Planning a baby is exciting, but it can be extremely overwhelming too!
Thankfully, you can make the TTC process much easier by tracking your fertile days.
One of the best ways to do this is through the use of a basal thermometer which is ideal for tracking the shifts in your body temperature that indicate ovulation and help you predict your fertile window in order to get pregnant.
In this article, we’ll review the 5 best basal thermometers for tracking fertility in order to conceive. We’ve included both standard digital thermometers along with smart thermometers compatible with their respective apps on our list.
What is Basal Body Temperature?
Basal body temperature is the temperature of the body in the resting state — that is, when you don’t perform any physical or intellectual activity.
Typically, it’s the lowest temperature point within 24 hours.
That’s why, if you’re trying to find out when you are most likely to get pregnant, measuring you BBT should be the first thing you do in the morning.
Any physical activity, including cuddling with your partner or getting off the bed, is likely to raise your BBT and twist the measurements.
Now, basal body temperature is affected by circadian rhythms, so it may change within 24 hours. In women, it’s also affected by the menstrual cycle, so there are some monthly fluctuations as well
Let’s see how exactly this happens.
Normal BBT Range
In the follicular phase of the cycle, which starts on the first day of menstruation and ends on the ovulation day, estrogen is the dominant hormone in the women’s body. During this phase, your BBT remains within the normal range, which is between 97 and 97.7F or 36.1 and 36.5C, respectively.
When ovulation occurs, progesterone takes the lead. This hormone helps make the uterine lining thicker so that the fertilized egg can stick to it. Along with that, the elevated plasma levels of progesterone increase your BBT by 0.4F or 0.2C.
In women with a normal ovulatory cycle, this shift happens in 1-2 days and is followed by a period of little or no changes, which lasts about 10 days or until your next period.
So, basically, a peak in body temperature and a plateau 2-5 days after this peak indicates your most fertile days and increase your chances to conceive.
[/cmsmasters_text][cmsmasters_text shortcode_id=”j54rw516ha” animation_delay=”0″]What Is a Basal Thermometer?
As the name implies, a basal thermometer is a device used to measure your basal body temperature (BBT). It looks identical to a conventional thermometer, but there are several non-visual differences:
- Higher sensitivity. Basal thermometers give you measurements with more decimal places so that you can notice even the smallest shift in your BBT.
- Recording data. Almost all basal fertility thermometers can record your measurements and store them for some time. Besides, some models can easily store up to 1 month of data.
What Kind of Thermometer is Best for Tracking Ovulation?
The following are the main types of BBT thermometers available:
Glass Basal Thermometer
Traditional mercury-free thermometers are still popular among some users and even have advocates among doctors. But the truth is, their downsides outweigh the only advantage — which is autonomous work without electricity. Glass thermometers are fragile, and their sensitivity may vary based on a lot of factors.
Digital Basal Thermometer
The most common type of thermometers today is digital. Such thermometers have a digital display and measure temperature automatically (you will know when it’s done by the sound signal). Digital thermometers are very easy to use but may have issues with battery life. Also, with most of them, you will still have to track the data manually.
Smart Basal Thermometer
Smart thermometers are basically digital thermometers that can be connected to a smartphone app. After the measurement is taken, the device automatically syncs with your app via Bluetooth — or, you may need to enter the result manually — and forms a chart with all your parameters. Also, smart thermometers often use AI algorithms to offer you personalized predictions. The only drawback is the price.
Whatever the type, a good fertility thermometer should be able to do its main job, so that’s what you should focus on when shopping. And as for other functions, it’s all up to your needs and your budget.
How Do You Use a Basal Thermometer?
If you haven’t used this method of tracking your fertile window yet, things can get a bit confusing for you. Despite being one of the easiest, the BBT method still has a couple of nuances. So, here’s a quick step-by-step instruction that will help you do everything right:
- Choose the proper time. To achieve maximum effectiveness, you should measure your BBT right after waking up and strive to do this at the same time every day.
- Start with day one of your period. This will help sync your BBT fluctuations with the cycle and find out if you have any issues with your cycle, such as delayed ovulation or anovulatory syndrome.
- Wait for patterns. After a couple of months of tracking your measurements, you will be able to see shifts in basal temperature and predict your most fertile days. That’s when you should try to conceive a baby.
To determine if you’ve succeeded, track your temperature until your next period. Typically, two weeks after the ovulation, your BBT will drop and your period will start. But if this didn’t happen 16-18 days after the ovulation, you’re most likely pregnant and may want to schedule an appointment with your doctor to confirm that.
Comparison of the 5 Best Basal Thermometers
We’ll now review the 5 best basal thermometers to use for tracking fertility in order to conceive!
We’ve included 3 of the best D2C brands available along with 2 Amazon products on our list.
Best Fertility Tracker – Daysy
Daysy Fertility Tracker
Daysy provides women with a hormone-free solution for managing and understanding their fertility, menstrual cycles, and overall health.
We’ve included Daysy Fertility Tracker on our list for the best fertility thermometer as it’s one of the best smart thermometers on the market today.
Not only does it rely upon the traditional BBT recordings, but it also pairs with its respective app that calculates your fertile days through obtaining essential data on basal body temperature and menstruation.
Daysy is extremely easy to use and read. All you have to do is measure your basal body temperature under your tongue for 1 minute upon waking and then enter menstruation data if applicable.
Daysy Fertility Tracker will analyze the data and then displays your fertility status as one of the following options:
- Red – You are either fertile or have the potential to be fertile.
- Red Flashing – Signals that it’s your predicted day for ovulation.
- Green – You are not fertile.
- Yellow – There is either a cycle fluctuation or the tracker is currently undergoing a learning phase to adjust to your unique cycle patterns.
- Red, Green, Yellow – You may be pregnant.
Valley Electronics
Daysy Fertility Tracker is made by Valley Electronics AG.
Valley Electronics is a medical technology company located in Zurich, Switzerland that specializes in the production and distribution of fertility trackers.
Along with Daysy, the company has also produced other leading fertility trackers including Lady-Comp, Baby-Comp, and Pearly.
Valley Electronics strives to equip women with the knowledge and toolset required for making informed decisions concerning their bodies and fertility.
Not only does the company wish for all women to have a thorough understanding of their unique menstrual cycles, but they also desire for women to take full control of their reproductive health for natural family planning and remain in harmony with the female nature.
Best Bluetooth Thermometer – Lady Comp Pearly
Lady Comp Pearly
Like Daysy, Lady Comp Pearly is also made by Valley Electronics and is extremely similar in its function and use.
Basal temperature should be recorded upon waking each day and the device will display one of the following colors to indicate fertility status:
- Green = Infertile
- Red = Fertile
- Yellow = Cycle Fluctuation/ Learning Phase
Pearly can fit in the palm of your hand and comes with an ergonomic folding sensor. Some of its major features include:
- Ovulation forecast and analysis of cycle data
- Alarm function for measurement reminder
- Fertility review for the last 99 days
- Fertility preview for the next 6 days
- Confirmation of pregnancy after 18 days
Best Basal Digital Thermometer – Fairhaven Health
Digital Basal Thermometer
The Digital Basal Thermometer by Fairhaven Health.is the perfect product for women who
prefer to manually track their BBT and chart their fertility, rather than rely upon apps or wearable technologies for making fertility predictions.
Digital Basal Thermometer is extremely accurate and provides readings to 1/100th of a degree Fahrenheit. It also comes with essential charting functions including digital memory recall and a peak temperature indicator.
Fairhaven Health
Fairhaven Health is one of the leading suppliers of science-based products geared towards fertility, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and overall health for women and men.
The company’s mission is to provide couples with the right information and tools required to support reproductive health and fertility, thus, they offer products such as fertility supplements, ovulation predictors, pregnancy tests, and breastfeeding products.
Editor’s Choice – Easy@Home Smart Basal Thermometer
Another device with an app in this fertility thermometer review, the Easy@Home does literally everything. It can track all your cycle parameters and offer you accurate predictions through an easy-to-read app chart.
The device automatically syncs with the app via Bluetooth, but it can also keep up to 30 records in its memory if you don’t have the opportunity to sync them at once.
Another great feature is a backlit screen that allows you to take measurements even when it’s dark outside, without disturbing your partner with the light.
Femometer Digital Basal Body Thermometer
If you want the best fertility thermometer that will do almost the whole job for you, the Femometer might be your choice. This BBT thermometer comes with a convenient app that will track the changes in your temperature and give you personalized predictions about your ovulation day.
So, all you need to do is to measure your temperature in the morning and then manually enter it into your app. The LCD has high contrast, so it should be easy to read the numbers even in darkness.
The Femometer has a soft and unobtrusive sound signal, so your partner won’t even notice it. Also, the device can use both C and F scales, so you can choose the most comfortable way of monitoring.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using BBT Method for Conception
Tracking ovulation is the easiest and one of the most natural methods to increase your chances of conceiving. And just like other methods, it has its pros and cons, which will be listed below.
So, let’s begin with the good:
- Highly accurate. The BBT method can give you a 99% accuracy if you’re consistent and have a regular cycle.
- Natural. No need to take pills or insert anything inside your body. Just place the thermometer under the tongue and wait a bit.
- Cost-efficient. Basically, a thermometer and a chart to write down your measurements are the only things you need to use this tracking method.
- Helps you understand how your body works. When you learn to determine the main temperature patterns and their correspondence to different stages of your cycle, it will be easier for you to notice if something’s not right and quickly address this issue.
Now, the cons:
- Not universal. Tracking ovulation with a fertility basal thermometer might not suit women with irregular cycles or certain medical conditions.
- Requires self-discipline. You need to track the changes every day to get the most precise results, with no exceptions.
- Requires adjustment period. You should track at least a couple of cycles to understand the main patterns before you can actually use the BBT method for conception.
What to Look For in a Good Fertility Thermometer?
So, if you’re really determined to use basal temperature tracking as your primary method of conception, let’s define what can help you choose the best fertility thermometer to increase your chances:
- Accuracy. This is the essential feature to look for in all basal thermometers. Your device should be able to indicate even the smallest shifts in your BBT to give you the whole picture about your fertility level. The best models on the market today can detect up to 0.01 of degree shifts, so that’s what you should aim for.
- Source of power. To obtain the most precise results, you should use your thermometer daily. If it has non-rechargeable batteries, this might be challenging. The problem is that not many brands today offer rechargeable options, so you should either keep some extra batteries by your side or choose energy-efficient devices.
- Memory feature. Even though some models can keep up to 30 records in their memory, most digital BBT thermometers still require you to write your data down yourself, which might be annoying for some users. If it’s your case, consider increasing the budget to buy a smart thermometer.
- Durability. More expensive models are typically made of more durable materials which can make them last longer. Some users report that cheaper devices suddenly start taking measurements wrong or completely stop working within the first couple of months. It’s something to keep in mind.
- Certification and approval. All basal thermometers today offer nearly the same level of accuracy. But if a device has approval from the FDA or other trusted organization, this might make its exploitation more psychologically comfortable.
“Almost all basal thermometers are waterproof, which makes it easy to clean and maintain them in good condition.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How efficient is the BBT method of tracking ovulation compared to others?
Basal body temperature tracking can give you about a 99% accuracy if you use it consistently throughout the year and have a regular cycle. However, women who have unprotected sex during their periods, as well as those who aren’t very committed to tracking BBT every day, may have lower accuracy.
Can I use a conventional thermometer?”
Technically, you can use a conventional thermometer for tracking your fertile window. But basal thermometers for ovulationare specifically designed to detect even the smallest shifts in the temperature, while with a conventional thermometer, you may miss more subtle changes.
Does the BBT method suit women with irregular cycles?”
Not really. If your cycle duration varies each time, it might be difficult to track the patterns in your BBT and link them to ovulation. That’s why women with irregular cycles should use more precise tracking methods — such as fertility monitors — that allow collecting hormonal fluctuations during the cycle.
What pills can affect basal body temperature?”
Any birth control pills will do that. Obviously, you have to go off them if you’re planning a pregnancy. Along with that, taking antibiotics and painkillers, or having chronic inflammation processes, may warp the results. So, before using the BBT method, make sure that you’re perfectly health
Conclusion
If done right, monitoring basal body temperature is one of the easiest ways to increase chances to conceive. Basal body thermometers are designed to help you track your fertile window with little to no effort.
But choosing the right one comes down solely to your needs.
If you want a device that will do the job for you, including syncing data and building predictions based on your input, go for a thermometer with a smartphone app, such as the Easy@Home. This device will give you detailed information about your cycles and offer personalized recommendations on how to make the most of your pregnancy planning.
But if you want a cheaper alternative, just choose a regular digital thermometer, such as the iProven BBT-271A. Yes, you will have to record the data manually, and measuring your temperature may take a bit long, but the accuracy will remain the same.
