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Fertility Awareness Method

The Best Basal Body Thermometer For Charting

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Choosing Your First Basal Body Thermometer

The Best Basal Body Thermometer for Fertility Charting

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Below, you’ll find a list of the most favored basal body thermometers used for charting with fertility awareness based methods (FABMs). The following list will lay out the positives and negatives of each brand, along with their unique features, so that you are able to choose the best thermometer for your life.

There is no such thing as a “better” or “worse” basal body thermometer. The decision is a completely personal preference meant to fit your current lifestyle.

Remember:

Before practicing any fertility awareness based method (FABM) for natural birth control, it is highly suggested to receive a reproductive health overview by reaching out to a certified FABM instructor in addition to reading the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler.

 

The Best Basal Body Thermometer For Charting

 

Basal Body Thermometer features to consider

‘Beeping’

Some BBT's have louder 'beeps' than others.

Backlight

Backlights are helpful for those who read their temperature in the dark.

Speed

Some people prefer a quick-timed thermometer, but keep in mind that a fast read does not always mean higher accuracy.

Decimal Place

Some thermometers solely read in Celsius, some in Fahrenheit, and some carry the dual option.

Memory

Memory may be important for people who choose not to record temperatures immediately after temping, and would prefer to fall back asleep before recording on their chart.

The Most Favored Basal Body Thermometers for fertility charting

Mabis

  • 'Beep' - Quiet. Beeps one time while turning on, and 4 times when temperature reading is complete
  • Backlight - None
  • Speed - 1 minute
  • Decimal place - 1/100th of a degree
  • Memory - Yes, will show most recent temperature reading within 3-5 seconds after turning 'on'
  • Celsius or Fahrenheit - Fahrenheit

Mabis Basal Body Thermometer

Click Image For Mabis

iProven

  • 'Beep' - Quiet
  • Backlight - Yes
  • Speed - 1 minute (or 2 minutes for a more accurate reading)
  • Decimal place - 1/100th of a degree
  • Memory - Yes, will show the most recent temperature reading
  • Celsius or Fahrenheit - Both

Click image for iProven

iSnow

  • 'Beep' - Medium. Will beep 3 times when temperature reading is complete. *Has an alarm option*
  • Backlight - Yes
  • Speed - 3 minutes
  • Decimal place - Option of 1/10th or 1/100th of a degree
  • Memory - Yes, up to 60 days
  • Celsius or Fahrenheit - Both

iSnow Basal Body Thermometer

Click Image For iSnow

 

Glass (No Mercury) BBT

  • 'Beep' - None
  • Backlight - None
  • Speed - 3-5 minutes
  • Decimal place - 1/10th of a degree
  • Memory - None
  • Celsius or Fahrenheit - Fahrenheit

Click image for Glass BBT

Can I use a fever thermometer?

Yes, as long as your thermometer is not labeled as a 'quick-read'. Also, be sure to only use one thermometer throughout the month to receive the highest effectiveness of charting. Using more than one thermometer will create skewed temperature readings.

Fertility Monitors

A fertility monitor is a computerized basal body thermometer designed with an algorithm that automatically tracks a record of your monthly cycles, while interpreting if you are fertile or not on any given day.

Leave a comment with the BBT that you personally prefer!

The Science Behind Using The Fertility Awareness Method

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Fertility Awareness

Fertility Awareness is a beautiful observational practice of body literacy, natural birth control and/or conception. We deepen our understanding of the internal rhythms of our body by recognizing when we are fertile and when we are not.

The daily practice of fertility awareness is based off of research done with the Petra Frank-Hermann study, which held 900 women with their 17,638 menstrual cycles. In the end, it showed a 99.6% effectiveness rate for natural birth control.

How does Fertility Awareness work?

Simply explained, we produce two main hormones which switch “on” in the body at separate times of our cycles; estrogen for the first half and progesterone for the second half.

Our basal body temperature (BBT), cervical fluid (CF) and cervix are each affected by these hormones, giving us the signs we need to practice the fertility awareness method.

fertility awareness method sympto thermal

Example chart ~ not for use as a reference for an 'optimal' cycle

We can use the method's 4 rules to decide whether we would like to try to conceive, abstain or use a barrier method to prevent pregnancy, or simply use the observed signs to follow our gynecological health.

There are zero negative side effects from practicing the fertility awareness method.

The science

Estrogen gradually begins releasing from the ovaries on cycle day 1 (first day of menstruation), lowering BBT and increasing water content in CF as ovulation approaches.

CF is the deciding factor on whether sperm will be able to make it to the egg for fertilization at the time of ovulation!

Once ovulation has occurred, progesterone releases into the body, turning off the estrogen hormone. This hormone switch spikes up BBT and dries up CF, lasting an approximate 12-16 days, until menstruation.

If the egg becomes fertilized and we become pregnant, BBT will remain high for more than 18 days.

  • Conception can only occur during the fertile window
  • Abstinence, or barrier methods like condoms and withdrawal during the fertile window will prevent from unwanted pregnancy
  • Having unprotected sex during the fertile window will increase chances of becoming pregnant

Basal Body Temperature (BBT)

A basal body thermometer measures the temperature under our tongue immediately after waking up in the morning. It should be taken:

  • Daily, at the same time every morning, +/- one hour
  • After 3 consecutive hours of deep sleep
  • Before getting up out of bed to use the bathroom, communicating, any physical contact, etc.

Keep in mind that viral infections that cause fevers will affect basal body temperature readings.

Cervical Fluid (CF)

Cervical fluid is a vaginal secretion, commonly known to society as “discharge.” Next time you use the bathroom, check the gusset of your underwear (where the vulva touches). Usually the consistency will flow in a specific pattern over the course of approximately 14 days, but the number of days will vary from human to human!

Regularly check the sensation of your CF at the vulva, throughout each day, to observe an accurate quality and quantity.

How Much Does Fertility Awareness Cost?

A basal body thermometer costs approximately $9 - $30. Follow the link to read about the best basal thermometers available today.

The optional, but recommended, book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler costs approximately $15.

The cost of hiring a fertility awareness practitioner varies depending on whom you work with.

What Are The Side Effects?

You will not get any side effects by using FAM.

How Effective Is it?

99.6% Effective with perfect use, .4% Failure rate

76% Effective with typical use, 24% Failure rate

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