Charting Your Fertility Signs: Basal Body Temperature - Page 2
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-Getting a Picture- *In time, a pattern should emerge. Estrogen causes low temperatures in the beginning of the cycle, and progesterone causes a temperature spike after ovulation. A few women experience a temperature dip on the day of ovulation, such as I did on cycle day 19 (see chart above).
*Draw a "coverline" to help you spot the temperature shift. When your temperature rises at least .2 degrees higher than it had been earlier in the cycle, look back at the six previous temperatures (disregarding any aberrant temperatures brought on by strange circumstances), and draw a line .1 degree above the highest of those six temperatures. For example, my coverline on the chart above is at 98.0 degrees. You'll know you've ovulated if future temperatures stay above the coverline.
*Generally, you ovulate the day before the temperature shift. The day you ovulate can vary widely from cycle to cycle, but your luteal phase (the number of days from the temperature shift to the start of menstruation) remains essentially constant month to month. That means that, once you see a temperature spike, you can predict what day your period will arrive. (Women on the pill often brag that they can plan their lives around their very predictable cycles. Now you can, too! :-) )
*A luteal phase needs to be at least 10 days long for implantation to occur (12-14 days is even better). Notice that my luteal phase on the chart above is only 8 days long. Since I was breastfeeding and getting back to normal after the birth of my baby, this doesn't concern me too much now, but it's something I'll watch for in the future.
There probably will be months when your chart makes absolutely no sense. Post it on the web (see links), ask for advice, do more research, but don't take chances. If you can't read your chart with certainty, and you can't get pregnant, then abstain (or use a barrier method) until the information becomes clearer.
To maximize your chances of getting pregnant, you'll want to have intercourse the day before ovulation, so that the sperm are waiting for the egg when it's released. To avoid pregnancy, you'll want to abstain before and during ovulation, so the sperm don't have a chance of meeting that egg. Your chart gives you lots of information about your fertility, but it only tells you when you've ovulated AFTER the fact. That's like some kind person warning you about the banana peel on the floor after you've already slipped on it. Thanks for nothing! In fact, your basal body temperature chart provides the basis for understanding your fertility, but you'll need to combine it with two more fertility signs - cervical fluid and cervical position - to get an accurate, useful picture. Start charting, but stay tuned for more fertility sign information. . .next time.
