Do I need a basal thermometer to temp?

[Anonymous]

I'm trying temping this month and am new to it. I've been using my regular thermometer, but I read that a basal body temp thermometer is better because it shows more detail -- to the 100th of a degree rather than just the 10th.

But when I see sample charts or read about temp changes, it seems like they are all based on the 10ths a degree (like 97.2 and 97.8) rather than the more details numbers (like 97.25 and 97.92). So, do I really need to buy a basal thermometer?

I guess I'm being lazy by not buying one, but it just seems like an unnecessary expense and an extra thing I need to do rather than just using the one I already have!

[Anonymous]

I used a regular thermometer and felt like it gave me good data. That combined with other signs (cervical mucos, etc) was enough for me.

Depending on the reasons you are temp charting, I think a regular thermometer should work just fine.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I'm TTC so temping for that. I've been using OPKs and have a fairly regular period, but I'd just like to try temping to see if it will give me a little more useful data on when I'm ovulating. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I have one but when I input the temp into an app like Fertility Friend, I just use 98.6 instead of 98.63. I can clearly see the temp shift every month.

[Anonymous]

regular thermometer. My temps were over a degree different - definitely easy to see.

[Anonymous]

i used a basal thermometer because i read that they are better designed at tracking non-fever temperatures. i sometimes compared the temp i got with basal thermometer and with regular thermometer and they were often quite different. no idea what that means, though.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks! I'll continue to try my normal one and will get a basal version if it seems like I'm not getting what I need from this. Thanks!