Temping- is this the right way to start?

[Wiggy29]

So AF arrived this morning after ttc for 1 month. This month I'm going to have a go at temping but can I just check I've got this right?

Each morning before you get out of bed/ do anything you take your temp. Then log it on something like fertility friend that will create a chart for you. When you get a rise of a couple of degrees (ish) it means you've probably ovulated. Ideally you'll have dtd just before hand but should do it again for a couple of days after. Over time you should build up a good idea of when you ovulate.

Is that right?

Any advice/ tips are welcome!

PS- I'm sure normally you wouldn't temp so early when ttc but for medical reasons we need to get a shift on so although I agree with advice 'be relaxed/ just enjoy' etc we need to be a bit more focused.

Hi Wiggy, I think you have pretty much got it. The only comment I would have is that you are being a bit ambitious about the temp rise. I think around 0.4C and upwards would be normal. Mine tends to average around 36.2 pre-ov and about 36.7 post-ov.

It's most important to dtd pre-ov. The egg is only able to be fertilised for a short time (I've read different estimates from a few hours to 36) post-ov.

My method is: dtd every other day from end of period. When I get fertile mucus or a positive OPK I switch to every day if I can manage it. Relax a bit when I start to see a temp rise (which is usually 2-3 days after ov for me as my temp tends not to shoot up but rather to climb slowly over a few days). Whilst I can't say that this has worked in terms of getting me pregnant, it has in terms of making sure that I have hit the fertile window in every cycle that we have been trying so we haven't "wasted" any months.

I agree with euro, helps me understand where I'm at (hasn't got me pg yet but when you get used to it it's not so hard and, I feel a bit more informed at least!) I stop the shagging at temp rise generally (but perhaps thats where I'm going wrong!). FF has tons of QandA for all the details. Good luck....

Sounds right. I agree that the rise may only be about 0.4 degrees (F)... If you look at your last 6 temps before the rise, you should be able to draw a 'coverline' 0.1 degree above your highest temperature. Once you have 3-4 temps above the coverline, you can take the last low temp before the rise as your day of ovulation.

I have oligomenorrhoea, so I can't predict when I will ovulate. I use this method, making sure I have sex at least every other day between my period ending and when I'm sure I'm 3-4 dpo. When I have other fertile signs such as cervical mucus, I try and up this to every day.

I use a really good smartphone app called OvuView, another Mumsnetter recommended it to me. vary user-friendly and it will track all this for you once you've got a few cycles under your belt :-)

P.s. drinking alcohol, sleeping in late or sleeping badly can all skew your temp, so I would plot any like this but draw a circle round them, then when you're interpreting your chart, you can take them out if they look out of sync.

I'm interested in the temp ranges you have stated euro. I have been taking temp for the last four days and the lowest I had was 35.11 and highest 36.07. Currently 9 dpo (I think) with bleeding at 7 and 8 dpo when temps dipped fairly significantly. I'm hoping this was implantation. Could I be doing it wrong or is this a possible sign of pg? I have never been known to ovulate so I am keeping my fingers firmly crossed and trying to resist the temptation to poas

Cloudy- I'm afraid I can't answer this but fingers crossed for you, I'll be interested to hear the answer.

Tremolo- I started this morning and got 36.6 but had left thermonater in dresser and not by bed so had to dash across room to get it before hand so think that invalidates today. I'll start again tomorrow as it's now kept on bedside table.

Euro- thanks for tips, what are OPK by the way?

Purple- thank you too for advice, we dtd most days for about two weeks (but then missed crucial week due to work stuff etc) but I don't think I could keep up dtd every day as loses its spark and also (blush) ended up with thrush.

Thanks all, I'll let you know how I get on, any other tips are welcomed.

i'd back it up with super cheap OPks from amazon. They will tell you when you are likely to ovulate- usually in the next 36 hours. Temp rise 'confirms' you ovulated, useful for those who are unsure for whatever reason if they are every month . You are far more likely to get pregnant pregnant if you have sex the day before you ovulate or even 2 days before which is why getting to know your pattern is important. Obviously CM is a great indicator of fertility but not everyone gets egg white mucus, especially as you get older. I had very positive OPk yesterday, no temp rise today but i expect to see one tomorrow. My CM was cloudy yesterday, watery today (today i think i've ovulated).

no need to DTD daily in order to get pregnant, if you want to then of course go ahead. Every other day is plenty. Sperm meets egg plan is over the top, watch out for so called fertility experts websites online which have no scientific backing!

OPK = ovulation predictor kit. In other words a stick you pee on or stick in your urine. Buy a bumper pack from amazon and you can test daily or even twice a day when close to your fertile period (for pennies a day.)

That's interesting blackcat, I read that the egg could be gone within hours etc which freaks you out as it makes that window of opportunity seem minuscule. Are there any shops I can buy OPKs from as would love to get started asap and then can always order cheaper ones online for next month. Do you just wee on them and do you have to do it at a certain time? I'm not really sure what they are!

you can buy them in Boots /superdrug but they are very expensive bought that way. They usually arrive withing a few days from Amazon, the company has a fast despatch but yes i bought from Boots the first month. Full instructions come with them and brands vary . The egg doesn't last long- 12- 24 hours which is why OPks are useful. I think the window of fertility is said to be 6 days or less. Depends on numerous factors. If you're having sex every other day you're covered so don't worry too much!

yes some people have problems with OPks and it can be hard to catch the surge but even when i've missed it i've seen the line get darker then fade away again. They are well worth trying to see how you go.

I just searched OPK in boots website and it came up with some photo frames and some cribs! What should I actually do a search for? How expensive is very expensive and do the ones from amazon come with instructions? Do you have a link? Also (sorry for all the questions), is it ok to start now (on period at the mo) or is it advisable to start at a certain point in your cycle?

Blooming eck! You weren't joking about Boots being expensive! I'm going to have a look on Amazon. Daft question, but why don't they work for some people?

OMG! But not as much as Duo Fertility- £500! Yikes! Defo going to try a few months of the cheap sticks/ temping as a first port of call. My friend has a clear blue fertility monitor I can lend but not for a couple of months as it's in storage at the moment, do you know if they're any good?

Maples- was that apparent quite quickly or was it after a while that you noticed? Did you use Duo?

Just had a look at the clear blue fertility monitor, it sounds great but I wish I could get it sooner, £60 seems steep though.

I put all my data on to fertility friend which helps you get the idea of when you ovulate though be warned sometimes it changes it's mind! . There's a charting course on there too which helped me get my head around charting. I actually still set my alarm at weekends to temp but usually temp, go to the loo and go back to sleep! But otherwise you don't have an accurate chart. It does take some dedication but after a while it becomes routine!
I've had no joy with opks myself but you can get cheaper opks from supermarkets, about £8 a pack.

Maples- you're right about that, defo cheaper. It's surprising they don't offer it on the NHS really.

Have a little faith- I temped again this morning before I did anything and was 36.6 again. I'm going to buy a pack of OPK from the supermarket today and hopefully by the time I'm done with them my friend will have hunted out her CBFM.

Thanks for all the advice everyone.