How to Track Your Basal Temperature Online
Basal body temperature is the body's temperature at rest. Tracking (charting) this fertility sign online with a basal body thermometer can help a woman conceive in a shorter amount of time. During a woman's cycle her body temperature will increase approximately 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit in the 48 hours after ovulation. Using a specialized basal body thermometer and online tracking software, you can pinpoint ovulation to maximize the odds of conception.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Instructions
-
1
Purchase a Basal Body Thermometer (BBT) at a local pharmacy, drug store or online. A standard thermometer used for indicating fever will not correctly track basal body temperatures; temperatures before moving or rising out of bed. Basal body thermometers are created with higher sensitivity and are designed specifically for fertility tracking.
-
2
Sign up for a free account at a website that offers interactive charting by creating a user name and password; visitors do not have access to charting features. Premium membership is available at each site however. For beginners, the basic service will be sufficient.
-
-
3
Start tracking temperatures on the first day of the monthly menstrual cycle, when the blood flow is red. Spotting should not be considered as cycle day one. Upon waking, prior to moving from the bed and still in a horizontal position, place the BBT under the tongue and wait the instructed amount of time or for the beep on the digital thermometer before removing.
-
4
Record the temperature immediately, have paper and pencil available next to the bedside. Digital thermometers will conveniently save the most recent temperature. However, once the reading is retrieved, the data will be cleared. .
-
5
Log into the online account for tracking (charting) your basal body temperature. In the data entry section input the temperature previously recorded, also include the time of day the temperature was recorded and any other pertinent information you choose to record for that day. Save the data.
-
6
Repeat steps three through five each day of the cycle. Over time if data is accurately recorded, the online software will notify the user of fertile days and hopefully ovulation. Additional information such as cervical fluid and cervix position can be indicated on the chart as well to maximize the accuracy of the software.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Do not be tempted to take more than one temperature, it will only confuse your charting efforts. Input and save the first reading of the morning.
Some sites provide mobile charting options, for example Fertility Friend has free applications for some smartphones.
Temperature should be recorded at the same time each day. Any changes in habits such as travel, illness or consumption of alcohol may affect the reading. Online charting software allow notation of these daily variances.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images
