charting - how do you take your temps?

[Anonymous]

I just started charting. This is embarrassing, but I am a mouth breather. So unattractive.

I think this is a problem for taking my temp every morning. In just the last few days, my temps have varied wildly. I can't think of any other reason.

Anyone have advice for this? Should I be taking them vaginally?

[Anonymous]

I have the same issue some mornings, especially in the winter when the heat is on any my nose gets stuffy. I usually wake up and keep my mouth closed for a few minutes (and try to swish saliva around too because my mouth is so dry). I then take my temp and it usually fine. It's OK if you're awake for a few minutes before you take your temp as long as you don't move around.

[Anonymous]

You can take them orally or vaginally, as long as you're consistent throughout your cycle. I agree, if you just close your mouth for a minute or two first, you should still be able to get an accurate temp.

[Anonymous]

I started temping/charting with the exact same problem. I recommend, like the PP, to just close your mouth for a minute or two and get that saliva moving...then take your temp using a digital thermometer/BBT thermometer. I ordered mine for $9 at drugstore.com.

I've been charting for almost a year now and this approach seems to work just fine.

[Anonymous]

I'm a mouth breater too (unfortunately -- but when your nose is stuffed, what else are you going to do???). I have never had problems taking my temps and getting the charting to show a pattern. The way I look at it, since I breath through my mouth every night, my temp is probably always a bit lower than it should be -- but the effect is the same throughout the month so I can still see the patterns. I usally see a jump of about 0.8 degrees on the day after I ovulate so that jump stands out even if there is still some "noise" during the rest of the month.

[Anonymous]

I know you're not supposed to do this, but I was temping orally for about a week (first month charting) but just switched to vaginally bc of mouth breathing.... The temps are actually very very close (I'm pre-ovulation), so I'm going to keep doing it vaginally.