When are your most fertile days? It’s possible to use your body temperature to pinpoint when you’re ovulating. As you ovulate, there’s an increase in average body temperature, and this is when ovulation occurs. It’s also when you’re most fertile. It’s useful to track your ovulation if you’re trying to conceive and want to know your most fertile days, which will increase your chances of getting pregnant.
You need to record your body temperature at regular intervals to get the most accurate reading. A chart will help you track your average daily temperature so that you’ll get the most accurate readings.
When you first get up in the morning is the best time to record your temperature, and it should be done at the same time daily using a basal thermometer. Take the temperature when you first get up, before doing any other activity because extra movement will result in an increase in body temperature.
The Change in Temperature That Shows Ovulation
There’s basal body temperature (the lowest temperature in a 24-hour time-frame) prior to ovulation, and it ranges from 97.0° — 97.5° F or 36.1° — 36.3° C. This is called the Follicular Phase. Some women will actually have a drop in temperature.
Once the body temperature increases due to ovulation hormonal fluctuations, the range could be from 97.6° — 98.9° F or 36.4° — 36.6° C, and this is called the Luteal Phase.
The day following ovulation, body temperature usually increases an additional 0.2° F or 0.11° C and stays at this elevated level for 10-16 days. It will return to normal if a pregnancy doesn’t happen or remains at a high level for 18 days or more. In cases like this, you should have a pregnancy test done.
Maximising Your Chances: Beyond Temperature Tracking
While tracking your basal body temperature is a fantastic way to pinpoint ovulation, it’s not the only tool in your conception toolkit. Let’s dive into some additional strategies that can boost your baby-making odds:
- Get intimate regularly: Aim for every other day during your fertile window. This ensures a fresh supply of sperm without depleting resources.
- Mind your diet: Load up on fruits, veggies, and whole grains. They’re packed with nutrients that support reproductive health.
- Ditch the vices: Say goodbye to smoking and excessive alcohol. They’re not doing your fertility any favours.
- Manage stress: Try yoga, meditation, or whatever helps you unwind. High stress levels can throw your cycle off-kilter.
- Consider supplements: Chat with your doctor about prenatal vitamins or folic acid. They’re like a nutritional safety net for would-be mums.
Remember, conception is part science, part art, and a whole lot of patience. Keep at it, stay positive, and don’t hesitate to reach out to a healthcare pro if you’re hitting roadblocks. Your baby-to-be is worth the effort!
For fertility charting, there are additional methods such as the cervical mucus method along with the calendar method. However, these methods aren’t as accurate as the temperature approach we mentioned earlier since they don’t consider changes to your body or irregular periods.
Zoom Baby Ovulation Thermometer
The Zoom Baby Ovulation Thermometer is designed to take accurate temperature readings to help you identify your fertile days and increase your chances of conceiving.
This thermometer is incredibly easy to use, simply take your temperature every morning before getting out of bed and record it on our menstrual cycle chart. It measures in Celsius and reads to 2 decimal places for accurate temperature plotting.
With our Ovulation Thermometer, you’ll be able to track your temperature changes during your menstrual cycle, identify your ovulation days and predict your periods with ease. It’s an ideal solution for women who are actively trying to conceive or who want to monitor their menstrual cycle for better health management.
Use a basal thermometer to start charting your ovulation and be sure that it comes with an ovulation chart. Just photocopy this chart as needed.
Photo by Sarah Pflug from Burst
This post first appeared in 2019. It was last updated in September 2024.
Zoom Baby is a leading supplier of Pregnancy Tests and Ovulation Test Kits
