By understanding when you are fertile, you can determine the optimum time to have intercourse for the purpose of conceiving. By observing changes and patterns in each of these over a period of several menstrual cycles, you will be equipped to identify your fertile period and improve your chances of becoming pregnant. Because your temperature is affected by even a little physical exertion, for an accurate BBT reading it is imperative to take your temperature first thing upon waking, before rising from bed. The premise of monitoring your BBT is that you can identify the particular patterns of temperature changes that occur just prior to and during ovulation.
Ovulation is the release of an egg from the ovary.
Having intercourse around the time of ovulation will increase your chances of conceiving, since both the egg and the sperm have limited lifespans. If you are trying to become pregnant and are interested in tracking your BBT, you should visit our section on BBT and take advantage of the chart we have developed for this purpose. Click here to find out more about basal body temperature. The cervical mucus is directly affected by the amount of estrogen in the body. Because ovulation is also directly tied to estrogen levels, noting the characteristics of your cervical mucus can also be helpful in pinpointing your fertile period.