BabyMed Charting Help

Most of the features of FertilChart™ can be accessed from the menu bar, as seen below.  On this page, the same menu bar is presented for illustration. Here is what the FertilChart toolbar looks like:

New|Load|Save|Deleted|Graph|Table|Comments|Print|Share|Expert|Evaluation  

New
This is where you can start a new cycle.  You will be asked for the first day of your last menstrual period. This is typically when menstrual bleeding is first observed when you get your period.  You are also asked for your cycle length, which is the number of days between the start of consecutive periods.  An average will work here if you're not quite regular, and it doesn't have to be perfect.  The date and cycle length are used to establish the range of dates for the cycle, and make some calculated predictions of key dates within your cycle, such as expected ovulation, and when your next period might come.  It may be important to remember that your period occurs at the beginning of your cycle, not the end.

Load
This will present you with a list of all of your stored FertilChart™ cycles, with their ID number and start date, which is the first day of the menstrual period that you entered to create the cycle.  Select from the list and click the radiobutton to "Continue" (load the chart /work on a chart) or select "Delete" if you want the chart deleted::

Press "Continue" to load the chosen cycle into FertilChart™. This allows you to work on your chart.
Press "Delete" to delete the chart

Save
This is the function that writes all the data you've entered into your cycle to the server.  Any data you enter and changes you make are temporary until you select this function from the menu, so don't forget.  This allows you to experiment a little with your data, especially temperatures, so you can see how FertilChart™ works, or how it might react to changes in the data.  In addition to the function, all of the data input screens have a check box labeled "Save Cycle" and when this is checked all changes are saved to the server automatically. Clear this box if you just want to experiment.

Deleted
If you have previously deleted a chart, this option will allow you to retrieve the chart. Simply check the chart you want retrieved and press "Continue".

Graph
This will open the actual graph for you.
Hot Tip: Use this feature to do a quick entry and create the graph by just entering the temperatures for each cyclke day.
Sometimes it's easier to just enter your temperatures and move on, especially if you're catching up after several days or are copying a bunch of information from something else.  That's what this screen does.  As you go, the chart will keep updating with each new temperature, and you can use the Previous, Update, and Next buttons here to see the chart develop.  There is a checkbox to mark a temperature as Invalid.  This is used to indicate that the recorded temperature was likely unusual due to some external factor, like a fever or illness, or high levels of stress on a particular day.  Here we also see the Save Cycle Checkbox...if this is checked, your changes are automatically saved to the server.  Clear this box if you just want to experiment, leave it checked otherwise so that you don't accidentally forget to save your changes later.

Table
PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE: Opens up all your data into a table format where you can easily click on a cycle day and enter/edit your data. Click on the cycle day and magically you will see cycle day open with all your data.  
PLUS: On this screen, you will see three calendar months spanning your cycle dates.  Easily move from one to the next day. Key dates are shown in color, and some data selections on certain days may color those days.  Key dates are your projected fertile days and ovulation day (green), days where some level of bleeding is indicated (pink or red), and your next period is expected on the date shaded in light blue.  You can click any of the days in the calendars to change the current day (framed in red) for which data input is desired.  On the right, you'll see all of the different fields from which you can make your selections.  Accurate temperatures are important, as well as the other information, especially later when you're reviewing your cycles with your doctor or one of our Fertility Experts.  There is a checkbox to mark a temperature as Invalid.  This is used to indicate that the recorded temperature was likely unusual due to some external factor, like a fever or illness, or high levels of stress on a particular day. Depending on the current day, you may see a combination of Previous, Update, and Next buttons here.  Clicking any of these will update FertilChart™ with your choices, and Previous and Next will automatically take you to the next day in your cycle.  Clicking the Update button simply updates FertilChart™ and keeps you on the same day.  Here we also see the Save Cycle Checkbox...if this is checked, your changes are automatically saved to the server.  Clear this box if you just want to experiment, leave it checked otherwise so that you don't accidentally forget to save your changes later.

Comments
Opens up the window to enter comments into your chart. It may be helpful to put a reminder notation in your chart for little bits of information that isn't covered by the daily data fields, and here's where you can do that.  Comments appear directly on the chart, so if you print it out or send someone the link to this chart, these comments will be visible to anyone who views it.

Print
This will open a separate window with an Adobe PDF version of the currently loaded chart.  You must have Adobe Acrobat™ Reader to view this format.  Some browsers may occasionally present an empty screen at first...simply refresh that screen using the browser window refresh function and it should display correctly.

Share Send an Email
This feature provides a couple of convenient ways for you to share your FertilChart™ with others, either by sending them and email link, posting a link in a blog or forum, or in instant message (IM) programs.  The box at the top has the direct link you can copy for sharing in any manner you like.  The lower part of this screen is a convenient email form where you can enter the email address of the recipient and a message to send.  Your message, along with the link, will be formatted into an email and sent immediately.  Share your progress with friends, family, even your doctor!

Expert
This is where you can submit your chart to our staff Experts for evaluation.  You can type a question or comment in the box provided that only the evaluator can see. Most expert evaluations are returned to you within 72 hours on business days, though occasionally our staff gets busy and it may take longer.

Evaluations
After your chart has been evaluated by one of our staff Experts, their remarks are shown here along with other key information about your cycle.