Basal Body Thermometers
What is a BBT?
A basal thermometer is a thermometer used to take the basal (base) body temperature, the temperature upon waking. Basal
body temperature is much less affected than daytime temperature by environmental factors such as exercise and food intake. This allows small changes in body temperature to be detected, such as those caused by ovulation or changes in thyroid function.
Basal body thermometers measure temperatures to the hundredth as opposed to regular fever thermometers which measure to the tenth. Some digital thermometers are marketed as "basal thermometers" and have extra features such as a larger display, expanded memory functions, or beeping to confirm the thermometer is placed properly.
Where do I buy one?
Any pharmacy, Wal-Mart, Target, Amazon.com, and many other places should carry them. Make sure it is marked “basal body thermometer”.
Why do I need one?
You need one to chart your daily temperatures, if you chose to do so.
What's the difference between a BBT and a regular thermometer?
This is the explanation from What to Expect Before You're Expecting:
"Keeping track of your BBT with a special basal body thermometer (which measures temperature in tenths of a degree instead of the standard two tenth degree increments - a regular thermometer won't get the job done) can help you pinpoint ovulation - at least after the fact. Charting your BBT over a few months will help you to see a pattern to your cycles, enabling you to predict when ovulation will occur - and baby-making conditions are ripe - in future months."
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A basal thermometer is different from a regular fever thermometer which measures temperatures in degrees. A basal thermometer measures temperatures by 10th’s of a degree (some brands will measure to the 100th's) whereas most fever thermometers measure in two-tenth degree increments.
A basal thermometer is more reliable and accurate than a simple glass thermometer since glass thermometers are only accurate to .2 degrees Fahrenheit. You really need it to be accurate to .1 degrees Fahrenheit.
Another advantage of the digital basal thermometer over a fever measuring body thermometer is speed. The basal body digital thermometer is more accurate than a fever based thermometer, and it only takes 30-60 seconds.In addition, a digital basal thermometer is harder to break and remembers the temperature for you if you don’t want to chart it immediately.
BBT Tips (from Babyhopes.com)
Here are some tips to help use your basal body thermometer
with optimum accuracy:
1. Use your basal thermometer first thing in the morning before you get out of bed.To avoiding forgetting you can leave your thermometer at your bedside within easy reach so you don’t have to move much to get it. If you use a glass thermometer, make sure you shake it down before going to bed.
2. Try to take the temperature at as close to the same time each day as possible.You may need to set an alarm to be accurate. Staying within a half hour either side of your average time is a good idea because your temp can vary with the time. For example, if you usually take your temperature at 6 a.m., it is fine to take your basal body temperature between 5:30-6:30, but the closer to 6 the better. The normal variation is by up to .2 degrees per hour. It may be lower if you take your temperature earlier than average and higher if you take it later than average time.
3. It is best to use your basal thermometer after 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep.The minimum limit is 3 hours.
4. You can use your basal body thermometer orally, vaginally, or rectally.But always stick with the same method for the entire cycle.
5. You should try to place the basal body thermometer the same way each dayMeaning, try and place the basal thermometer in the same location of your mouth, same depth vaginally or rectally.
6. If you see a drop in your temperature, have sex.Some women, not all, have a temperature drop when they ovulate and then see the temperature jump following the dip. If you see this drop, it is a good idea to have sex in case you are ovulating. Otherwise continue using your basal body thermometer throughout the cycle for accurate results.
A basal thermometer is a thermometer used to take the basal (base) body temperature, the temperature upon waking. Basal
body temperature is much less affected than daytime temperature by environmental factors such as exercise and food intake. This allows small changes in body temperature to be detected, such as those caused by ovulation or changes in thyroid function.
Basal body thermometers measure temperatures to the hundredth as opposed to regular fever thermometers which measure to the tenth. Some digital thermometers are marketed as "basal thermometers" and have extra features such as a larger display, expanded memory functions, or beeping to confirm the thermometer is placed properly.
Where do I buy one?
Any pharmacy, Wal-Mart, Target, Amazon.com, and many other places should carry them. Make sure it is marked “basal body thermometer”.
Why do I need one?
You need one to chart your daily temperatures, if you chose to do so.
What's the difference between a BBT and a regular thermometer?
This is the explanation from What to Expect Before You're Expecting:
"Keeping track of your BBT with a special basal body thermometer (which measures temperature in tenths of a degree instead of the standard two tenth degree increments - a regular thermometer won't get the job done) can help you pinpoint ovulation - at least after the fact. Charting your BBT over a few months will help you to see a pattern to your cycles, enabling you to predict when ovulation will occur - and baby-making conditions are ripe - in future months."
---
A basal thermometer is different from a regular fever thermometer which measures temperatures in degrees. A basal thermometer measures temperatures by 10th’s of a degree (some brands will measure to the 100th's) whereas most fever thermometers measure in two-tenth degree increments.
A basal thermometer is more reliable and accurate than a simple glass thermometer since glass thermometers are only accurate to .2 degrees Fahrenheit. You really need it to be accurate to .1 degrees Fahrenheit.
Another advantage of the digital basal thermometer over a fever measuring body thermometer is speed. The basal body digital thermometer is more accurate than a fever based thermometer, and it only takes 30-60 seconds.In addition, a digital basal thermometer is harder to break and remembers the temperature for you if you don’t want to chart it immediately.
BBT Tips (from Babyhopes.com)
Here are some tips to help use your basal body thermometer
with optimum accuracy:
1. Use your basal thermometer first thing in the morning before you get out of bed.To avoiding forgetting you can leave your thermometer at your bedside within easy reach so you don’t have to move much to get it. If you use a glass thermometer, make sure you shake it down before going to bed.
2. Try to take the temperature at as close to the same time each day as possible.You may need to set an alarm to be accurate. Staying within a half hour either side of your average time is a good idea because your temp can vary with the time. For example, if you usually take your temperature at 6 a.m., it is fine to take your basal body temperature between 5:30-6:30, but the closer to 6 the better. The normal variation is by up to .2 degrees per hour. It may be lower if you take your temperature earlier than average and higher if you take it later than average time.
3. It is best to use your basal thermometer after 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep.The minimum limit is 3 hours.
4. You can use your basal body thermometer orally, vaginally, or rectally.But always stick with the same method for the entire cycle.
5. You should try to place the basal body thermometer the same way each dayMeaning, try and place the basal thermometer in the same location of your mouth, same depth vaginally or rectally.
6. If you see a drop in your temperature, have sex.Some women, not all, have a temperature drop when they ovulate and then see the temperature jump following the dip. If you see this drop, it is a good idea to have sex in case you are ovulating. Otherwise continue using your basal body thermometer throughout the cycle for accurate results.