Charting: Back to the Basics: Temping

When taking a hiatus from charting or starting charting for the first time, it's helpful to review the basics of temperature taking.

Always use a BBT thermometer. This is specially designed for charting. It is more accurate for charting than a fever thermometer. As long as it's a BBT thermometer, it is your preference as to whether to use a digital or glass thermometer. I used digital just because it's easier for me to read a digital readout.

Do your very best to temp at the same time every morning. Even a 15 minute fluctuation in time can affect temps. Set an alarm if you must. For me, if I temped an hour later I could expect the temp to be more inaccurate. I learned this through months of charting. You can see patterns like this after charting a few cycles. If you work shifts you may find this FAQ helpful. If you have other reasons you can't temp at the same time every day, review this FAQ by clicking on this link. Regardless, always note the time you temped accurately on the chart.

Temp after at least 3 hours of solid sleep. If the sleep is disrupted, you can mark "Sleep Deprived" on the chart.

Temp before you get up, before using the restroom, talking, etc. These activities can affect the accuracy of the temp.

Note the temp as soon as you can on a bedside notepad. My digital thermometer records the last 4 temps which is an invaluable feature to me. My memory doesn't serve well to try to remember the temp. Before I had this thermometer, I wrote the temp down as soon as I got it.

These guidelines will make your chart as accurate as possible. If something unusual happens one day, make a note of it on your chart.

If you need a review or would like more information, please visit the temperature section of the Fertility Friend handbook by clicking on this link.