How to Take Basal Body Temperature

Taking and tracking your Basal body temperature is a great way to help to pinpoint ovulation and determine your most fertile days for conceiving. Some women also use their Basal temperature as a way of birth control, by refraining from intercourse on the days they project they will be fertile. Whatever your reasons may be, taking your BBT is fairly easy, if you have the right equipment. Here is how to take your Basal body temperature:

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Basal body thermometer
• Pad of paper, OR
• Blank chart
• Pen

1. Purchase a Basal body thermometer so you can take your BBT. A regular thermometer will not work for these purposes, as it won't be able to accurately record the slight change in your BBT that you need to record in order to determine ovulation. Opt for a digital thermometer if you can, as the results will be as close to perfect as you can get – something you are less likely to get with a glass thermometer. You can pick up a thermometer at any drug store; ask the pharmacist to help you pick out the correct type.

2. Place your Basal thermometer on a nightstand, or somewhere close by your bed. Also keep a pad of paper and a pen near by, if you are recording your daily temperature for conception or birth control purposes.

3. Reach for your thermometer after you first wake up in the morning, while keeping the rest of your body still. Immediately take your temperature before you do anything else. Then, right it down on your pad, or if your thermometer is digital and keeps a record of your last temperature, you can record it later.

4. Try to take your temperature at the same time every single day. This will ensure that you get the most accurate results, especially if you are tracking your BBT to prevent pregnancy from occurring.