If you are in the process of trying to have a child, but you find that at least 6 months have passed and nothing has happened, one of the first things that you can do to find out what might be going on is to chart your Basal Body Temperature (BBT). Many fertility doctors will actually want you to chart your BBT for about three months when you first start going to them so that they can see how your cycle typically runs.

Your BBT should be taken first thing every morning. You should keep the BBT thermometer next to your bed so that as soon as you wake up you can take your temperature and write it down on a chart. You can find free downloadable charts online. Typically your BBT is lower the first half of your cycle and higher at ovulation and during the second half of your cycle. It will drop once you are about to start menstruating.

The BBT chart lets you and your doctor know how about what time you ovulate each month. If you ovulate earlier or later than what is considered average or if your temperature doesn't change at all during the month, it helps a doctor decide on the next course of action. This could include using drugs to stimulate ovulation or more in depth testing to see what else is going on.

Whether you are experiencing fertility problems or are just thinking about trying to have a child, charting your Basal Body Temperature can help you to learn about your body and your cycle and help you to determine your most fertile days. Charting your BBT in addition to using something like an ovulation predictor kit can help raise your chances of getting pregnant. It also creates valuable information to give to a fertility doctor should that be your next step.