Customer Reviews

Vicks OviTrack Basal Thermometer

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This thermometer has some good points - it is soft, and contrary to the other reviews, it does have a memory for the last temperature taken (to see the previous temperature, press the on button continuously for a few seconds).

However, I am extremely frustrated with the thermometer because I can never tell, in the dark, if it is on or not, and if it is working or not. I often press the on button when I wake up, put it under my tongue, and wait. And wait. And wait... not realizing that the stupid thing turned both on and then off when I pressed the button. So I try again. Sometimes I have to try three or four times, and lean over to turn the light on, to get a reading.

Doesn't this defeat the purpose of taking your temperature right when you wake up, without any activity? In any event, it's frustrating.

If I am not pregnant this cycle, I am buying a different thermometer.

UPDATE: I was not pregnant that cycle, and I did buy another thermometer (BD brand) and I am back to using the Vicks. As frustrating as it is, it is more consistent than the BD and reads to a hundreth of a degree (BD only goes to a tenth).

I am buying a new thermometer--I HATE this one. Here's why:
1)It gets stuck in its case. Then, when I try to pull it out, the "button" cover comes off and exposes the electrical parts and then it won't work that time.
2)It doesn't have a light so I have to fiddle around with a flashlight to read it.
3)The chart that came with it is USELESS. The boxes to write in are ridiculously small.
4)Sometimes it beeps like it's on and I sit there with the thing in my mouth, but it's not on.
5)It's hard to push the button in the right way such that it recalls the last temperature--sometimes it just doesn't do it. So, I have several days of empty data.

Spend the money on something better.

I love the fact that this is a soft thermometer - it is so easy to keep it in place, especially when you could easily fall back to sleep!

I do wish that the following things could be either fixed or added:
1) The battery cap is right at the end of the thermometer that sticks out, so if it is tight in the holder, you get only the endcap and not the whole thermometer when you go to pull it out.

2) I wish that the display was lighted so that I could more easily see the results without having to turn on the light and wake up my sleeping husband.

3) I wish that it kept the last temperature taken recorded just in case.

Quality is good - Very accurate readings - Comfortable to use
Just could be better

I like this thermometer for its shape and because the tip is flexible, thus making it the most comfortable to use.

This thermometer seems to be very accurate, although I have to round the numbers to 0.1 degrees Fahrenheit, in order to record them in any chart I encountered. It might be TOO accurate if you are tired and numbers seem to blur in your head.

However, several features should have been thought through more thoroughly.

Firstly, it does NOT record the last temperature taken, and so you have to read it right away, and possibly remember it until you can get to your chart. I usually take my temperature around 5:30AM, when my toddler wakes up, and I record it sometime after breakfast.

The display is not lit, and for people like me, who take the temperature while it is still dark outside, this means switching on a lamp to read the temperature. Since I kept waking my husband, I now use a flashlight under the covers. Very primitive. And since it doesn't record the last temperature taken, one cannot simply turn it off and read the temperature when it is light.

Thirdly, the On/Off button is located at the end of the thermometer, which in itself is not a bad thing. But I seem to be unable to press it for the right amount of time. Instead of turning it *ON*, I turn it on and then off again without noticing (and keeping it in my mouth while "Off", waiting for the beep). Same is true when I try to turn it *OFF*. Quite often it will turn off and then on before I release the button, leading to a soft beep on my nightstand when it turns off by itself. Pressing the button not long enough leads to no action on behalf of the thermometer.

And, lastly, it does not give you a "Control Beep" while waiting, so I never know if have placed it correctly or if it is turned on (see abovementioned problems).

I will buy the BD Basal Digital Thermometer, after using the Vick's for exactly one cycle.

This basal temp taker is a definite NO. It does not save the last temp. So, when you are taking your temp a 6:30am everyday and you have to go to the ladies room but you need to wait until you temp is taken and you are trying not to wake your husband., its hard to remember to take the thermometer with you; then turn on all the lights; try to focus on the numbers and find some way of remembering the temp after you turn it off. This is no ok. Secondly, its hard to turn on. The on /off button is on the end of the thermometer, so you have to use two hands to turn in on/off. I can't tell when its ready or if I've turned it on correctly because it gives no indication unless the lights are bright to see the screen. It does beep when your temp is read and I would say that's the only normal thing about this product. I would NOT recommend this product. Its bad enough that women who have trouble conceiving spend a lot of money on products to try and help them reach their goals, I truly feel that Vicks did not do their homework on this one.

I have used a BD Basal Thermometer, but lost it. So I got the Vicks one to replace it. I am frustrated that it doesn't save the last temperature - so I have to read it in that bleary eyed half sleep each morning with a flash light. I am tempted to buy a new BD thermometer, cause this one is a pain (Toni W. of Taking Charge of your Fertilty fame recommends the BD Thermometer, so I recommend you take her advice).

I bought this thermometer and the BD basal thermometer and tested them both. I took 3 temperatures with this thermometer and 3 temperatures with the BD thermometer. The BD thermometer had all 97.5's and the Vicks thermometer fluctuated by .2 degrees on all three temps. I tested them again by taking 3 more temps with each thermometer and the BD was still consistent with two temps reading 97.5 and one reading 97.3 and the Vicks was still fluctuating by .2-.5 degrees on all readings. I didn't realize that this thermometer was also a 1/100th reading and the BD thermometer is a 1/10th reading. I read in one of the learning books for NFP that the 1/10th one is the best one to use since you should be recording your temps that way, and since the BD seems more consistant I will just use that one.

Because I am a little high strung when it comes to accuracy when taking my temperature, I tested this thermometer by measuring my temperature on both sides of my mouth -- every day. Fortunately, when I ovulate my temperature jumps SIGNIFICANTLY, so I am sure when there has been a change. But for women who have less significant temperature changes, I found this thermometer consistently inconsistent with its readings -- even when taking my temp on the same side twice in a row the readings were different enough to be statistically significant for many women.

I also had the same difficulties with turning it on and off with the little push button at the end that other commenters had. And the lack of lighting is a frustrating non-feature as well. There are far better options on the market.

Despite the other reviewers comments, I actually love this thermometer. Yes sometimes you think its on and its not but this doesn't happen a whole lot.

Some of the complaints people have:
Complaint: It doesn't beep as it takes your temperature.
My response: When I'm taking my temperature and my husband is sleeping next to me, I don't want to wake him with a constant beeping. The beeping the thermometer makes when you turn it on/off is not annoying...however, I'm sure a constant beep would annoy my husband. I've had a beeping thermometer in the past and I've hated it!!

Complaint: It doesn't have a light
My Response: Get a small flashlight and keep it on your nightstand. Or press a button on your cellphone to get a light to see the temperature.

Complaint: It doesn't save your reading once you turn it off.
My response: How hard is it to remember a temperture reading until you can record it somewhere else? I have been doing this every day for the past 6 months and have never forgotten the days temperature when its time for me to record it elsewhere.

Complaint: It gets stuck in its protective cover.
My response: Why do you need to always put it in its protective cover. I certainly don't store mine that way.

All-in-all I think this is a great thermometer. It has been very accurate for me!

At 40 years old and after 14 years of marriage, we are trying to get pregnant for the first time. My OB/GYN recommended tracking my fertility as closely as possible, so I purchased the Vicks OviTrack Basal Thermometer.

Packaging is good, the unit arrived in working condition. It comes with a plastic case and some disposable covers, as well as a tracking calendar. Instructions were clear and easy to understand. I "tested" the unit and took my temperature a few times in a row and each test yielded the same temperature. This unit tracks to the hundredth (2 decimal places) and features a memory function so you can view your last temperature.

Now, the two things I do not like:
1. No back-lighting. I wake up early, before sunrise, and I cannot see the display. I've even tried holding it up to my alarm clock, but the gray background on the readout coupled with the black numbers make it impossible to see.
2. I hate the beeping when it is done taking my temperature. Yes, it wakes my husband and yes, I hate that it does this. I want to keep some "magic" in this whole process and not make it soley about baby-making, so keeping some of these "extra" things I must do to myself is something I choose to do, and it's impossible when the thing beeps 8-10 times after it's complete. It's annoying and unnecessary and it's loud enough to wake my husband.

I am trying to find a way to muffle the beeps, but after a week of using it, I've been unable to supress it. It's not alarm-clock loud, but since it beeps so many times, it wakes him up. It also alerts our 2 dogs that someone in the house is awake and they go crazy until I get up and let them out.

Wish I could find a thermometer with all the features this one has, that works accurately AND has a back-light and would let me TURN OFF the beeping, if I choose.