How to Chart Basal Body Temperature San Jose CA

Basal Body Temperature Chart (Symptothermal Method)

A basal body thermometer (BBT) is an ultra-sensitive thermometer that tracks your body's exact temperature. A digital thermometer is your best bet. Each thermometer kit comes with a blank graph. These graphs may have space for you to record Pre-menstrual Syndrome symptoms (PMS).

At the top of the graph are the days of your cycle from 1-40, but you add more days if you need to. Underneath each cycle day is the month and actual calendar date. Vertically listed are temperatures from 99.4-97.0 degrees F. (In Canada, the readings would be in metric units, at from 37.4-36.1 degrees C.)

Each morning, before you get out of bed, you will need to take your temperature orally (you can vaginally, but orally is more accurate) and chart it on the graph. The graph will not be accurate unless you take your temperature the same time every morning.

After ovulation, your temperature rises between 0.36 and 0.9 degrees F (0.2 and 0.5 degrees C). After doing about three charts, you should notice a very distinct pattern of ovulation, which will help you time future intercourses and tell you whether you are ovulating regularly. However, this method will not tell you when to have intercourse, since the temperature does not rise until after ovulation. Do not make the mistake of planning intercourse around this chart. The purpose of the chart is to help you plan future intercourses and assist you in observing your own unique fertility pattern.

If you want to know ahead of time when you are ovulating, then this method is not for you. Ovulation kits and monitors are ideal for for pre-ovulation detection.

The next step is to have your doctor perform blood tests to check your hormonal levels, or do an endometrial biopsy, a test that determines whether you are ovulating or have a hormonal imbalance.

Guidelines for an Accurate BBT Chart

The book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility, explains, by charting body temperature, it is simple to tell when pregnancy has occurred--and when there is danger of miscarriage. Taking Charge of Your Fertility also explains how to choose the sex of your baby by timing intercourse according to certain fertility signs. It also features thorough, easy-to-understand explanations of hormones, the menstrual cycle, and menopause, along with fertility tests and treatments and their long - and short-term side effects, plus a topnotch resource section.