Measure Your Basal Temperature - Basal Thermometers

Everyone has a basal temperature, but the term is most commonly referred to when women try to get pregnant. The basal temperature is the body temperature that is read immediately after waking up in the morning. Because the body's temperature lowers during rest, the basal temperature is typically going to be lower when you wake up before any physical activity.

Tips: When measuring your basal body temperature, you want to keep your thermometer next to the bed, so that you can get the most accurate reading right when you wake up. Make sure that you get at least 5 hours of sleep, and make sure that you measure your temperature at the same time every day.

Women trying to conceive will generally measure and record their basal body temperature so that they can determine when they are ovulating.

By measuring your basal temperature, you can tell where you are in your menstrual cycle. By closely monitoring your basal temperature, you can figure out when you're ovulating and when you're pregnant, as when the numbers are the highest, you've past your ovulation time. It's best to start measuring on the first day of your period.

Understand the numbers:

• Between ovulation cycles, your basal temperature will not fluctuate more than a few tenths (0.1) of a degree from the baseline number.
  
• When the temperature changes, it'll be between a half of a degree to a whole degree higher than the normal baseline number, which indicates ovulation. This new number should remain for about 14 days, unless the period between ovulation and your period is not the usual 14 days long or if you are pregnant.
  
• When you experience a drop, you will start your next period.

Once, you have an idea of your temperature range, which may take several months, you'll find the best time to try to conceive is about 2 to 3 days before your highest basal body temperature, as this is when you should be most fertile.

You want to use a good thermometer, as you want to get the best reading that you can. Below, are several recommended basal temperature thermometers to choose from.

• Easy to use.
  
• Auto memory shows last temperature taken.
• Fast, 1-minute temperature read-out.
• Extra large lighted display.

• Sensitive to 1/10th of a degree for accuracy.
• Beeps to indicate peak temperature reading.
• Large, easy-to-read digital display.
• Displays a memory recall of your last reading.

• 1/100th of a degree of accuracy.
• Large, easy to read digital display.
• Memory recall of last reading.
• Beeper to indicate peak temperature reading.

• Oral or rectal use.
• Continual beep when used correctly.
• Signals when done.
• 1-minute temperature readout.
• Auto-memory displays last-recorded temperature.