How accurate is the temperature taking method for pinpointing ovulation?

[weeblueberry]

I've just bought a kit from eBay that includes ovulation tests, pregnancy tests and a thermometer. The instructions say when measuring in celsius you will note an increase of approx. 0.2degrees during the period immediately before ovulation. But I've just measured my temp 3 times in the period of about 5 minutes and there was at least a 0.2 variation in all 3 of those. So surely that's not a particularly accurate way to measure it? Obviously this isn't the only method I'll be using but when the increase is so tiny...how can it be in any way accurate? Am I missing something really obvious?

Charting your temperatures will not tell you that ovulation is about to happen. You get a temperature rise after ovulation and you need to see at least 3 days above the baseline to confirm it.

You have to take your temperature at the same time every morning - as soon as you wake up, before you get out of bed. The temperature has to be a "resting" rate.

Use an app/website like Fertilityfriend.com to keep a record. The app will work out your base line and will tell you when it thinks ov has taken place.

If you chart your temp over the month, at the same time over a month - suggest first thing before eating/drinking anything - you will notice a definite dip in temp before ovulating, then definite increase at time if ovulation.
Temp will vary a bit over the month, but you will definitely see dip then rise.

Worked for us. I was preg in two months after taking temp.

I've got a chart that I got with the kits so will keep checking. It did say to do it as soon as you wake - which I will - I just found it odd that taking my temp 3 times in such rapid succession showed such different results.

And I realise I wrote increase of temp, meant decrease. Ooops. Thanks!!

I'm trying bbt for the 1st time this month - getting some variable figures so am not entirely convinced of it's accuracy - however I suspect it's more my technique that's questionable!

Have had success with opk & it's worked well in the past so feel more confident with that

Charting your temperature and blood tests are the only 2 ways to confirm ovulation.

OPKs are ok up to a point in that they detect an LH surge that occurs just before ov, but it is possible to see a surge without ov taking place. Some women get several LH surges through their cycle so you need to back them up with charting your temperature to confirm that ov actually took place.

You will see some variation so you have to take the very first temp of the day, before you do anything else.

I started temping because my periods were a bit irregular and I wasn't convinced I was ovulating each month. I used fertility friend rather than a paper chart. After about 4 months of charting, we started seeing eye to eye! I found it reassuring to see a temp spike and got to know when I ovulated. In the end, I didn't really need to chart anymore because my cycle settled down and I could predict with some certainty when I was about to ovulate. It did help with what I wanted to know though, which was when I was ovulating. That way when they repeated my progesterone levels I got then taken 1 week after my chart suggested I ovulated and got a result within range :)

Oh and I got pregnant last month without charting or OPKs but simply dtd around the right time!

I tend to think of it as more of a general idea than an accurate method tbh. I charted for a couple of months before getting pregnant, and though it was clear to within a few days when it happened, it wasn't definite - and then, my dating scan decided I'd ovulated on day 4 (or 2) of my period anyway, and that bears out with the second scan as well, so goodness knows really.

I have glared at my chart so often and still can find no sign whatever of having ovulated at that point, according to temps it was either day 10 or day 13. As you might expect.

I would do it but take it less than literally. I was temping vaginally as well, and there was often a massive difference within the space of an hour, even if I was still in bed both times, and went back to sleep.

I think CM and possibly OPK sticks are the way to go, but generally just keep doing it every other day and you should be alright.

Oh I should say, I used FF too - it's very good - and I had been doing NFP for about 12 years before that so knew my natural signs as well. The temp thing was an added novelty but didn't make things much easier!

I couldn't recommend it highly enough. I used it for contraception for eight months before ttc then conceived first month with both children. I even had a triphasic chart with both so knew I was pregnant before getting a bfp.

The best book I found was 'taking charge of your fertility' by Toni weschler. It explains it all and why it is important to k ow about cervical changes as well as temps.

I did it vaginally and would just use the first waking temp. Be aware it can vary if you take it at different times or have been drinking the night before.

It seems to be spot on for me. It lines up with OPKs, when my period comes (i.e. my luteal phase is pretty much consistent) and the monitored cycles I have had where I have had scans around ov.

I would also recommend fertility friend. It is free and works everything out for you.

These are my charts - you can see pretty plainly when ov happened:
www.fertilityfriend.com/home/343af6

Taking your temp randomly through the day is pointless. It has to be the resting rate and taken at a consitent time in the morning (as far as possible).

Wow Eurochick - your chart is pretty consistent!

I've started using FF as my cycle has been all over the place following a m/c in June. I'm interested in seeing what happens with my temperature before AF/BFP due. With hindsight, I don't think I've been ovulating eg 18 day cycle!

U could probably pinpoint ovulation to the exact day by my sex drive alone - it's shocking in the days leading up to OV!! Then drops off a cliff!

On the 2ww now......but I don't think we've DTD enough this month :-(

hi OP
i had similar issue to you. I got round it by getting a new farenheit therm. the shift using farenheit is much more pronounced- more than half a degree rather than .2 or .3. worked for me, though not impossible that my old c therm was just dicky.

Cheese my acupuncturist used to tell me that I had textbook charts... But unfortunately pretty charts do not necessarily give you a baby win.

I agree re: libido btw.

Thanks for the advice. :) I think I'm going to have to get a Fahrenheit thermometer though. According to the instructions I received the drop/rise is as little as 0.2degrees. Now having done it three days literally as I wake up and before I get up, I'm getting that sort of variance just in those days. I'll give it another week or so but might change to a Fahrenheit one if it doesn't regulate somewhat. :)

You need to be a bit patient. Daily variances are normal. But it is about the pattern that develops over the whole cycle.

FWIW, my rise is usually around 0.5 of a degree C. So it's pretty clear on the chart. But I can have fairly significant day on day variances. I've always used a C thermometer. I've been temping for almost a year and a half now.

Temping is about getting to know your cycle, so you really need to see what the pattern is over a few months. For example, it educated me that when I ov from my right side I usually ov on day 14, and from my left side on day 16 - where I felt the pain coincided with ov on those days as shown by my temp charts. So I roughly alternate between the two. But obviously it took a few months to spot that pattern.

It took til my fourth cycle of charting to really get the hang of it and see a clear ovulation pattern. I found a Fahrenheit thermometer helpful but really it was consistency of timing - setting an alarm for the same time each day, holding my first wee in! - and better understanding of the process that helped. Do buy the book reccomended or do the fertilityfriend course. It really helped me.

Actually, I am getting somewhere with the temping! FF has worked out that I OV'd on cd14 - which I had guessed based on symptoms - so it's confirming what I suspected.

Now I'm on the 2ww & wondering what will happen nearer time when AF is due.

Thanks - was wondering whether to give this a try, but not sure I will use it as the only method as the reliability seems iffy. Worth a try though.

I've done my temp again today and was an entire degree cooler than yesterday so either my body functions are all over the shop, or my thermometer is buggered. :( Where about do you guys do it? I've been putting it in my armpit but I'm wondering if maybe that's not the most accurate place to measure it?

According to the way I'm doing it Saturday's temperature was 36.54, Sunday's was 36.21 and today's was 35.66!! So unless my body temperature is about to drop about 5 degrees before I ovulate I suspect I'm not going to notice a massive difference lol. I think I'll give it another couple of weeks, see how I get on but might get a more accurate Fahrenheit thermometer if I'm not seeing a fairly standard range of temps...

hi. try taking it in your mouth, pretty sure this is generally more accurate than armpit. also take it twice/three times in succession and work out an average.
for me though. farenheit definitely better.

also, my book claims that you dont go down before you ovulate, that is a myth! however you will go up after ov. true to form, I dont go down but do go up!

Thanks Christelle - I'll try popping it in my mouth for the next couple of days.

My periods are fairly irregular so, although I'm charting that fairly carefully too, getting an average cycle length is a bit of a chore! I've got a docs appointment booked for the 12th so hoping she/he can clear up some of the inane questions I have haha. :)