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Effective Ways To Use The Basal Body Temperature Method
Many couples, in their attempt to conceive, often try out various conception aids. For some, it’s the equation of lots of sex + right timing = baby. For some, it takes more work and patience to reach the goal.
There are several methods to help a woman conceive sooner like the digital basal body temperature thermometer, ovulation calculator, ovulation calendar, ovulation tracker, and mucus secretion method.
What is Basal Body Temperature?
When you’re fully at rest, your temperature is your basal body temperature. When ovulation is taking place, there may be a slight increase in basal body temperature. Fertility is sure during two to three days before your temperature rises. By tracking your basal body temperature each morning, ovulation may be predictable.
How Does Tracking Your Basal Body Temperature Aid in Conception?
Basal Body Temperature (BBT) method is a very natural way and one of the easiest ways of tracking and charting your more fertile days by temperature, therefore increasing your chances of the ‘right timing.’ The concept behind BBT is very simple: your temperature is generally lower before ovulation and higher after. Generally, before ovulation, if you have a regular menstrual cycle, your BBT is between 97 and 97.5 degrees Fahrenheit and after ovulation, the temperature rises to 97.6 to 98.6 degrees.
To effectively use the BBT method, you must take your temperature every morning immediately after waking up, before you even have your coffee yet. By using a piece of graph paper, you can record your temperatures, and you should note a fall in temperature right before ovulation. Immediately after ovulation, progesterone is released – a hormone related to pregnancy that causes the body’s temperature to increase, holding it at a higher level until the next time for ovulation.
Regular Thermometer vs Digital Basal Body Thermometer: Know The Difference
The Basal Body Thermometer is best preferred over a regular thermometer because, during ovulation, the changes in body temperature are as slight as 0.3 degrees. Unlike regular thermometers, the basal body thermometers are accurate to 0.1 degrees as compared to regular thermometers, only to 0.2 degrees. The Basal thermometer gives you measurements with decimal places so that you can be aware of the slightest shift in your BBT.
3 Ways To Properly Track Ovulation with a Basal Body Temperature Thermometer
The BBT method may be a little inconvenient. So, here’s a quick step-by-step instruction to assist you :
- Same time, every day. To achieve maximum effectiveness, you should measure your BBT the moment you wake up and discipline yourself to be consistent.
- Start with the first day of your menstrual period. This will help sync your BBT fluctuations with the cycle and find out if you have any issues with your cycle, such as delayed ovulation or anovulatory syndrome.
- Be mindful of patterns. Having the routine of tracking your temperature measurements for a few months, you will notice shifts in your basal temperature then you’ll be able to predict your most fertile days. That’s when conceiving is highly predictable.
To determine your success in the BBT method, track your temperature until your next cycle. You are most likely pregnant if your temperature does not drop 16-18 days after ovulation.
3 Types of Basal Body Temperature Thermometer
To help you shop the best basal thermometer for you, let’s briefly scan through the main types of BBT thermometers available on the market today:
- Glass. This is the traditional mercury-free thermometer which is still recommended by doctors. The best part is its autonomous work without using electricity. However, glass thermometers could be fragile and their sensitivity may vary based on a lot of factors.
- Digital. This is the most common type of basal thermometer today. Such a type measures temperature automatically and has a digital display. They are easy to use except for issues of battery life. Also, data tracking still needs to be done manually, for most of them.
- Smart. These thermometers can be connected to a smartphone app. This pricey apparatus automatically syncs the measurement taken with your app via Bluetooth and forms a chart containing all your parameters. Also, the use of AI algorithms results in personalized predictions.
If you’ve decided to use the basal body temperature method in tracking as your primary method of conception, you must take note of your basal thermometer’s accuracy. Aim for the one that can detect the slightest shifts in degrees which can give you the whole picture of your fertility level. The power source is also a big factor to consider. Make sure batteries are strong. While Basal thermometers have memory features, it is still safer to jot down your data. Durable thermometers could be more expensive, yet they could be more dependable. Lastly, the certification and approval from the FDA of the basal thermometer would make you feel more comfortable using it.
The BBT method is natural, cost-efficient, and helps you understand how your body works as you get ready for pregnancy. For assurance of accuracy in recording basal body temperature, consider thermometers with a soft and flexible tip, and quick reading time. The main drawback to the BBT method, however, is that there are outlying factors that can influence your BBT like alcohol, lack of sleep, and irregular cycles. Some women have even been known to ovulate twice in one month. If you happen to be one with an irregular cycle, you may need to patiently take measurements for more months to wait for a pattern. You may also need to get proper sleep and monitor your intake so that your body gets conditioned and prepared for conceiving a baby!