Basal Thermometer Vs. Normal Thermometer

Fertility experts advise women trying to conceive to take their basal body temperature each morning. The basal body temperature is the temperature of the woman's body when she wakes up. Basal body thermometers are more sensitive that regular thermometers and can better detect any changes in basal body temperature.

Differences

• Regular thermometers, used to gauge a fever, aren't sensitive enough to register basal body temperature changes. Basal body temperature rises by only by about 0.4 to 0.8 degrees Fahrenheit for most women after ovulation, according to the National Women's Health Information Center. Consumers can find basal thermometers at most pharmacies and online for around $10.

Considerations

• It's important to take your basal body temperature at the same time every morning. Women should take their temperature before they get out of bed. The slightest movement can alter the accuracy of the thermometer's reading. Smoking or drinking alcohol before bed can also affect the accuracy of the reading the following morning.

Charting Your Temperature

• The release of the egg in a woman's body, called ovulation, triggers a slight rise in her basal body temperature. If she has been writing down her temperature every day for at least three months, she'll know when she's most fertile.