Vitex, long irregular periods, 6 mo TTC

[RcdM]

Hi all!

I've posted here before and left for a while because I felt that being super obsessive about TTC was making it impossible to TTC and needed a break. But I'm back because I'm going to try something new, and I just wanted to document it for anyone experiencing the same issues.

Background: 27 yrs old, never been pregnant, had Paragard IUD removed in Nov '10 after having it for 4 years. Periods were always a little irregular but ever since paragard was removed, seriously like AF has been an effing B.

Since Oct '10, each cycle has been:

41 days - IUD taken out on on CD41, AF started next day
72 days
37 days
57 days
75 days
37 days (AF just started today)

As you can imagine, it has been extremely frustrating TTC. In Feb I started using OPK, I got a positive, bd'ed all around that date, BFN. I gave up on OPK bc it's just way too expensive especially when you have no clue how long your cycle is going to be each round. I don't temp or chart, which I probably should, but I just can't seem to remember to do it each morning as I'm always running late for work - NOT a morning person lol. I got blood work done and have no hormonal imbalance - doc says everything's perfectly normal and it could just be stress. So is she saying I've been stressed out for past 13 years? Lol... My doc is super nice, and more than willing to do anything I request, but before I go back for more tests, I decided to try Vitex.

It has been confusing because every other online post says start taking it after AF is over, start it on CD1, stop once you O (how will I know?!?), take it the entire time for several months, take 200mg, take 500mg, make your way up to 1500mg... ugh. So I don't know what the heck is right, but I decided what I am going to do. I started it tonight, and will take 1 capsule each day for 2 weeks and then stop. I will do this for each cycle and hopefully notice shorter or at least more regular cycles after a few months, or get a BFP! I am taking Wild Harvest Chaste Tree capsules, 440mg, once per day.

I will keep everyone updated, and until I have an update, I'm hoping to hear any other positive Vitex stories to keep me motivated. I've read a lot of older posts on here with some good results, so FX!

 

[girlnboots]

Please keep us updated! I've been having the same problem with not knowing the "correct" way to take them, so lemme know how it works for you!

 

[lisax4156]

Ok first of all you dont need to stop taking the herb when you O. I'm not sure who started that, but you can still O while taking it. I O'd while taking it just fine. You also can start taking it whenever you want to in your cycle. It doesn't have to be a certain day.

The directions on the bottle of Vitex I have states to take 400 mg 2-3x a day for 8-12 weeks then 400mg once a day. I'm taking it 3x a day. I also have long irregular cycles and they were getting longer with each cycle. 2 cycles ago, I was at CD42 before starting AF... I only started AF because I took Provera. I started Vitex then. My last cycle? It was 29 days!! From 42 days to 29 is pretty extreme. I was able to pinpoint O and I o'd at CD16. My Oing symptoms were very strong... ones I've never noticed until I took the Vitex.

This herb is meant to be taken daily for a long period of time. It may take up to 3 mos for you to see any results. Good Luck!!!

Lisa

 

[RcdM]

See that's the problem I'm coming across, is how much to take. The bottle says once daily. So it's confusing :\ The bottle has 90 capsules so I was planning on seeing what results I get after 3 months, but then I thought I would just do it for 2 weeks at a time which would mean it would last me a lot longer. I'll see what happens this way and if nothing, I'm going to up my mg and go from there. But those are great results you've had! Thanks for your input!

 

[RcdM]

Hi ladies! Just an update, nothing exciting... So when I started, I took 440mg (one pill) daily at night before I went to bed last cycle, and stopped on CD14, and my cycle was 41 days. This cycle, starting with CD1, I am upping that to two pills per day which equals 880mg. I'm taking both of them at the same time at night. I'm really not sure if that's the way I'm supposed to take them, but so far it's been fine, and I'm currently on CD 16. This time I'm not stopping on CD14, I'm going to take them through my entire cycle. Most things I've read say to work your way up to a higher mg, so we'll see if anything changes. I'll keep everyone updated! Pray for babies

 

[CuddleBunny]

Just wanted to stop in and wish you luck! Wishing you tons of baby dust

 

[TTCinBC]

From what I have read, and there is some conflicting advice anf stories. But i have read that the reason you should only take until you ovulate is because there may be a link between taking vitex while pregnant and having early m/c. I had picked some up as well, but decided a few days in i wasnt confortable with the whole thing. Ive only bern ttc for 3 months after bcp, so i decided to give it some more time on its own. I have great things about it! But like i said, up until you O. I read some women who kept taking had to ween themselves off it slowly buy by their 13th wk pg they were supposed to be off it. So im not sure, just another point of view to consider i guess!

 

[RcdM]

That's my problem though, because of how extremely long and random my cycles are, I have no idea when I O. But yeah, there is tons of conflicting info out there and its frustrating!

 

[TTCinBC]

My suggestion is, is though its a pain in the arse, try doing the BB temping again. That will give you your best odds of figuring out when you O. Ive been doing it for a few weeks, and it was a pain to get into the swing of things, but i think im finally getting used to it.

 

[Miaowzen]

Hello, I am new to this forum, just been posting on tww forum for past couple of weeks.

I just had 5 days of a 'teaspoon a day' bleeding during my luteal phase before AF and it has frightened me. I decided I am going to get started on vitex and use it for the next three months.

In my case I buy all my herbs in bulk so I have actual dried vitex berries. I have ground some into a powder while I wait for my tincture which won't be ready for another few weeks. I'm going to add the vitex powder to some homemade herbal pills. I like this natural way, but my dosages are less accurate. I will have about a gram per day.

There does seem to be a lot of conflicting info about vitex. I am thinking I will use it for the whole cycle first three cycles and taper off if I get pg. If it appears effective I'll then change to stop at O (BBT).

 

[wildflower23]

I took Vitex for several months to conceive DS and again now. I never stopped after O, I've read its safe to take the whole cycle. But this time I've been trying longer and noticed a difference in the length of my cycles after a few months on it. They were close to 40 days, now they are 33. Its not much, but a huge difference when you're waiting to O!

 

[RcdM]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!! UPDATE!!!!!!!!

I am sitting here freaking out. Breathe. I need to breathe.

I just went through cycle 2 with Vitex. Last cycle was 41 days. Today is CD41. Usually I have cramps about 4 or 5 days before AF and then CD1 pretty strong cramps, and then they leave. Well I've had cramps now since cd28, which is kinda early for my irregular cycle, but I was thinking cool, the Vitex is working and is shortening my cycle, AF will be here in a week. The cramps went on for almost 2 weeks but no AF. Confused and kinda irritated. I think whatever, and keep waiting.

Last week I was in tears all day about something that really wasn't a big deal. Like TEARS. All day. Don't know why, and I figured I was just really PMSing early. I also kept getting headaches and didn't know if the Vitex was causing them. I kept waiting, kept waiting. BBs have been really sore the past 2 weeks since the cramps started, but I knew AF was coming... but usually they only hurt for a few days, this has lasted almost 2 weeks. Yesterday my stomach was upset all day. I still ate and was fine, but felt really blehh. We got let out of work early yesterday and a friend and I went to see a movie. I went into the bathroom after we bought our ticket and sat down to pee... but as soon as I sat down, I stood up and turned around and threw up. Ew. I washed up and went into the movie, and I still felt kind of blah, but I was ok. This was my first clue because I have never thrown up in years with the exception of alcohol. Then I woke up in the middle of the night last night with my stomach in knots like when you have food poisoning. It was terrible. I went to the bathroom and tried to throw up but I couldn't. I finally forced myself to and then I felt better and went back to sleep.

I told myself that I wouldn't test until the weekend is over and when my fiance is back, because he is out of town this weekend. I also didn't want to test too early and I've seen that darn BFN one too many times so I didn't want to be let down again. Well this morning I woke up and felt okay. I got ready to go out, but I have no appetite whatsoever and still don't right now. I got a smoothie from jamba juice and walked around the mall, but I felt really hot and flushed and decided to go home. I stopped at Target on the way and decided I needed to test, I couldn't wait. I bought a box of FRER and went home. Tested and......

BFP!!!!!!!!

I can't believe it. I'm still in shock. 3 months of NTNP and 8 mo of TTC with extremely irregular periods and the 2nd cycle of using Vitex and it's happened. I literally feel like I'm in a dream. I tested 2 more times just for assurance and the pregnancy line showed up literally the instant it got up there. My fiance is still out of town and I am not going to tell him until he gets back tomorrow night. I am in shock!!! I keep going back and looking at the tests to make sure I'm not crazy. Wow.

Let's pray for a healthy sticky baby! And for anyone else considering Vitex, omg, try it, I haven't had any negative side effects whatsoever, only a BFP! OMG!!!!!!

Thank you everyone for your support and kindness!! Good luck to everyone and baby dust to all!!!!!

 

[Stellae]

Woohoo! I was just going to post and say so far I think the vitex is helping out my crazy long cycles too, so it's good to hear you got results so quickly! Congrats!

 

[CanadianMaple]

I just turfed my vitex, I remember it making my cycles worse a few years ago and this cycle became the most confusing cycle ever for me. A woman on another board said that if you don't need it, it can really throw off your estrogen balance, it doesn't even take all that long to do if it's going to throw you off.

I would read a lot about it and keep an eye on things.

 

[Katie blue]

Thanks for sharing ur story, it made my day this is my first month taking vitex but i have been taking 1.2g-1.8g a day depending on if i remember to take three tablets. I really hope i get my BFP this cycle too. Congrats on ur bfp! How many dpo do u think u were when u got ur bfp? I am 8dpo today and bfn

 

[RcdM]

Thanks for sharing ur story, it made my day this is my first month taking vitex but i have been taking 1.2g-1.8g a day depending on if i remember to take three tablets. I really hope i get my BFP this cycle too. Congrats on ur bfp! How many dpo do u think u were when u got ur bfp? I am 8dpo today and bfn

Thanks! I honestly don't know what dpo I am because of how irregular my periods are. But if I go by my last cycle, I would say 14 dpo. It's CD41 which is how long my last cycle was.

Good luck with everything! It worked for me. I stopped taking it 2 days ago because I had a funny feeling but still didn't want to test yet. I've heard that you shouldn't take it once you find out you're pg.

 

[WhileWeWait]

Hello! My husband and I have been TTC for about 4 years now. We were hoping for a honeymoon baby, but to our dismay, it never happened. We have tried everything it seems! We have went to fertility specialists and had all the tests done. The results were that I did not ovulate regularly. (I only have a period every other month or so with no medical intervention.) We tried Chlomid, Provera, and then Femara. No success! I have just started taking VITEX this month. I have noticed sore breasts, but nothing else out of the ordinary. My cycle last month was regular, but it is day 32 for me today and still no period. Has anyone else experienced this? Or does anyone have any tips?