When Do I Ovulate? Temperature Monitoring
You can tell when you ovulated by your body temperature! (Related to hormones released after ovulation.) This is called Basal Body Temperature Monitoring.
1) Obtain mercury thermometer from any pharmacy. (The newer electronic thermometers are usually not accurate enough.)
2) Take your temperature in morning, WHILE YOU ARE STILL IN BED. (Before you get up, use the bathroom, eat or drink.) Record the date and your temperature every morning.
3) A 0.5 degree F rise in temperature usually occurs 1-2 days after ovulation and persist for 10+ days.
The problem is that the temperature does not increase 1-2 days until after ovulation. Which everyone says it is too late then, since the egg is only around for 12-24 hours. Still, it seems like you would give one last try that morning that your temperature was elevated. Also, it seems helpful to know that you should be trying soon before your temperature increases.
For extra credit, you can continue to chart your cycle and if your temperature does not drop soon before your period is due, then take a pregnancy test... It could be a sign of pregnancy.
Not everyone will have the temperature changes, so if you don't, no need to freak out.
If you want something else you can check at home, keep checking your temperature every day after it has elevated and it should remain up for at least 10 days. If it is not elevated for that long, then there may not be appropriate amounts of hormones to support a pregnancy. Don't draw conclusions based on one month (easier said than done, right?), chart a few months before concluding that you don't have the necessary 10 day temperature elevation (which really indicates the 10 day hormone elevation). Bring the information to your doctor's appointment if you are having trouble conceiving.
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