What is Basal Body Temperature?

Trying to get pregnant and taking your temperature

Why and when should I check it? 

Great question, if you're trying to get pregnant. This is your body's temperature at rest before you get up in the morning. Because temperature can fluctuate throughout the day, taking your temperature the first thing in the morning, before you get up, before you eat or drink anything, will give you an accurate reading. 

Here's what to do:

• Download a Basal Body Temperature Chart.
• You can use a digital thermometer or an old fashioned glass one, with 1 degree separations (it's just easier to see). 
• Keep the thermometer by your bed. 
• When you wake up, take your temperature before you get up, and before you put anything in your mouth. Record the values on a sheet that you can download. 
• Start taking your temperature around the first few days of your period and continue to put little dots on the graph. 
• Then connect the dots. 

What it all means

Simply, before a woman ovulates (produces an egg), her temperature will be low. After ovulation, her temperature will be higher. Ovulation will occur sometime during the days when the temperature moves from low to high. 

It's best to plan to have sex when the temperature begins to increase. Sometimes, health care providers like to see your recordings because it can help us determine easily that you're ovulating, without you spending a lot of time & money on lab tests and ultrasounds  It also helps us advise you when to have intercourse. For more on Fertility issues, see my Personal Guide to Fertility.