Measuring your basal body temperature

If you've ever considered using fertility tracking to help you conceive or avoid pregnancy, you've probably heard of basal body temperature tracking.

Basal body temperature refers to your body's temperature when it's at complete rest, which is typically measured in the morning before you get out of bed. In this article, we'll explore how to best measure your basal body temperature in the morning to help you use the sympto-thermal cycle prediction method in Shekan.

1. Before going to sleep

The first thing you need to know about measuring basal body temperature is that it has to be done at the same time every morning to get accurate results, since your body temperature changes over the day. This means that you should set an alarm to wake up at the same time every morning, even on weekends or days off. This can be a bit annoying, but it's crucial to get reliable readings.

2. After waking up

Once you're awake, make sure you don't move or get up from bed before taking your temperature. Even slight physical activity can raise your body temperature and change the accuracy of your reading. This is why it's important to take your temperature while you're still lying down in bed. Also, try to be in a calm state and not be stressed or anxious, as this may also impact measurements.

3. Choosing a thermometer

The next thing you need is a reliable basal thermometer. These specialized thermometers are designed to measure the tiny changes in your basal body temperature with high accuracy. You can find basal thermometers at most drugstores or online, but you can, in theory, use any thermometer that has two digits being the decimal point (Attention: For measurements in Fahrenheit, a thermometer resolution with only one digit behind the decimal point is sufficient).

4. Where to measure

There are 3 spots where you can measure your basal body temperature: Mouth, Vagina, Anus.

Wherever you measure, make sure to stick to just one measurement location per cycle. Changing locations mid-cycle may lead to inaccurate results.

4a. Oral temperature measurement

Place the thermometer tip under your tongue, and keep your mouth closed until the thermometer beeps (indicating it has finished reading your temperature). You don't need to swallow while the thermometer is taking your temperature, so you can keep your mouth closed the entire time.

Make sure to take your temperature at the same exact location in your mouth every morning, preferably at the same side of your tongue. The thermometer tip should touch the surface of the tongue but should not be positioned under the tongue.

4b. Vaginal temperature measurement

This method involves inserting a thermometer into the vagina and allowing it to remain there for several minutes. The temperature is recorded once the thermometer is removed.

While vaginal measurements may provide more accurate readings than oral measurements, they do require more effort and care. You need to make sure the thermometer does not slip out in order to get an accurate reading.

4c. Anal temperature measurement

Finally, measuring basal body anally is another option, although it can be a bit more uncomfortable. Users must insert the thermometer into the anus and wait for the device to provide a reading. This method is not commonly used in natural family planning, but it can be effective in providing accurate readings.

5. Recording the result in Shekan

The final step is recording your temperature in the Shekan app. Simply add it to the events of today in your Home screen.

Using a different thermometer

Changing thermometers in the middle of a cycle can introduce discrepancies in the readings due to variations in calibration, sensitivity, and measurement precision among different thermometers. Even slight inconsistencies can obscure the minute temperature shifts that are crucial for accurate predictions.

If the thermometer used in the current cycle becomes unusable, it's recommended to discontinue temperature measurements for the remainder of that cycle. Starting fresh with a new thermometer at the beginning of a new cycle ensures continuity and accuracy in readings, thereby maintaining the reliability of the method.

Measuring your basal body temperature can seem like a daunting task at first, but it's a crucial part of fertility tracking. With the right tools and a little practice, you can accurately record your daily temperature in the Shekan app, which can help you track your fertility and plan or prevent a pregnancy. Remember to be consistent with your measurement routine, and record all the necessary data in the app to increase the accuracy of your predictions.

Hint: Shekan measurements should only be taken using a CE certified thermometer.