quick clicks

preconception articles

preconception q&a

community & groups

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Basal Body Temperature

Should You "Temp" for Fertility Signs?

By Krissi Danielsson

In addition to potential inaccuracy for women with unpredictable cycles, BBT charting and other cycle tracking methods can have another downside when timed intercourse causes friction in a couple's relationship. "After six to eight months of being told when we could and would 'do it' and when we couldn't and wouldn't 'do it,' my husband became really put off by the whole thing," says Judy Jackson of Orlando, Fla. The charting made the process feel too mechanical and caused a point of contention between Jackson and her husband. "After a couple more tries, we tossed the thermometer and quit worrying about it," she says. "We conceived on the very next cycle."

Temperature charts can also provide false hope. According to the theory, a triphasic temperature pattern following ovulation can indicate a pregnancy. But unfortunately, a triphasic chart does not always mean anything. "My temperature was rising during what I thought were my ovulation days and showed temperature signs of a pregnancy once or twice, but then I would start my cycle over again," says Jennifer Key of Montevallo, Ala. "It was very confusing and disheartening."

Clearly, temperature charting can have significant benefits, including identifying a woman's fertile window and providing clues to problems for couples with fertility trouble, but extra stress is hardly helpful to a couple's conception odds. So it's important to strike a balance. In most cases, it does not hurt to at least give temperature charting a try in order to identify fertile periods and look for signs of any abnormal patterns. After a few months, a couple should probably stop and evaluate the benefit of the charts before deciding whether to continue, as Dr. Jurema suggests. Some may prefer to keep charting, while others may be better off tossing the thermometers and just being sure to try often.

Want to see more?

• The Right Timing with Conception: Learn to Track Your Body's Fertile Signs to Help You Conceive
• Temping Tips: 8 Ways to Get the Most Accurate Basal Body Temperature
• Fertile Signs: Scientific and Subtle Ways to Know You're Ready to Conceive
• Join the discussion on our Family.com community!