Temping

[littlestgirlguide]

Can anyone offer any advice?
In an effort to find out if I am actually ovulating (bloods in October showed I didn't that month, despite other symptoms/signs of ovulating) I have bought a basal thermometer and I am confused.
I started temping only last week and this is the result so far:
CD 6 (first after AF) - 96.86
7- 96.80
8- 97.58
9- no reading (blame my DH, he had other ideas on waking up)
10- 98.60
11- 98.60!

Now the first 3 days seem normal to me; but today and yesterday seem odd. Now both days I looked at the thermometer and thought, hmmm, and did a second reading which was the same. I've tested the thermometer later in the day and it is working fine. I'm not ill and don't feel overly hot; so what's going on?

Plus I'm not really sure what I should be looking for.... I was sort of expecting it it be 97 ish till mid-cycle, then drop one day, then go up for a few days and ov would be the first day of the higher readings, right?

Confused....

Oh - meant to say, all readings have been taken between 6 and 7 am, immediately on waking without getting out of bed...

Hi there

Are you entering the temps onto a graph so you can see the pattern - there is lots of advice here www.fertilityfriend.com/

If you have 3 days of raised temps it can indicate ovulation but variations can be caused by lots of things (taking temp at different times, alcohol etc).

I think the problem is that you are taking your temp with an hours difference and that will skew your results. You have to take it at the same time with 3 hours sleep min so if 6am is more convenient then take it at that time but keep to the same time every day. There will be small variations, you are looking for an overall pattern so say for example all temps below 36.5 before ovulation so you could have a temp of 36.45 one day and a temp of 36.40 the next and rise after ovulation to 36.7 to 36.80. Are you using a chart to write your temps down on as this will make it easier to see a pattern. You will see a series of low temperatures and then a sustained rise after ovulation . You can a fall back rise as well but after you have been charting for a few months you will know what is normal for you. Have a read of toni weschlers book taking charge of your fertility or have a look at her website . Some people take their temp in the eve just for fun and they can see a pattern as well. Also if you sleep with your mouth open that will make a difference to your temperature, the most accurate way to temp is internally but not everybody is up for that :) HTH

I agree - some people can be flexible but I had to set an alarm for 6 every day to get accurate temps. I would reccomend doing the charting course on fertility friend to make more sense of your temps.

Based on your current temps, you may well ovulate on the early side (I do!) and that may be why your bloods came back as they did - they were taken too late for when you ovulate. Do you have regular cycles?

Temping is all about seeing patterns emerge over the months and getting to know your cycle. 5 temps in a list will tell you nothing about anything!

Why don't you try one of the online charting websites (I use fertility friend). You do need to be patient to see the patterns emerge though!

Thanks.
I just thought 3 days in row off the top of the scale on the chart I am using seemed a bit odd, especially since all three are exactly the same temp.

It took until my fourth cycle of charting before I really saw clear patterns.

There is a very wide variance there. Doesn't seem quite right, especially if you haven't Oed! For what it's worth, I take my temp anywhere between 5am and 8am - three small children don't allow me to choose my temp taking time - and so long as I've had 3-4 hours of proper sleep, it seems accurate (30+ cycles so I know what I'm seeing!) but that doesn't apply to everyone as mentioned.

The 98.6 is interesting. What happens if you take your temp right now, say? Does it still say 98.6? Reason I ask is that 98.6F is supposed to be the textbook human temperature and might be one a thermometer defaults to if it is going wrong in some way.