TCC Normal Temperature Range

[donttrythisathome]

Hi everyone,
Help please - I'm clueless about this temperature malarkey!!
I've just started charting with a fahrenheit thermometer and wondered if any of you know what a normal temperature range is please, both for the first phase of the cycle and the LP?
AF is here at the mo and my temperature dropped to 96.5 today which seems low. It was 97.1 and 97.2 on the first two days of AF.
I only started to chart on CD18 of a 28 day cycle last month. The highest it went then was 98.
I've myself worked up now to thinking there's something wrong...
I have an appointment with the nurse in my GP clinic on 2 April to discuss conception, but in the meantime any help gratefully received.

It's hard to know whether those temps might indicate a problem, since what is normal very much depends on the individual woman. Certainly when I temp it is only sometimes after ovulation that my temp hits 37 degrees, which is a normal" temp for many people.

I do recommend you get a proper basal body thermometer. They are only about a fiver and take temps to two decimal places, so are more precise than the one you are using.

The key to temping is to watch what happens over a few cycles. You can't get too hung up on what happens in one cycle or on individual temps. You are looking for patterns over time so you can learn what is normal for you.

I also recommend you take a look at Fertilityfriend.com. There is a lot of information on that site. Alternatively get a copy of Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler, which will teach you how to recognise what is going on with your body.

Wow, thanks for such a quick response Mrshappy. I have the basal thermometer which does show the two decimal places, although I round them up or down to one decimal place, and the book which I agree are very helpful. According to the book my temps would be low, but there is conflicting advice on the web so I'm confused!
Best to chart for a few months I know, but I want to get pregnant asap, especially as i just turned 36, and this would be baby 1!

Don't round up and down because the shift can be very nuanced.

mrshappy I never reach over 36.80 even at highest post ovulationary temp. My coverline is around 36.30

Yellow flowers - I am exactly the same...thought I might have a prob with low temps (only started charting CD 14 this cycle which is no 2) but(don't want to jinx it )had a BFP on Tuesday (CD 39 - when last cycle was 27 days so slightly confused).

Getting stronger so fingers very crossed and so I assume even if it doesn't stick, it means my "low body temp" isn't that low?

DTTAH I'm naturally a "cold" person and my temp has always been about 36.2 - 36.4C (even as a child).

I might get a second (different brand) thermometer, even just a cheap old fashioned one, to check whether your new one is giving colder readings then normal.

I started temping whilst TTC and freaked out when my temps were around 35C. I checked with our other thermometer and it wasn't quite as low. I guess it's all individual anyway...

Thanks, yeah might get another thermometer to compare. No point in worrying unnecessarily!

Hi Don'ttry - when the doc checked my low temp, I was normal in the surgery. Because I take the reading every morning, first thing, before moving, it's quite low. But as soon as I get up and moving, it's normal. WHat this means, don't know, but I'm consistently in the 96s pre-ovulation.

Do let us know what your nurse advises! My doc didn't even recommend a thyroid test, so they can't be that worried.

Personally I think it's OK - my temps are in this sort of range, perhaps a few tenths of a degree higher on average, but I often have temps in the high 96s before ovulation, occasionally even lower. And it sounds as if the "range" is right to indicate a clear shift which is the main thing. Some months there's a clear 2 degrees between my lowest and highest temps - I find it amazing that I don't feel different!

TCOYF actually suggests you don't bother with two decimal places (at least if you're using a F thermometer) because it makes it too easy to obsess over tiny differences rather than trends. I agree with that I think, so I'd go on rounding up/down, as long as you're consistent about it.

One thing you could do would be to look at the 'chart galleries' on fertility friend or ovusoft - quite useful when you are just learning and want to look at loads.

I'm just back from the nurse and she said that the temperatures would be normal for me i.e I guess that it depends on the individual.

I questioned her about hypothyroidism, and she said if I had this I probably would have irregular erratic periods too, which I don't.

She booked me for a thyroid test though anyway as I told her my sister has hypothyroidism.

Feel relieved now - thanks everyone.