Calling all BBT experts!

[Pudding01]

I'm trying BBT this cycle and I'm a bit concerned that I didn't actually ovulate.. I got my positive ovulation on CD13 and could see my temp go up CD14, but it's dropped again today... Shouldn't it be up 3 days in a row to confirm ovulation?

It can take 3-5 days to see the trend of higher temps post ovulation. Keep temping and wait it out

So could it drop but then go back up? And I could have still ovulated yesterday/today? Sorry, I thought I thought I had this sussed as I've been looking at examples and saw it was higher for at least days after the positive ovulation test, which got me a bit concerned when I saw the low temp again today.. Been trying for 10 months so far x

You have a lot of variation in your temps which makes it harder to detect a trend. Are you taking at the same time every morning, as soon as you get up, before getting out of bed? I know some women have more luck taking the temp vaginally as its more consistent?

If I'm honest, then days was slightly earlier, but by about 15 mins. I took it again 10 mins later,, after laying in bed on my phone, before getting up and it went up from 35.9 to 36.2, which I found odd, as I hadn't moved 🤷🏼‍♀️ But assumed it had to be the moment you opened your eyes, so went with the lower.
I could try the other method, might need to buy a different thermometer for that though! X

Go ask for a day 21 progesterone test if you have a few months with no sustained increase.

What are your cycles like normally

They've been irregular between 28-32 days long. I think there's roughly 13 days in my luteal phase as I do ovulate late. This months positive opk seemed early to me, but thought I could still ovulate up to CD15 on average? I did get cramps for 2 days, but that could have been anything.
Will a 21 progesterone test pull up if I'm not ovulating properly?

Well not an expert but from what I know: positive OPK means you'll generally ovulate in 12 to 36hrs, so could be the spike on D14 is an anomaly and the temp on D15 is your ovulation dip. Or, D15 temp just a bit 'odd' and can ignore... keep with it, as you say, need 3 days rise to confirm O. May well be hard to see though as your temps are a bit all over the place as pp said, but the hot weather (poor sleep/waking me up at night) is making mine look ridiculous at the mo, so could be a factor for you too (and not much we can do about it - not complaining 😎!). I don't think 15 mins earlier/later would make a difference day to day, but it does need to be as soon as you wake after at least 3hrs sleep, just being awake not moving raises your temp. Looks like your thermometer only goes to 1 decimal place, for BBT tracking needs 2 numbers after the decimal so if you are getting a new one would suggest get one like that it may be more accurate. Good luck!

Try to keep it up for a few months, you'll notice your own pattern.

For what it's worth, my temp always goes up the day after ovulation, then down (a bit, not as much as yours is showing - sorry), then back up on the 3rd day.

I have positive opks and regular cycles and my temps increased but never high enough or for long enough. The day 21 progesterone test showed that my eggs weren’t quite mature enough and I was given tablets called clomid to help them and help me conceive.

Thank you for your advice and sharing your stories. It's nerve wrecking TTC. You wouldn't think that I'd done it before! Luckily I fell pregnant very quickly, so didn't need to track.
Temp has gone up again today and I'm feeling very bloated with tender boobs, so guessing I am definitely in my luteal phase now. There will be no telling whether I ovulated on day 13 or 15 though, will there? Even if I get a steady increasing line for a few days.

So my FF app has put my ovulation at CD13.. So confused 🤔 Guess it's only 2 days difference in the grand scheme of things. Just thought temping & CM would make it easier than just the opks 🙈 Either way, I'll be testing next weekend!

Ff looks right to me. The average of the three temps post o is higher than the cover line

Thanks @InNeedOfALieInNow. So it's just 3 above the cover line, rather than 3 in a row?
Think I might slowly be starting to understand it now! 😅 Not sure how the cover line was determined, but it seems like a very clever app! x