Why A Fertility Temperature Chart Matters

First, let’s look closer at why the fertility temperature chart is important. It is a very helpful way to monitor your journey to pregnancy especially if you’ve been trying to conceive but the monthly checking displays negative results. Charting your fertility signs can be of significant value. If you have an infertility problem, charting can help you to seek your doctor’s advice sooner. Most physicians will want at least 3 months of “good” charts before even initiating fertility tests.

Now, why bother about doing a fertility temperature chart? Well, as you go through your cycle, your body gives all sorts of clues to show when you ovulate. You just need to know how to look for them. As part of charting, you will need to:

• Find out if you’re ovulating.
• Take your “digital basal body temperature” — your temperature when you’re at rest.
• Check your cervical mucus.
• Keep track of the first day of your menstrual period.
• Take note when you have sex.

Here is a sample of basal body temperature and cervical mucus chart and fertility temperature chart.

7 Fertility Problems the Fertility Temperature Chart Can Help You Track With These

It is good to know that charting your fertility signs can help determine many different potential problems with your fertility cycle. Some of these things are anovulation, low progesterone, thyroid dysfunction, low estrogen, luteal phase defect, poor quality cervical fluid, and polyps or cysts on the cervix. Some of these conditions can be easily corrected with over-the-counter remedies and some require the attention of a physician and possibly prescription drugs and infertility procedures.

1. Anovulation – is a phenomenon when an egg is not released by your ovaries during a menstrual cycle. Anovulation may be manifested in luteal insufficiency to irregular periods or an absence of menstrual periods. When you have a full cycle of no drastic temperature shift and yet you have menstrual bleeding this is most certainly anovulation. It can be further tested by your doctor and action can be taken to possibly remedy this.

2. Low Progesterone – Progesterone is one of the hormones that play a key role in pregnancy. The hormone is produced in the ovaries, the placenta (when a woman gets pregnant), and the adrenal glands. It helps prepare your body for conception and pregnancy as well. Low progesterone can be detected when your temperature shifts upward only it stays up by .1 degrees or so. A simple blood test can determine how low your progesterone level is and medication can be given to increase the level.

3. Thyroid Dysfunction – This can be determined, though not always, by too low temperatures during the first week of your cycle, called hypothyroid, and too high temperatures can indicate hyperthyroid. If you suspect this, a simple blood test can indicate if there is a problem in your thyroid. According to British researchers, changes in thyroid function can have a major effect on reproductive function before, during, and after conception. In adult women, hypothyroidism is linked with menstrual problems and a lack of ovulation in some cases.

4. Low Estrogen – It’s the surge of estrogen that causes your body to produce good fertile quality cervical fluid. Low estrogen levels can be detected through charting if your pre-ovulation temperatures aren’t low enough or if you have poor-quality cervical fluid. If you have low estrogen levels, it lessens the chances of having children. This can be due to pituitary gland issues, which can lead to your body not releasing the egg during the time of ovulation.

5. Luteal Phase Defect – This is determined if the number of days from ovulation to menstruation is less than 10. This too can indicate a low progesterone problem. It can be remedied by over the counter vitamin B6 and natural progesterone cream. may need to consult your physician for advice and prescription. For shorter cycles consider Fertile Lady for helping to lengthen your monthly menstrual cycle and sexual desire.

6. Poor Quality Cervical Fluid – This could be determined if you are consciously checking your cervical fluid – and one culprit is low estrogen. One thing that can improve the fertile fluid to thin out is by drinking lots of water. Fertile discharge is thin, clear or white, and slippery, just like an egg white. This type of discharge tells you that ovulation is coming. A few days before ovulation, you will notice a fertile discharge. This becomes wetter and more slippery over several days until the amount of discharge decreases after ovulation.

7. Cervical Polyps or Cysts – These are found by checking the position of your cervix and are usually harmless as they last only a couple of days; however, if they stay on the cervix too long, you should contact your physician. A cervical polyp is a growth that develops on the cervix, the canal connecting the uterus to the vagina. They are usually benign tumors. However, these polyps may appear to have some signs of cancer, therefore it is imperative that a doctor checks them to ensure that you’re safe.

To summarize, 24 hours after your body releases the egg, your temperature rises and stays up for several days. Before ovulation, your Basal Body Temperature (BBT) averages between 97°F (36.1°C) and 97.5°F (36.4°C). After ovulation, it rises to 97.6°F (36.4°C) to 98.6°F (37°C). So you see, the importance of fertility temperature charting can be paramount if you are trying to conceive a baby and keep yourself abreast of your body’s pregnancy preparation.