Ovulation Tracker

[Babs1982]

Can someone look at my ovulation tracker. I'm not sure if I'm doing it correctly. My Ovulation and Luteal phase both say OPK. I've seen others that say "Self" instead of "OPK". I thought that I would mark positive when I got a positive OPK but I also saw another spot where it says Ovulation day. Should I be marking anything there? I also noticed my tracker said OPK agreement 0%. Is this right or common?

[smjmekg]

I didn't read all the above posts, but where it says ovulation day that's the actual day of ovulation, the place for positive OPKs is just for you to put in that you got positive(s) on that/those day(s).

[nina2249]

What is the difference between a basal thermometer and a regular thermometer?
Basal Temperature

A basal thermometer is an ultra sensitive thermometer that tracks your body’s minutest temperature shift or basal temperature. Basal Temperature is the normal body temperature of a healthy person immediately upon awakening in the morning. This temperature normally rises after ovulation due to hormonal changes. Thus, a temperature increase near the middle of your menstrual cycle can indicate ovulation has occurred.
Basal Thermometer

A basal thermometer is often used by women to chart their basal body temperature chart and hence predict their fertile period or ovulation. There are various kinds of basal body thermometers available but a digital basal thermometer is your best bet. Each basal thermometer kit comes with a blank basal body temperature graph that you can use.

This method relies on precise recording of your body’s resting temperature. For this method to be accurate, temps must be taken first thing in the morning, and at the same time each morning. During the first two weeks of your cycle, your body temperature is lower (96.0 to 97.5 F). With ovulation, a rise in body temperature takes place - caused by an increase of the hormone progesterone - in order to provide a warmer, more fertile environment. A minimum temperature rise of 0.4 to 0.6 degrees F can be measured by a basal thermometer. By monitoring when this temperature change takes place, you can determine when ovulation takes place in your cycle.

[nina2249]

Basal Thermometer vs. Regular Thermometer

# 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 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.Here are some tips to help use your basal thermometer effectively for optimum accuracy:

   1. Use your basal thermometer first thing in the morning before you get out of bed.
   2. Try to take the temperature at as close to the same time each day as possible.

[JennaRie]

I use a regular thermometer - either is fine, really. The important things are whether it has a memory function (so you don't have to read the temp in the dark when you're laying in bed) and how long it takes to record the temp. Some basal thermometers take something crazy like 3 minutes to record it, and beep the whole time (DH would kill me if I used that one!). If you use a regular fever thermometer like me, I've realized it's good to let it sit in your mouth for 30 seconds then turn it on. That way you know it's getting an accurate temp. Let me know if you have any questions about how to do it, and I'd be glad to help :)

[Babs1982]

thanks! Maybe I need to start tracking my temp then. Is there a difference between a regular thermometer that registers in tenth degrees or a basal thermometer? I don't really know what the difference is. I checked out CVS, one of our local drug stores, and none of the thermometers said 'basal' on them.

[JennaRie]

I guess it doesn't show it when you don't chart your temps, but when you record your temps, it will show a line on the chart for your ovulation day. When you record a pos OPK, it'll put the line on the following day since you ovulate 24-48 hrs after the LH surge. Then the spot where you can check ovulation day is where you can override it and choose your own day (it'll add a line for that day marked "Self"). The other one it can do is called FAM, which it can put on there automatically based on your temperature pattern.

[Heatherm4]

I don't use opk's but I would think the day you ovulated...check off "ovulation day" under where it has your flow or cm. You could at the same time mark your OPK days too I bet. Hope that helps...I'm not familiar with it so maybe someone who knows can give you a better idea!! ♥