Charting Your Basal Body Temperature
First things first... before I begin.. In order to chart your basal body temperature (Your body's resting temperature) You will need a basal thermometer.

Here is what a digital (yes, you're going to want digital) basal thermometer looks like and a few places where you can order them online!
Below THAT, I will explain the whooollee story behind charting your basal temperature to see when you are ovulating!


http://www.mommybabysite.com/thermometers/mc301.htm

http://thefertilityshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=38



http://www.drugstore.com/qxp40512_332828_sespider/bd/digital_basal_thermometer.htm


http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100125&navAction=jump&navCount=3&id=prod1159737#


SO, this is how it all works.
I will use my own charts from various months as an example to show you how you should organize your own chart. (As you can see on my chart, I use www.fertilityfriend.com. I would suggest www.fertilityfriend.com for charting. It has very helpful tips and tools and helps to accurately pinpoint your ovulation day. FertilityFriend does all the work for you! You just take your temperature for them!)
Here are some abbreviations you will need to know to help you read the example charts!

1. Day - Day on a fertility friend chart.. just means "Cycle Day"
2. CM - CM stands for Cervical Mucus.
3. CP - CP stands for Cervical Position
4. BD - BD stands for Baby Dance.
5. Ener - Ener stands for Energy
6.  Stats - Stats means just that... your stats!
7. Mood - Mood is of course... what kind of mood you are in!
8. Test - Test just means Test... you record your home pregnancy test (HPT) results there.
9. OPK- OPK means Ovulation Predictor Kit.. There you can record the results of any Ovulation Predictor test you may have taken.


You should start your chart on Cycle Day 1, which is the first day of your menstrual period, as seen below. This is the first day that you have red flow (not spotting).
(Cycle Days are numbered on the fourth row from the bottom in this particular chart.)


There are a few guidelines that you should follow when charting your temperature to help you get the best interpretation.
Take your temperature first thing in the morning before leaving bed.. and after at least three hours of sleep! (Make sure to use a special Basal Body Thermometer)

Take your temperature at the same time each morning.. or as close as possible. Take a note of the time.

Record your data on your chart or a bedside notepad as soon as possible after taking your temperature.

Continue to watch your temperature each day from the first day of your cycle to the last. The last day of your cycle will be the day right before your period begins again.


How will you know when you have ovulated?
That's easy!

Just continue to watch your temperature every day..It should stay the same for quite some and then rise at LEAST 0.2 degrees. If it continues to stay raised until your next cycle begins, you will know you have ovulated. The temperature rise MUST be sustained in order to confirm ovulation.

The BIGGEST advantage of charting your temperature is that it is the only method that uses your Basal Body Temperature... and your Basal Body Temperature is a critical fertility sign, the ONLY one that will tell you definitively that you ovulated!!

The ONLY draw back to charting your temperature every morning... is that you won't know you have ovulated until it has already happened.

So.. Ya wanna know WHY your temperature rises??
Well, after you ovulate the corpus luteum (the remains of the follicle that released an egg at ovulation) produces progesterone.
Progesterone causes an increase in your body temperature that can be observed when you are charting your basal body thermometer and taking your basal temperature up waking each morning. The increase in progesterone is what allows you to see the temperature increase.

What if I can't take my temperature at the usual time or I have another circumstance hindering my usual temperature or temperature taking?
Circumstances that may cause an odd or unusual temperature that doesn't look good on you chart may be sickness, lack of sleep, fever, or a different waking time. If you are using fertility friend, it is usually a good idea to NOT discard temperatures because Fertility Friend will analyze your temperatures for you and still be able to determine when you ovulated. Only when a temperate is NOT accurate or stops you from getting a reasonable analysis, should you consider discarding temperatures. NEVER discard temperatures just to make your chart look pleasing to you.

Should I adjust temperatures if I wake up at a later time than usual?
Most likely not. Usually an hour or less won't make that much of a difference. It may be more pleasing if you adjust your temperature as far as your chart goes... but it will not be more accurate... and more accurate results are more valuable when it comes to taking your basal body temperature.

Tip: If you wake up in the middle of the night and are certain you will be able to go back to sleep.. try to resist taking your temperature. Taking your temperature more than once only lead to confusion and loss of sleep. HOWEVER, if you wake up in the middle of the night and are sure you will not be able to go back to sleep, go ahead and take your temperature and use that one in your chart.

Is it more important to take my temperature at the same time or can I just take it after three hours of rest?
Most women will be able to take their temperature after three hours of rest and get the same result they would have had they taken their temperature at their usual waking time. This varies, however, from woman to woman based on each woman's unique metabolism. You will only be able to tell if this is okay for you after charting for several cycles.

What if I have to get up in the middle of the night almost every night?
If you have to get up in the middle of the night and it is unavoidable like having to take care of a small child, or having to go to the bathroom, just do the best you can. Some women will notice a rocky temperature pattern because of this and some will not. Try to take your temperature at the same time each morning or choose a time that will be after you have had the most sleep.

What if I work shifts?
Just take your temperature after you have had at least three hours of sleep. Try to take it at the same time every day. If you wake at a different time on your days off, just take it and make a note of it on your chart.

What if I travel?
If you travel within your own time zone, just make sure you have had three hours of rest. Traveling should not have a huge impact on your temperature unless you are traveling to another time zone. If you are, your temperature should only be affected on the day of travel and the day after. Then just continue to take your basal temperature at your usual waking time according to the local time where you are.

What if I have a rocky or erratic temperature pattern?
If you have a rocky or erratic temperature pattern, you may want to review your chart and try to think of any circumstances which may be causing your temperature to be off. If there are no circumstances, you may consider making sure you are using a Basal Body Thermometer, or changing the batteries in it. Also, some women cannot get a clear biphasic (means two phases.. in your case.. lower and higher temperatures) pattern taking their temperature orally and may resort to taking their temperature vaginally. If you have tried everything and still have had several erratic charts, you may want to consult your health care provider.
Also if you have flat temperatures, or no biphasic pattern at all, you may want to change the batteries in or replace your basal thermometer. If it continues to happen, consult your health care provider. You may not be showing any ovulatory pattern.

***You may also get a rocky temperature patter when you aren't ovulating or are having a delayed ovulation. If you are taking your temperature accurately and still are not seeing a clear ovulation pattern, then this may be the case***


Will I get more accurate results my taking my basal temperature vaginally?
Most women are able to see a pattern easily enough by taking their basal temperature orally. When temperatures are rocky and erratic, it is usually to poor temperature-taking habits (especially not taking the temperature at the same time) If you are doing as you should and taking your basal temperature at the same time every morning and still are not seeing a clear pattern, you may want to try taking your temperature vaginally. If you plan to do this... wait until a new cycle starts. Do not change from oral to vaginal in the same cycle. This will disrupt your basal temperature pattern since vaginal temperatures are typically higher than oral temperatures.
To take your temperature vaginally, just insert the tip of your thermometer inside your vagina in the morning and record your temperature as usual.

Can I conceive on the day of the temperature rise?
By the time you see the temperature rise, you have already ovulated, which means it is most likely too late to conceive that cycle. The best time to have intercourse when trying to concieve is the few days before the thermal shift in your chart. After charting a few cycles, you will start to be able to predict or know when you will ovulate depending on how regular your cycle is.

**Just so you know**
Your temperature will drop right before or right after your period arrives. For most women it is before. If you see your temperature drop around the time you expect your period, your period is still most likely on its way and you are mostly likely NOT pregnant.
If it is before you would expect your period, it is still too early to tell. Remember you are looking for an overall patter. A single temperature doesn't carry much meaning on its own in most cases.

My temperatures look to be extremely rocky during my period. Why is this?
It is not uncommon for temperatures to be rocky during your period or even a bit higher than normal. Your hormones are just trying to return to where they were before you ovulated. They normally don't take long to level out. You should still be able to see a clear pattern and detect ovulation.

Also, if you see a temperature dip during your luteal phase (the time between ovulation and your next period), it is not necessarily a cause for concern. Remember, a single temperature doesn't carry much meaning alone. You are looking for an overall pattern. If you continue to see dips and such during your luteal phase, it may be to poor temperature taking habits.

You may, however, see a dip on the day of ovulation. Many women do see a dip, but many do not. If you have the advanced warning of ovulation such as this dip, take advantage of it and have intercourse that day. You may not always see this dip, however.

What if I sleep with my mouth open? Will this cause a problem with me taking my temperature?
If sleeping when your mouth open happens only on occasion due to nasal congestion or a cold, it should not have much of an impact on your chart. Just keep on taking your temperature as usual and make a not of the circumstances.
If you always sleep with your mouth open, then maybe taking your basal temperature vaginally would be the best route for you.

How much will my temperature rise when I ovulate?
Normally, you will be able to see a clear biphasic pattern on your chart after ovulation has occured. The temperature increase may be as much as 0.4 degrees Farenheit and 0.2 degrees Celsius or your basal temperature increase could be as slight as 0.2 degrees Farenheit and 0.1 degrees Cesius. It may vary greatly. More valuable than the increase in temperature is the overall pattern, though.

And also, basal temperatures will normally remain roughly the same from cycle to cycle. You shouldn't see much of a change there.

There are a few small things that can change your basal temperature from cycle to cycle. Some of these are seasonal changes, more or less blankets, and having the air on or off. You should still be able to see a clear pattern as these should not affect your temperature much at all.


Will I be able to tell by looking at my chart whether or not I conceived that cycle?
Unfortunately no. The only reason you may suspect pregnancy would be having your temperature remain evelavated 5 to 10 days past the time you would expect your period and obviously - not getting your period - .

Some signs of implantation may be brief spotting, a second temperature shift of dip about seven to ten days after ovulation. These can all happen, however, with or without conception so they really aren't reliable signs of conception at all.

Having a second temperature shift after ovulation, meaning a triphasic pattern (three levels of temperatures) does not necessarily mean you are pregnant. Some women with these charts DO turn out to be pregnant but many do not. ONLY trust a positive pregnancy test.

There is also no way to tell by looking at your chart if you MAY have released more than one egg.

******* If you are taking any fertility medication that may altar your chart, you may want to speak with your physician about this.  He can tell you when to expect ovulation based on your own unique situation.*******

Can I chart while breastfeeding?
Before you get your first postpartum period, you may experience a long period of time without ovulation. Charting during this time may be very difficult. Just keep an eye out for other fertility signs such as eggwhite textured cervical mucus and start charting then. At that time you may be able to catch your first postpartum ovulation. Things will be come much easier when you get your first postpartum period!

It is a good idea to chart WHILE watching your other fertility signs such as cervical mucus and position. Be SURE to read the other section of the site that discusses cervical mucus and cervical position.


ALSO!! DON'T FORGET THAT IS IMPORTANT TO EAT A HEALTHY DIET! IF YOU JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE EATING RIGHT =)), THEN MAKE SURE TO TAKE A GOOD PRENATAL VITAMIN.. YES EVEN THOUGH YOU AREN'T PREGNANT YET!

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CAUTION:

***CHARTING YOUR BASAL BODY TEMPERATURE TO DETERMINE WHEN YOU OVULATE SHOULD NEVER BE USED TO AVOID PREGNANCY. YOU MAY NOT HAVE INTERCOURSE AROUND THE TIME YOU OVULATE, BUT HEALTHY SPERM CAN SURVIVE UP TO 3 OR 4 DAYS INSIDE A WOMAN'S BODY. THIS IS NOT A RELIABLE FASHION TO PREVENT PREGNANCY***
Some of the only reliable ways to prevent pregnancy are by using The Condom, The Pill, The Shot, The Patch, or GET FIXED! Just DO NOT use charting!

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By all means this site is dedicated to helping women conceive naturally. BUT just in case someone is here by mistake, by ALL means I will provide a way to help prevent an UNprepared for, and unplanned pregnancy!

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