Ovulation Charts? The Simple Way To Use An Ovulation Chart
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by: SholaOslo
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When trying to get pregnant, many women use an ovulation chart to record basal body temperature (BBT) and help determine the most fertile days of their cycle. Immediately before ovulation, BBT drops slightly and then after ovulation, it rises a bit due to climbing progesterone levels. Using a special thermometer, called a basal thermometer, even very small changes in temperature can be measured and charted. Some basal thermometers can measure temperature in 0.1 degree Fahrenheit, or even 0.01 degree. This can allow you to monitor and chart ovulation times during your cycle.
A helpful tip for monitoring your basal body temperature (BBT) is to do it at the same time every day. I recommend starting it on day one of your cycle. This is when your period starts. Keep your basal thermometer on your nightstand or bedside table, as you will need to take your reading immediately upon waking - before going to the bathroom or moving about. If you can use a paper chart to mark your temperature, this will be a lot easier than having to boot up the computer first thing in the morning to enter a few digits.
It's best to follow the instructions given with the basal temperature to ensure that your reading is as accurate as possible for monitoring when you ovulate. This will require you to hold the thermometer for as many seconds as the instructions recommend, and if you get a good quality digital thermometer, it will give you a little beep to let you know that it's taken a clear reading. You may wish you take your temperature orally or vaginally, but whichever method you choose, you need to stick to it every day, and mark your temperature on a graph, so you can see (and most importantly predict) the patterns in your cycle.
Keep in mind that the increase of progesterone creates the rise in body temp, so if the elevated body temp last a couple of days this will indicate that ovulation has already occurred. By charting these changes on your ovulation chart you will start to notice a pattern after a few months, this should give you a very good idea of when you ovulate, in turn letting you that you may need to put a "do not disturb" sign on the front door during these days!
Unfortunately, these tips don't work for everyone, so it's important to work around your situation. For example, if you work irregular hours, such as shifts, you'll need to take the readings at the same time of day (it could mean taking your temperature to work with you and setting an alarm). Similarly, if you're stressed, suffering from sleep deprivation, experiencing jet lag or some other sleep disturbance, your readings may become erratic. Even lifestyle factors such as being a smoker or sleeping with an electric blanket can affect your reading.
Don't be overly concerned if any of these factors are affecting you right now, just take the appropriate steps to overcome them. It could mean listening to a relaxation tape before going to sleep, in order to decrease stress and insomnia, or stopping smoking or the use of electric blankets. Even if your readings for one month are a little erratic, you need to persevere, as each additional month of accurate readings from your ovulation chart will bring you closer to your goal of getting pregnant.
About the Author
You can download and print multiple copies of this free ovulation chart. You can note down your daily readings and it will assist you in predicting your ovulation dates. Just visit this site to get your copy: http://www.ovulationetc.com/free-ovulation-chart/
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