experienced BBT gals - need your help with today's temp

[AndiE]

I've only been temping for the past two cycles, but I know the basic ins and outs/do's and don'ts of taking my BBT.

I usually take my temp about 5.15am - give or take 10 mins.

This morning, due to my two boys being unwell, I was awake at 3.30am for approx 10 mins, and again at 5am for approx 5 mins.

I went back to sleep and took my temp at 6.30am. It was 36.40 (CD11).

What I'm chasing, is an indication of the affect me being up and out of bed 90 mins before I took my temp - is it likely to affect my temp by .2 - .3 etc?? Or is there no firm rule.
I seriously have no idea, other than knowing my temp when taken this morning would have been higher than BBT.

Presumably my temp would have been lower had it been a "usual morning", meaning several hours uninteruppted sleep and them temp at 5.15am.
I haven't O'd on CD14 for a long time (usually several days later), but my acupuncturist/TCM has thrown everything at me to help me ovulate on CD14 this month. Time will tell, but this morning's temp would have really helped to shape the picture .

Not sure if it's relevant to my question, but my temp in the past five days is as follows:

CD6 - 36.41
CD7 - 36.52
CD8 - 36.40
CD9 - 36.32
CD10 - 36.28

TIA

[Pholi]

Hi Andie,

It sounds like you're doing a great job of temping! Well done.

As far as this mornings temperature goes, it's really hard to say for sure what effect the disturbed sleep would have caused. But the good news is that a single temperature which hasn't been 'ideal', (ie, after disturbed sleep) will make much difference to how you read your temps, because it's the overall biphasic pattern over the month that you're looking for, you're not interpreting each single temp. The fact that almost all of your temps are taken in ideal circumstances means that you're still going to see a clear pattern is there is one.

Are you using ff? If so, tick the 'disturbed sleep' box, and it will give you an open, rather than filled in dot, for today, which means you'll know there was something different about today's temping circumstances.

Having said all that, your temp today seems pretty similar to the last 5 days' temps, and if it were my cycle, I would actually think that the disurbed sleep made no difference to my temp on that basis. If it were closer to your expected (or hoped for) o day, and the temp was .2 or more higher than the previous few after disturbed sleep, it would be more confusing, as it could indicate ovulation had occurred or it could have been because of the disturbed sleep. That's why ff (and most fertility awareness systems) look for a sustained temp rise, for example, 3 days in a row of higher temps, before they'll confirm that ovulation occurred. So one higher temp on it's own is meaningless anyway!

Are you also monitoring any other fertility signs,eg, CM, cervical position/softness/openness, using opks or saliva testing? Inconsistencies like you've just experienced today, which can't be avoided or helped, are one of the reasons it's suggestedyou monitor more than one sign.

And please - don't think you're 'ruined the cycle' or failed, at all. We all have days (or even whole cycles) where the temping isn't perfect, because of kids, medications, parties, drinking, sleep-ins, travel, whatever. You are completely normal to have had a tiny blip in your perfect testing regime - it would be totally weird if you were perfect all the time! I've had cycles with more inaccurate temps than accurate ones! I am sure you will still see that biphasic pattern you're hoping to see, and I hope for you that it comes earlier than your usual this time.

I hope that helps... Feel free to ask more if there's anything you don't 'get'. Good luck, and let us know how you go.

[LionsandBears]

What Pholi said.

Given today's temp is in the same "range", I wouldnt stress. Temps can really only be useful in hindsight anyway. To anticipate ovulation, pay attention to CM or do some OPKs.

Btw, whilst some women get dramatic temps if they have disturbed sleep or whatever, others dont. I xan even get up and walk around taking my temp and it doesnt affect it much. But then, I know my general pre-O & post-o ranges. As long as it's ballpark, I dont stress. Ie, i dont care if it's 36.38 or 36.42. I only care if it changes from 36.38 to say 36.5 or 36.6.

[AndiE]

Thanks heaps Pholi and thank you L&B too.

I am using ff Pholli, so I'll go back and find that "disturbed sleep' box ... I'm still a novice with ff lol .

As for watching for other signs of ovulation and using opks ...yup. Been doing all that for months. Temping is my latest attempt to work out what my wacky body is doing.

It makes total sense to not worry too much about one day of temping, and towatch the overall pattern. I know for sure I haven't O'd yet, so I'll just keep tracking along and hoping for the best.

Thanks again.