Temp charting - same time every day?

[philbee]

Hi all. I've given in and started trying to temp chart. I don't get up at the same time each day - can I just take my temp when I wake up and am still in bed, or do I need to be setting my alarm and doing it to the minute? This morning I took it about 6.30, thinking I was going to get up for the toilet and then I fell asleep again - does that matter? Thanks.

[KylieP]

I think it just needs to be after three hours or more of sleep? I think it's better to try and do it roughly the same time each day though. Let me know how you get on, I think I have PCOS so not sure it works for me, I'm trying to temp this month but keep forgetting to do it!

[HaveALittleFaithBaby]

I think it depends. Some people find time doesn't vary.the temp much. For me, I have to do it the same time each day. I have to wake at 6.30 in the week so I still set it for the weekend. I wake up and temp before I do anything else even pee which can be uncomfortable at times! On the weekend I wake, temp, roll over and go back to sleep. kylie is right, it should be after at least three hours consecutive sleep ideally. The accuracy of my chart improved immensely by being consistent with the time I took my temp.

[philbee]

Thank you. Will set the alarm I think and aim for same sort of time each morning (have one day I have to get up at 5.30 though so not poss then). havealittle - how did you know it was more accurate?

[Purpledragon]

Hi - just to jump in....if you chart on FF (and likely some other sites do this too) the temps that aren't at the same time will be marked as you go, so for example you can do that 5.30am one and you can see for yourself if it makes a difference. FF marks mine as a different time if there is a variation of more than 35mins or so. Personally I still see a clear pattern in my cycle even though my temping it's perfect. Hope this helps.

[eurochick]

I'm the same, purple. I only set the alarm to temp on days I otherwise wouldn't if I think I am about to ov and want to be able to see that as accurately as possible.

[HaveALittleFaithBaby]

When I first started temping, I struggled to see a pattern but I was taking it whenever I woke up. My charts were all over the place. Once I started taking it the same time each morning my chart looked less like a mountain range! As I say, the variation isn't significant for some people, like purpledragon! But it made a difference to me.