Recording Your Fertility Signs

Before TCOYF can make any determination regarding your fertility, you must record fertility signs for it to interpret.

When you start TCOYF, the Calendar window is presented. Click on today's date to enter fertility signs. Be sure to click the "Save" button when you're done enterting signs.

Temperature
Take your temperature with a basal thermometer upon waking.  Many women keep a pad of paper and pen by the bed for this purpose (indeed, TCOYF provides a Bedside Log in the Reports menu item explicitly for this purpose). Remember to record your temperature in TCOYF at some point during the day.  You may type it in or select a temperature by clicking the arrows next to the Temp box until the proper temperature is displayed.  If your temperature has been disturbed by sickness, physical exertion, hangover, etc., check the Disturbance box.

Events
The start of your period and any day where you have menstrual flow is recorded as "menses" in the window.  If you haven't specified the start of your cycle when you created the new cycle database, check the Menses box to indicate menstruation.
If you are not beginning your use of TCOYF on a menstruation day, you may optionally record the start of the current cycle on the appropriate day in the past (even if this start date is approximate).  However, depending upon how many days it has been since the start of the cycle, TCOYF may not be able to accurately calculate fertility until the next cycle, as it must use day-counting estimates instead of actual fertility signs in its analysis.

If you engage in sexual relations on this day, check the Intercourse box, if you used birth control during intercourse, then check the Birth Control box.  You may also record Spotting on this screen. 

Observing and Recording Your Cervical Fluid & Vaginal Sensations

If you are familiar with observing your cervical fluid and/or vaginal sensations, select the option that best describes these fertility signs. To observe your cervical fluid, you should begin checking it either the first day menstruation has ended or the day that TCOYF recommends via the Fertility Advisor (under the "Signs to Record" section). For specific information, please see the "How to Identify Your Cervical Fluid and Vaginal Sensations" topic.

Meds, Procedures and Events

To record medications, procedures and event, select the Meds, Procedures and Events tab. In each category, you can select "add new", then add details. Select "Add to Quick Pick List" to make the information available for future use. Click Save when done.

Appointments and Reminders

To add an event or reminder to your calendar, select the Appointments and Reminders tab. Then select "add new" to add a new appointment/reminder. Click Save when done.

Notes

To add any notes, select the Notes tab, then "add new".