I have decided to try charting my temps to help with knowing when my ovulation is. I bought a regular thermometer and already I am having wildly varying temps. Do you have to buy a BBT for it to be correct for charting purposes?
The BBT will give you your temp to the hundredth degree rather than a regular BBT will only give to the tenth. Its helpful to have the extra info to be accurate on your chart. For example, when your temps shift when you Ovulate, most charts will show a .04 rise (at least, but some less, around .02.) Without that extra decimal point, it wont show the shift. But if your regular thermometer has it to the hundreth, then you are covered.
Gee that was a long, rambling answer but hope it helped.
About me: A pixie in the city, 41, TTC #1 since May 2010, married 18 years.
Diagnosed with, surgically removed, endometrioma Aug.2010 Sept 2010 IUI #1=BFN, Oct=cyst/bfn, Nov 2010 IUI #2 = bfn. Had to postpone IUI #3 b/c of a cyst natural=BFN. Skipped IUI #3, decided to go for IVF. Found/removed uterine polyps Jan 2011. IVF cancelled, no follicles. IVF #2: 3 great embies put in on Easter Sunday = BFN. Hoping for another chance at IVF in July. TTC is NOT for wimps.
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/ticker/2fab90/ttc.png
Re: BBT thermometer - will a regular one work.
The BBT will give you your temp to the hundredth degree rather than a regular BBT will only give to the tenth. Its helpful to have the extra info to be accurate on your chart. For example, when your temps shift when you Ovulate, most charts will show a .04 rise (at least, but some less, around .02.) Without that extra decimal point, it wont show the shift. But if your regular thermometer has it to the hundreth, then you are covered.
Gee that was a long, rambling answer but hope it helped.