96.3. The thermometer itselft seems to check out ok, because i tested it against another fever thermometer. I do it when my alarm goes off every morning, before I get out of bed. I don't understand how the numbers can be so far apart. How am I supposed to figure out my baseline if i can't figure out a regular temperature?

oh, and there's no way that i was ovulating when i had that high temp :)

Answer 1

I have also started my BBT charting this cycle after TTC for about a year now and I had the exact same concerns. My chart looks like the rocky mts. and I have not had one temp. that is the same... Also, on mine I couldn't use a paper chart because my temps are too low (95.9-97.7 for now anyways - I just passed ovulation, so it could go a bit higher.) My friend is a MD so I showed her my chart and asked her about it. She said that it was a little jaggy but since this is the first month it will take awhile (2-3 months) to find the pattern that goes with my body. I asked her about the low temps too and she said that it could be thyroid so she told me to get that checked out... I also asked about the thermometer and she said that a normal one is fine and costs less.

There is a website that is really good too and free for some time. I have started to use it. Http://www.fertilityfriend.com. It helps to keep track and also shows you automatically your base line and the days that you ovulate. The website also has some articles you can read about things that affect your temps - They are very helpful you might want to check it out too...

Some tips that I have gotten from my friend and also the website is that 1) Check the exact same time everyday, 2) Same position everyday 3) If you can have someone else get the thermometer and put it in your mouth it is better.

Good Luck and don't worry too much...

Answer 2

I used BBT for several years. IT may take some time to get a pattern and even though you are checking it right away in the morning there is a 'curve' to begin with.

Even with that fluctuation you are not really looking at temps on a daily basis, it's more to show you the ovulation and rising temps. When do you think you'll be o'ing?

I purchased a bbt thermometer but mine only did 1 decimal point and I've not had troubles. I also used a regular thermometer for a while and had no troubles.

Answer 3

The BBT thermometer measure temperature to two decimal places. It allows you to see much more subtle variations in your temperature, and gives you a better picture of your temperatures. For some people, it can make a difference. Are you consistent about how you take your temperature-did you take it sitting up one day, but laying down another? Check out the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility or the website fertilityfriend.com for more information about charting.

It may take some time to see a pattern in the temperatures, but, if you don't see a pattern in a month or two, sometimes, it can indicate other problems that may keep you from ovulating. You may want to combine temping and other charting with using ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) which are available in most drug stores near the pregnancy tests. OPKs. OPKs detect a hormone (LH) that's in your urine, and it spikes just before ovulation, and can help you predict your fertile day.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Well, it may be that the thermometer isn't as accurate as it appears or your bbt could be changing rapidly. Here is an article which talks about the differences in regular thermometers and basal thermometers for charting.
http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/predicting-ovulation.html

That method is a popular one but may not work for you. That doesn' t mean anything is wrong, just that your temp isn't a reliable method of predicting ovulation. Here is a website that has other easy ways of predicting it:
http://4woman.gov/pregnancy/tryingtogetpregnant/tryingtoconceive.cfm