Temping FAQs

lulu1180

For those of us that have been around for a while, we often see the same questions asked repeatedly.  Use this thread to post the questions you have seen asked most often as well as the answer to those questions.  If you have something to add to a question another user already posted, please quote their post and add your input.

lulu1180

Question:
I woke up in the middle of the night, took my temp, then went back to sleep for a couple hours and took my temp at my normal time.  Which temp should I use for my chart?

Answer:
Always use the temp taken at your normal time in your chart and add the temp taken earlier in the notes along with the time it was taken.

dpjennifer

Question:
I'm freaking out over this crazy weird temperature that I got. I was unable to temp at my normal time because of X / was sick and kept waking up / etc. reason. Do I ignore it? Do I retake it? What does it do to my chart?

Answer:
Please always remember that 1 wonky temperature should not make/break your chart. You are looking for an overall pattern. So, just take a deep breath, record the temperature you have and the reason why you think it's wonky at this time, and forget about it until weeks later when you can see an actual pattern in your temps.

dpjennifer

Question:
I work shift work / never wake up at the same time / it is inconvenient for me to set an alarm to wake up at the same time and try to go back to sleep / etc. How do I / Can I even temp?

Answer:
Personally, I wake up on several days a week at 4:30am, and other days at 7:30am, and on the weekends around 8:30/9am. I take my temperatures the first thing in the morning every morning, regardless of what time it is. I have never had an issue with seeing an overall pattern in my temperatures this way. The only time a temp is higher than usual is if I slowly wake up, stay in bed past when I've 'first' woken up, and then take my temp rather than taking it as soon as my body starts to become cognizant. BUT, even then I was able to note only a small uptick in those temps and was able to read my charts with no problems. Every person is different, but I say you try to take your temperatures for several months and see if you discern a pattern. It should be fine. If it is not, then worry about it at that point and work on an alternative solution.

tamalahoops

Question: 
My thermometer keeps giving repeat temps and is not showing a temp shift. Could there be something wrong with my themometer?

Answer:
Yes. Firstly, make sure that the themometer you are using is specifically for bbt. It will say so on the packaging. Not all bbt thermometers are created equally. The target brand bbt thermometer is notorious for repeat temps. The most popular and reliable brand for bbt is Mabis. 

zamoraspin

Bumping this up and also adding:

Question:  My chart has a luteal phase temperature dip, is it due to implantation? 

Answer: Unfortunately it's impossible to tell from your chart whether or not you are pregnant, even if you see a luteal phase dip. Some women experience a secondary estrogen surge during their luteal phase that causes a dip in temperature, even if not pregnant. In one study by Fertility Friend, 11% of cycles that did not result in pregnancy had a luteal phase temperature dip. The best way to know if you're pregnant is to take a HPT.