Temping & Charting

I'm thinking of starting this...but I am not sure. I don't want to get obsessive and have this process consume my life!!

Can anyone tell me exactly what charting and temping entails? I'm pretty regular, and so far have just been using OPK's, but figure I'd consider this. Also, do you need to start on CD 1?

Thanks.

Re: Temping & Charting

I started temping this month. While it's fine for some people, i find it to be a HUGE PITA. And, I hate it that TTC is the first thing on my mind. So far, my temps and my CM all correlate with the OPK, so from here on in that is the only thing i am going to use. Maybe you should try it for a month and see if you like it. You need to take your temp first thing every morning before you get out of bed and then log it in. it's not hard, but I find it really annoying.....

I read something that said temping and CM are only accurate to a point. OPKs are 99.9% accurate.

Re: Temping & Charting

Re: Temping & Charting

Temping: requires using a basal thermometer to take your temperature every morning when you wake up before you get out of bed. It is very important that you take it before you get out of bed because movement causes your temp to rise. You also need at least 3 consecutive hours of sleep for the temp to be an accurate "resting" temp. You also need to do this as close to the same time every morning as possible.

Charting: requires finding some method of putting the temp on a chart. Most thermometers come with a chart that you can stick in the copy machine and enlarge and then plot each temp. There are also a host of online sites (fertility friend, my monthly cycles) where you can input your temp and it will create the graph for you.


You can start on a day other than CD1, but it isn't going to show you much. As for only temping during the 2WW, I don't recommend doing that unless you have a few months already charted because you won't know what you're looking at.

Also, with regard to OPKs - they only predict ovulation by showing a surge, they do NOT confirm ovulation. The only way to confirm ovulation after a surge is either temping or a sonogram.

Re: Temping & Charting

I use fertility friend for charting. Temping is a little bit a PITA but it does help me. I notice I get ovualtion dips so with that, along with OPK's I definately know when I'm ovulating. Also I know towards the end of my LP is my temps start to dip that AF is on her way instead of just waiting it out.

Re: Temping & Charting

Temping is a pain, but you get used to it - in my opinion.

Re: Temping & Charting

i haven't found it to be a pain and it has been informative.

Re: Temping & Charting

I also temp and chart, and don't find it that annoying, I have been doing since September. I also use fertility friend. as soon as I open my eyes I stick the thermometer in my mouth and close my eyes again. The good thing about my thermometer is that it holds the last temp you took. So then I can check it whenever I am ready to chart it. I have been doing it for so long, its like second nature now. I also use OPK's. If you are going to temp I highly suggest Fertility friend.

Re: Temping & Charting

I am temping for the first time this cycle. I am only on CD8, but I do find it to be a PITA. If this month it correlates with my OPK, then I am done. To have to stick a thermometer in my mouth as soon as I wake up stinks. Plus on my works days I am up at 5am which means on my days off I have to set my alarm to wake at 5am just to take my temp. I know it provides tons of information and I think it's really a great tool, I just don't know if I am this dedicated!!

Message edited 4/18/2007 5:55:07 PM.

Re: Temping & Charting

I never wanted to temp and chart because DH and I were going to BD on the same days anyway - every other day starting from day 10. After our RE visit on Monday, I was handed a chart and told to get a BBT. Today was the first day temping. Not liking it. I didnt sleep well last night and I couldnt see a damn thing. I had to use my itty bitty book light to write everything down and go back to bed for 10 minutes. I know I dont have much of a choice but it still su cks.

Re: Temping & Charting

Goldi-your BBT doesn't have a memory function? Mine does so I take the temp, never look at it and shut it off. When I'm ready to chart I check the memory function to see the temp. If I turned on a light, I'd never get a back to sleep!

Re: Temping & Charting

Does anyone have a BBT that doesnt beep? Mine beeps and it wakes DH up, then i have to listen to him complain. Mine has correlated to my OPK so far so I think I am done, but would still like to have the option. However - I hate it that TTC is the first thing that i think about each and every day when waking up. It's making me obsessive.

Also, my memory function is not working for some reason. It always says 97.70 when i hit the button. I guess I should re-read the directions....