LADIES: Daily rectal temperature measurement for monitoring of cycle

Ladies! How do you feel about daily rectal temperature measurements for monitoring your cycle? Were you tense about it at the beginning? Do you find it uncomfortable? Or did you get used to it?

For me it was nothing because I already take my temperature rectally anyways so it was just obvious to take my basal temperature the same way

In my practice, when a lady complained of difficulty getting pregnant, after full exam, my advice as their Family Physician would be to begin tracking cycles with rectal basal body temps with a BB thermometer (rectal bulb and extended reading area in the normal range) every morning before getting out of bed. I would get a fair amount of funny looks and comments about the the need for rectal temps, and would guess that about half of the families didn't follow through for whatever reason. Those that did do it usually followed the advice to get the husband to help. Advice was also given to have the husband do a sperm count and change to loose pants and boxer shorts. After those steps for 3 months, it was time for an infertility specialist.

I have never used a rectal thermometer to track ovulation, I have come to learn my body pretty well and can just tell when I’m ovulating.

I have suggested, especially to younger women who are still learning how their body works, that having a temperature taking routine such as each morning before leaving bed and using the same method can teach them to track for ovulation. I stress that they don’t have to take their temperature a certain way, as long as they just use the same method (oral, vaginal, rectal, whatever they’re most comfortable) with a bb thermometer.

While I would be ok with doing so rectally, I don’t know many other people who would be, despite anal play and anal sex becoming more popular. But if you or your partner are willing and able, go for it.

Even though this is only for women, I would like to share my experiences as a man: In the 90s, my wife and I used natural contraception (NFP). As a man, I measured her temperature rectally in the morning before she got up and documented and evaluated it by hand in a cycle calendar. My wife enjoyed not having to worry about it herself. I also advise all women to get to grips with their own bodies as early as possible in order to understand themselves better.