Once you start to think about trying for a baby, you will probably become more attuned to the monthly rhythms of your body. Although you will hear most people advise that regular sex is the best way to get pregnant, many couples do start to use methods like charting to detect times during the month when the woman is most fertile.
How can temperature be affected by ovulation?
When you release an egg during ovulation, the production of progesterone causes your body's temperature to rise. It only rises by between a half and two degrees, but you might notice this rise if you use a BBT thermometer (basal body temperature).
Your temperature can be taken by inserting the thermometer into your mouth or placing it under your arm. These kind of very accurate body thermometers shouldn't cost more than about £5 or £10, though Boots do a digital thermometer which comes with a fertility diary as a set, for £12.99.
How does knowing my temperature help with conception?
By the time your body temperature rises, you are probably already a couple of days past your most fertile period. However, by noting down your temperature rises over a few months, you can begin to develop a picture of when your ovulation date is most likely to occur in the months ahead.
You can download a chart from the ThinkBaby website for free, to get you started.
