How does charting work?

I have been reading a lot of the posts recently and learning a lot. I was hoping that someone could answer a question for me. I haven't been charting my temps. But I have been taking my temps here and there. I noticed that my temp is up today compared to last week. This week was suppose to be my fertile week. Are high temps associated with ovulation only or are temps high when you become pregnant, how does that all work? Thank you for any light that you can shed on this topic for me.....

[mommyluv02]

when you are temping your levels will be low before you ovulate but when your temps are higher that usually means that you have already ovulated. and it also could mean that you are pregnant but that is not always accurate i didnt think i was preg because my temps dropped and they stayed down but i was. And this month i had a huge spike in my temps and thought i was preg but no such luck. If you want to accuratly chart then go to fertilityfriend.com and they have a free chart that you can use and you have to temp everyday before you get up in order to tell what is really going on. good luck and baby dust.

[tina1111]

A random temp or 2 isn't going to tell a whole lot. The best way is to take temp same time every day b4 getting out of bed, immediately on waking. It has to be taken with a basal thermometer not a regular. To determine if temp is higher you need at least 6 days prior. Temps can be affected by a lot of things. Try fertilityfriend.com I keep my charts there and it seems to be a big help to me. It's free for the 1st month or so. It has a lot of great info, too. Happy charting!

[wants2bmommysoon]

Thank you for the info. I did do some research online and found if your temps are high you have already ovulated like you had said. Which I think I did. I suppose this puts me in the two week wait now....AF is due on March 24th. We aren't technically, officially trying yet, so as you can see I am new at all this. But reading all of the other posts have been very helpful. Thank you for your reply!!! I don't really have any friends that I feel comfortable to talk to about all this.

[wants2bmommysoon]

Thank you for the info. Not sure if I am going to start charting yet but good info to know