I need everyone's person opinion and experience. Please. BBT? Or regular therm?

jennalking2013

I honestly have been charting for about 3 days now, and I've been using my regular old thermometer. I know everyone says to use a BBT, but do I really NEED one? Will it really make that much of a difference? Or is it even worth the money? (IMHO, I would rather buy a few more OPKs and HPTs with the money lol)

Anyone have their own experience? Or opinions? I'm just curious. I mean, it really does all boil down to a personal opinion/preference, right? Or am I wrong?

Please, tell me what y'all think, girls!
Thanks.

ETA: On my chart, I see plenty of difference in my temps so far. I'm just curious if I need to be able to see much smaller changes to know when I O'd, or will my temp spike up more than .1 of a degree when I O?

Ducktale

The first BBT I had didn't go to the hundredths anyway, and I still saw a shift, so I guess it's not necessary. For me it weirded me out to put something in my mouth that I put in my mouth when I'm sick. That's probably dumb because I sanitize it and all, but just separate therms for separate purposes. My BBTs also take longer to get my temp, which the box says that's to be more accurate. Plus it's only $8, I don't see why you wouldn't get one if it might possibly mean better accuracy/easy to see the temp shift.

AppleGrapeMSTK

I am a special snowflake and just used one of those children's ear thermometers for my first chart.  It's just what I had at the house when I decided to begin temping.  I bought a BBT about 30 days in (Od CD53) which only went to the 10ths place.  I used both for the duration of my cycle.  Both showed a clear shift, but my shift was a solid 1.0 degree difference.

Any reliable thermometer with a good battery will show a shift.  A BBT to the 100ths will give you more precise data. If you have a mild shift, like 0.4 difference, a BBT might help you pick up on it.

Just buy a BBT.  It will save you from thinking your therm. sucks and running out to buy a new one, wasting your money, anyway.  

muffin0512

I bought a BBT thermometer before I started charting.  It only costs like $7 or $8, so why not?  I think I would definitely still see a temp shift after ovulation with a normal thermometer but I really like my BBT thermometer!

Twinkie0612

I've used both.  When I first started charting, I used the Mabis BBT from Walmart.  After having two of them die, I ended up just using a regular digital thermometer.  I was able to see a shift with both.

Some women like the BBTs, because most display temps to the hundreth of a degree instead of the tenth of a degree.  In my opinion this is not necessary, or at least is wasn't in my experience.

kelle017

I used a bbt.I never tried a regular but I would stick with the bbt.

SmileyJay

My BBT thermometer was $15 at Rite Aid. It takes much longer than my regular fever thermometer and is more accurate. 

My shift in temperature during ovulation is about 1 degree so it is significant enough that I could use a regular thermometer as long as the thermometer was consistently accurate. Many times they aren't Just splurge the $15 for a BBT and be done with it.

toribrite

My doctor said a regular thermometer would be fine. But I went ahead and bought the BBT one because I needed a new thermometer anyway. I like that it goes to hundreths and I do think it is more accurate.