How to Chart Your Basal Body Temperature

Keeping track of your basal body temperature can be very helpful for many different reasons. The main reason for tracking your basal body temperature is to become familiar with your cycle. By keeping track of your temperature you can see when you ovulate and how long your cycles last. This is especially helpful when trying to conceive. When you are trying to conceive there is only about a 24 hour window of time when your egg can be fertilized. Knowing when you ovulate can help you determine when the best time to make that baby is! It can also do the opposite. Knowing your cycle can help you prevent pregnancy in the same way that it helps you conceive. Charting your basal body temperature is easy and takes only a minute of you time.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Thermometer
• Chart paper

1. Purchase a digital thermometer. You can use a regular digital or you can purchase a basal body temperature thermometer.

2. Take your temperature on the first morning of your menstrual cycle. You need to take your temperature before you do anything else. You can make this easy by placing the thermometer right beside your bed. You should get five hours of sleep before taking your temperature in order to get the most accurate results but if that is not possible make sure to get at least three hours.

3. Make a chart with a temperature range from about 96.0 degrees to 99. degrees. At the top of the chart write the number one along with the date. The number one will stand for the first day of your cycle. The next day will be day 2 and you will continue until your cycle has ended. Make sure your chart your temperature daily. You can also find interactive charts online.

4. Your temperatures should start out very low. Eventually you should get a temperature spike. For many women this happens around day 12-14 but not for every woman. This spike indicates that you have ovulated. Your temperature will remain high until the end of your cycle when your period will begin.