BBT testing. Is it really worth doing?

[Firsttime0727]

Hi all,
I've just started tracking using opk's. I have been tracking my bbt as well however I'm not really seeing much of a pattern and wondered whether it's really worth doing?

I've seen lots of posts saying their bbts are all over the place but for some it seems to really work!

I suppose each individual is different like with anything, but I just wondered what most of you thought and what your individual opinions were?

I don't want to become obsessive and stressing over something unnecessarily if that makes sense 😊

Thank you in advance ❤️

It's handy to confirm ovulation has happened but I've found it causes more stress than it's worth. I have a 13 month old though so can't guarantee I get up the same time every day

IMO not really. Though I'd never argue definitively one way. There are just a few other factors that can affect your temperature outside ovulation/conception. Whereas I find LH tests to be a bit more scientific.

BBT works just as well for others though, so each to their own.

Thank you ❤️

Thank you

In my opinion it is absolutely worth it as my bBT is clockwork & shows me exactly when I have ovulated & it’s no stress, I sleep very well right through & just stick it in my mouth as soon as I wake up 🤷🏻‍♀️ BUT I have seen peoples charts that are all over the place. I think if you are getting up in the night for a child or to urinate lots then I’m not sure how useful you would find it but defo worth a go! I use opk’s to know when I’m ovulating & BBT to know I have ovulated & my progesterone is staying high enough as that’s what gives you the temp increase. Will attach my chart from last month. I don’t usually start temping until 9/10dpo as I just do it to see the rise & after doing it for a few months I now now what my follicular BBT is. Good luck if you do decide to give it a go. I would recommend the easy@home thermometer, I got it on Amazon for under £10 🤞🏼🍀

Oh that's really interesting to get another perspective thank you 😊

So you recommend not temping until 8/9dpo, how quickly is your temp meant to rise as I thought it was straight away? Can tell I'm new to this 😂

Thank you for sharing your BBT chart @4LeafCloverBaby . I can see your first rise after dip was still abit on the low side but the day after it shot up. Gives me hope as my BBT dropped yesterday (the day after LH peak) but this morning only risen enough to be back in line with previous temps, so really hoping mine also spikes tomorrow.

@Firsttime0727 I've been temping for 3 cycles and despite this one being abit odd (because I usually get a spike the day after drop but this time haven't), I'd say it's a good way of confirming you've ovulated, given you're able to get good sleep, wake up sane time etc. Still learning though

Scientifically it's less reliable than OPKs because there are so many variables that can impact your bbt. Some people swear by it, I found it rubbish for me because my sleep and wake time are unreliable, and my schedule changes constantly so it was impossible for me to track accurately which honestly made it worthless.

@Firsttime0727 I think if it’s your first cycle temping then maybe start doing it after your period so you get to know what your follicular temp usually looks like but you really only need to see the spike after ovulation, this happens the day after ovulation & then to keep temping through your luteal phase to make sure you progesterone level stays high 😊👍🏼

@JS5 yes it will spike high the day after ovulation 😊

Does anyone use a specific app to track/ input the temp numbers?

I have the apple watch which connects to natural cycles

I really recommend the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility; it explains how to track it and your cervical fluid etc properly and how to interpret it all.

I like seeing the rise but I found it really stressful making sure I woke up at the same time every day and that I'd slept for long enough beforehand. I've been using my Apple Watch to track it for a few months now and now it's taken that element out of it, I find it a nice bit of reassurance that I've likely ovulated. It gives me a good countdown to testing as well.

Thank you much everyone! I think I will maybe give it a go next cycle, starting on day one of my period and make sure I test the same time everyday - sounds like first thing is optimum time to test?

In order to get a proper reliable temp it needs to be the first thing you do. You're tracking your resting body temperature essentially so it's important not to move too much, go to the toilet, have a drink etc. Basically the second you're awake, even before you open your eyes, you should shove the thermometer in there.

I found that really hard, and found it annoying having to set an alarm at the weekend for the same time I would get up at during the week. Tracking it using my watch has been a game changer for me.

I echo all of this, adding:

It’s handy to gauge time between LH peak and ovulation. Eg, I got lh peak yesterday but temp didn’t rise this morning, so didn’t ovulate straight away. Will expect temp rise tomorrow to confirm if happened today. Takes the guesswork out.

First few months I recorded the whole month but once I got used to where my normal temp sat pre and post ovulation I stopped doing that. Now I only start a few days pre ovulation, and continue every couple of days until period starts (only as it gives me a 24-hr warning when it drops that AF is coming next day). Once you get used to your temps you might not even have to record them - I know what mine needs to say to confirm ovulation.

my routine sees me wake up any time between 5.45am and 7.30am (with maybe once a week night time loo break) and doesn’t seem to affect my temps.

get a thermometer with memory, so you can measure til it beeps then switch off straight away, and when it comes back on record the temp. Took me a while to get hang of that and I almost gave up as I thought I had to put light on and record temp while it’s bleeping wildly

It’s more than optimum time - it’s the only time. As @Bugdem123 says, don’t even sit up or move. Have it somewhere reachable and measure before you even engage your brain in thought.

The only challenge for me is sometimes remembering I’ve done it! I can be half asleep, do it, go back to sleep and then do it again by accident 😂 I also sometimes have dreams about doing it. Annoying!

I really look forward to the first 1.5 weeks of my cycle where I get a break from it!