How to Chart Basal Temperature

Your basal body temperature (BBT) is the temperature of your body while at rest, and keeping track of it can help you pinpoint the day you ovulate. While each woman is different in the exact day she ovulates, most women ovulate around the same time each month. Once you have charted your temperatures for a few cycles, you will begin to see patterns in your chart and know the time when you are expected to ovulate. This helps you to know when you should have intercourse to increase your chances of conception.

Things You'll Need

• Basal body thermometer
• Chart
• Pen or pencil
• Flashlight

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Instructions

• 1

  Prepare your charting materials the night before you take your first temperature. Purchase a basal body thermometer and either use the chart that comes with it, print one out or make your own. Place the chart, a pen or pencil and the thermometer on your bedside table within reaching distance. If it will be dark when you wake up in the morning, you may need a flashlight as well.

• 2

  Set your alarm for the same time each day. Choose a time that suits your schedule and that you will be able to stick to for the entire menstrual cycle.

• 3

  Take your temperature immediately upon waking. Do not talk, get out of bed, eat, drink or use the restroom before taking your temperature.

• 4

  Record your temperature on your chart under the column for the current day.

• 5

  Look for a temperature shift. Your temperatures will show a rise for at least three consecutive days after you have ovulated. The first day of the rise will be the day after you have ovulated, also known as 1-DPO (one day past ovulation). The time period between when you ovulate and when your next period starts is known as your luteal phase.

• 6

  Draw a coverline to show your temperature shift. A coverline is a horizontal line that goes across your chart to show the point where your temperatures rose and indicated ovulation. Start the line directly above your highest temperature in the follicular phase (the time between when your period started and you ovulated) and draw it straight across the page.

• 7

  Continue charting your temperature every morning at the same time throughout your cycle. When pregnancy occurs, you might show a second temperature shift around the time of implantation, however, this does not always happen after conception.