Post # 1
Member
4888 posts
Honey bee
I’ve been charting since September and have been using an oral thermometer that I have had for years; no issues.
DH and I weren’t really exchanging gifts this year (we’re going on a trip at the end of January), but he surprised with me a new thermometer since I had been talking about getting a new one. The Innovo Forehead and Ear Thermometer. We tried it out, and it kept telling me (both ways) that I was around 98 degrees (this was late at night). The only time I am that, is after I’ve ovulated before I drop when I get my period (I had been spotting on this day, and got AF this past weekend). So, I didn’t think it was too accurate.
I had yesterday off, and got up my normal time to take my temp and the new one had a reading of 99 the first time I tried, and then 98.4 the second time. If I was ever 99 degrees, I would be sick and I was feeling just fine. I got frustrated and went to the bathroom and took it with the oral one, and I was 96.6 – which, is what I am normally around this time of the month. During the day, I would do the oral and then the forehead and it would have WAY different numbers; which concerned me.
I appreciate his thoughtfulness, since AF came this weekend we’re on another month of trying. However, I am just not confident with that way of taking my temp and not knowing if it’s right. Plus, some reviews have said that foreheard and ears can be up to 1 degree above or below what you actually are. Um, if I have to do math to figure out my temp… what’s the point?
What kinds do you use when charting? The one I have been using for months came from Target years ago, and was fairly cheap. Should I give the other one another try? Maybe it’s just user error, ha.
Post # 2
Member
603 posts
Busy bee
I could be wrong here, but I think I remember reading that the mouth and rectum were the most accurate places to take your basal body temp – at least as far as temping to track ovulation, etc. The forehead one may not be right for the purpose. I used an $8 thermometer I bought from amazon when I was starting to temp and that seemed to work just fine. I think the most important part is temping at the same time every morning when you wake up, before getting up or even moving around too much. Good luck!
Post # 3
Member
2020 posts
Buzzing bee
You need a BBT therm. The other wint be accurate enough :/
Post # 4
Member
4888 posts
Honey bee
gymbunny04: Thank you! That is what I had read too (oral, rectum and even vaginal). I think Ijust feel bad that DH spent the money on this thermometer (it was over $30), and it won’t get used since I had a hunch that forehead/ear was not the temp needed for tracking. He’s usually really good at researching stuff before buying, too. Obviously he failed to look into something that can be used for fertility. It will be good I’m sure if we have kids.
I take my temp around 5:40 each day (even on weekends), and have had no isses, so it was odd that it was reading my temps around 98 when I’m only really that when I’m sick and after I’ve O’d when my temp has risen).
knpswp: It doeds say Basal, but again… probably not the most accurate.
Post # 5
Member
862 posts
Busy bee
I actually think that it’s more important to have the same amount of sleep (like 3 hours) before you temp rather than consistent time in the morning (this comes from my chemist DH who tests things all day long lol). Temping is kind of frustrating… apparently I’m a mouth breather (I hate year long allergies) at night so that made all of my temps wonky so went by OPKs this month. Bummer that it didn’t work out for you! Sounds like an awesome thermometor. :/ A+ for effort from your hubby!!!
Post # 6
Member
102 posts
Blushing bee
You need a basal body temp thermometer for charting. They are fairly cheap (under $10) The forehead type is GREAT for checking a childs temp but not for charting.
Post # 7
Member
302 posts
Helper bee
So its vaginal or oral that gives you best accuracy, also dont check your tepms all day long as it is normal for them to go up/down during the day, check only in the morning when you wake up but before you get out of bed! And yes you need a basal body thermometer which is different than the ear/forehead one you have. I got mine at cvs for 12 bucks.
Post # 8
Member
302 posts
Helper bee
Also download fertility friend which graphs your temps for you and is easy to use. FF likes same time every day. Ive never heard of ppl using rectal temps for temping but oral and vaginal are most accurate from my understanding from the books i read.
Post # 9
Member
9795 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
Yes, get a basal body temp. You can get one at Target or a drug store for $10. Vaginal is the most accurate but many people get a clear temp shift using oral so it’s up to you. YOu just take it once, as soon as you wake up (and at the same time each day). Don’t keep taking your temp after that. You only do it once per day, right at your normal wakeup time. You need a basal body temp because they’re meant to be super accurate between 96-99 degrees ish. Most of them will give you 1/100 place and fever temps only do 1/10th
Forehead/ear thermometers are pretty inaccurate compared to the rectal/oral/vaginal method. Save the forehead one for your kid. They’re just nice so you can get a real quick gauge of where their fever is at for a toddler that won’t sit still. I’ve taken it on my DD 4 times in a row and will get 4 different temps but at least I get an idea of where the fever is. I mean, she isn’t holding a thermometer in her mouth.
Post # 10
Member
4888 posts
Honey bee
Nena16: I was mainly testing all day yesterday to see the variations between the oral and the other one. I normally do oral every morning at 5:40am.
Nena16: Have been using FF since we started TTC in September. 🙂
kes18: Yup! The one I use is a basal, and take it once when I wake up. I’ll just assure DH that it was a good buy for our future children… and for him since he doesn’t seem to have issues with it!
Post # 11
Member
302 posts
Helper bee
Ok i see so it is normal to get variations between different parts of the body.
Post # 12
Member
4888 posts
Honey bee
Nena16: On Amazon (where he got it), it even says this:
NOTE
When taking temperature from different parts of your body, it is normal to obtain a slight variation in the temperature readings. An ear (tympanic) temperature is usually 0.5-1°F (0.3-0.6°C) higher than an oral temperature, whereas a forehead (temporal) temperature is usually 0.5-1°F (0.3-0.6°C) lower than an oral temperature. Therefore, it is NORMAL to get 1-2°F (0.6-1.2°C) difference between an ear measurement versus a forehead measurement. This is NOT due to the inaccuracy of the thermometer.
Post # 13
Member
302 posts
Helper bee
yea its normal anyway stick to the bbt! Even vaginal and oral temps are different but you only do one no need for both. I did oral and got all my data.
Post # 14
Member
603 posts
Busy bee
Kacie209: Yes, it’d be def great for a baby/child! And I did forget to mention temp must be taken after 3 consecutive hours of sleep 🙂 Good thing temping is only useful while TTC and not during pregnancy – I can’t remember the last time I’ve slept 3 consecutive hours without needing to get up to go to the bathroom, pretty sure it was before I got preggo though! 😉
Post # 15
Member
1639 posts
Bumble bee
I just wanted to jump in a say I don’t trust those temporal thermometers at all. We use them at work (a hospital), and they’ve always been terrible in accurately reading temps. One time I was sure I had a fever, and the nurse did it a few times, each time saying it was 97 degrees. Subsequently used two oral thermometers and my fever was 105. We’ve had the same issues with patients who insist they have fevers. The temporal always shows about 98/99. But when oral thermometers are given the fevers are in the 104 range.