How to Read a Basal Thermometer

Basal thermometers are the primary choice when attempting to chart your temperature to predict ovulation and fertility. It is more accurate than the regular body temperature thermometers, but is read in the same way. The keyword to using a basal thermometer is consistency, and it works best when you know what you are looking for.

Things You'll Need

• Basal thermometer
• Calendar for charting

Instructions

1. 

   Start using your basal thermometer on the first day of your menstrual cycle. Take the measurement before getting out of bed each morning. Too much movement can affect the accuracy of the reading.

2. 

   Choose the site for the temperature measurement. Choose either the mouth, vagina, or rectum. Use the same place each time you use the thermometer. Once the basal thermometer is in place, press the button and wait up to 60 seconds for the results. Most models will alert you with a beep when the measurement is complete.

3. 

   Chart the daily measurement on a calendar so you can track the progress. During the first two weeks of the cycle, a temperature between 96.0 and 97.5 degrees is normal.

4. Watch for an increase of 0.4 to 0.6 degrees in the basal temperature, which indicates you are about to ovulate or are ovulating. Continue to measure and chart your temperature. Following ovulation, your temperature should remain between 97 and 99 degrees.

Tips & Warnings

• Along with the same location, it is important to measure your basal temperature at the same time each day. Take the measurement before eating or drinking anything. A minimum of 5 hours of sleep is recommended to get an accurate reading.