There are different variations of charting, some will chart only their cycle days. Some include there cervical mucus and cervical position changes, and then others will include charting their temperature. Charting your temperature is a easy and accurate way to determine when and if you are ovulating.
In order to chart your temperature you will need a basal body thermometer. These are easily found at most drugstores and major retail stores. It is not necessary to chart your temperature during your period, but you will want to chart every day as soon as it stops. There are only a few steps that must be followed in order to get an accurate temperature pattern on your chart.
Those steps include:
~Get at least 3 hours of sleep before taking your temperature.
~Take your temperature at the about the same time every day.
~Take your temperature as soon as waking, before getting out of bed or eating or drinking.
There two different methods to taking your temperature:
~Taking your temperature orally. You want to make sure the thermometer is placed in the same spot in your mouth each time.
~If you sleep with your mouth open or your temps are erratic, then temping vaginally could be a better method for you. You only need to place the thermometer in about an inch or so and make sure you place it at the same spot each time.
There are many free sites and apps that will allow you to enter your temperature and fertile signs each day, and will show you when you ovulated.
Charting is especially helpful to those who have long or irregular cycles. It will show you when you ovulated even when ovulation tests are not helpful to you.
