The best or most appropriate type of thermometer to use to measure body temperature depends mainly on age. From birth to about six months of age, using a regular digital thermometer to take a rectal (anal) temperature is recommended because it's considered the most accurate. Earwax, ear infections, and small, curved ear canals interfere with the accuracy of ear thermometers, so they are not the best types to use for newborns. Some medical research suggests that temporal artery thermometers are also good options for newborns due to accuracy and reproducibility. Newborns have lower than normal body temperatures typically less than 97F (36 C), versus a normal of 98.6F (37C) in adults. Babies may not regulate their body temperature very well when they're sick, and they may become cooler rather than warmer and feverish. Up to an age of about three years, a rectal thermometer still provides the most accurate readings for core body temperature. You can use an ear thermometer at a younger age to get a general reading (which is better than no reading at all), but until about the age of 3, readings from the rectum, armpit, and temporal artery (in the temple region of the head) are considered more accurate. Mild-to-moderate fevers in toddlers can be more dangerous than in adults, so accuracy during the younger years is especially important. Ear infections are quite common and occur with regular frequency in babies and toddlers, and that affects the readings of ear thermometers due to the inflammation within the ear. As such, an ear thermometer typically gives too high of a reading with ear infections, so check both ears in the case that one is infected. Regular digital thermometers can record temperatures from the mouth (under the tongue), armpit or rectum and are appropriate for newborns, toddlers, older kids and adults. Beyond the age of three years, kids tend to get fewer ear infections and it's much easier to clean their ears and remove wax build up. Wax in the ear canal prevents ear thermometers from accurately reading the infrared radiation coming off the eardrum. Furthermore, the child's ear canal has grown by this age and become less curved. As such, beyond the age of three years, all types of thermometers used in all parts of the body are pretty comparable in terms of accuracy. If you use an ear thermometer to take a child's temperature and you're skeptical of the results, then take a rectal temperature with a regular thermometer and compare the results. Ear thermometers have become much more affordable over the last decade and can be widely found in pharmacies and medical supply stores.
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One-sentence summary -- Select a rectal thermometer for newborns. Use an ear thermometer cautiously with toddlers. Choose any thermometer for children three years or older.

In particular, check to see if you have a history of medical problems with your reproductive organs. If you have had surgery in the scrotum area, you should mention this to your doctor as you discuss fertility. Consider whether you have been exposed to a lot of environmental toxins. Lead, pesticides and other environmental toxins may increase your risk of infertility. If you have used an excessive amount of drugs and alcohol, you may be at a higher risk for male infertility. Sperm production can be impacted by steroid abuse, cocaine abuse, and smoking either cigarettes or marijuana. This is a testicle that is not suspended below your body. If you have this condition, you will have only one testicle. Your doctor can examine you and find out more. If you have had cancer and were treated with chemotherapy or radiation, you may be at an increased risk for infertility. If you regularly use a sauna, soak in a hot bath or wear very tight clothing, you may be overheating your testicles. This can lead to an increased risk of male infertility. The production of DNA in the testicles is very sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Jacuzzis, saunas, and other hot rooms tend to excessively raise the temperature of the testicles and may cause infertility.
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One-sentence summary -- Look over your medical history. Figure out whether you have been around toxins at work. Scrutinize your history of alcohol and drug use. Note if you have an undescended testicle. Look at your medical history of chemotherapy and radiation. Evaluate whether you have experienced overheated testicles.

It is easy to focus on the things that you do not like about yourself or the areas that need improvement. When you focus on the negative, you forget about all the other wonderful attributes you have. It is important that you acknowledge the things that you are good at and make time to do those things. Examples of good qualities you may have include being smart, funny, kind, generous, creative, loving, caring, etc. Talents and skills you may have include being an athlete, dancer, musician, writer, artist, poet, singer, volunteer, etc. How much time do you spend doing these any of these activities? How will you make these activities part of your everyday life? A lack of confidence can stop you from trying something new or doing something that you enjoy. What would you do if you had more confidence? What is stopping you from doing it? Write down the following sentence, "If I had more confidence, I would..." What type of support or encouragement would you need to try this? How would you feel if you actually tried this? For example, maybe you are a good writer and would like to work on your skills. However, you are not confident enough to write for your school newspaper. You may write, "If I had more confidence, I would join my my school newspaper. I know that I am a solid writer, but I am afraid of other people reading my work. If I joined the newspaper, I would become a better writer and make new friends." Every person has strengths and weaknesses. These are different for each and every girl. When you compare yourself, you are often comparing a weakness you have to someone else's strength. If you continue to do this, you will never feel good about yourself. When you find yourself comparing yourself to another person, direct your attention back to yourself. Remind yourself that you are unique and have your own strengths and talents. Go back and read the list of positive attributes, talents, and skills that you made. It may help to post the list by your bed or on your bathroom mirror. There may be areas that you would like to improve upon or things you would like to accomplish. When you achieve things, you prove to yourself that you can meet expectations. Setting a goal and achieving it can help build your confidence. Write down your goal and then write down steps you can actually take to achieve it. Your goals and the steps you take should be realistic. Setting a goal that you are unable to reach may backfire and make you feel worse. For example, if you want to start running, running a 5k is a better goal than running a half-marathon. Trying to go from not running very often to running a half marathon is a huge jump, and you are setting yourself up for failure. A 5k is very realistic, and you can find a couch to 5k running program to help you set your daily and weekly goals.
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One-sentence summary --
Write down your talents, skills, and good qualities. Challenge yourself to do more. Stop comparing yourself to other people. Set goals for yourself.