Vitex users...

[Care76]

For anybody that has been using chaste tree for a while, have you noticed any see effects? I am not sure if it is the vitex, but I have gained quite a bit of weight in 5 weeks. I also had a few (4-6) pimples before af. I sometimes get 1 zit around af, never anything like this. They are tiny and not very noticeable thankfully.

About the weight gain though, this is hard. I also started a diet (blood type a diet) which isn't that far off from what I usually eat,but I gave up dairy and red meat and pork. It is so distressing to gain 10 lbs when I am doing so well. I always ate fairly well though. My main problem as I didn't eat enough and would forget to eat. I am trying to eat every few hrs even if it is just some fruit.

I know oestrogen can make you gain weight. I think it is mostly water. I know when I was on clomid years ago I went to the gym 3-5 times a week and still gained 20 lbs. Now I am told not to do anything that raises my core temperature. No baths or high impact exercise (bye bye Zumba ), only 30 min walk or swim, Tai chi or yoga. I don't know what to do to stop the weight gain. Has anybody else noticed any of these things?

On the plus side my period was much lighter and hardly any bad cramps!

 

[lushgirl84]

All i had when i started vitex was an upset tummy, part from that im fine

 

[Care76]

That's good. Maybe I am just sensitive from hormones since I always have tons of issues when I take anything that increases them. I am also severely moody and emotional. I have cried about 10-30 times a day for the past few days. Some days like today almost all day. That is not like me at all.

I also just realized my stupid phone erased the word vitex in the title of the thread. It just said users, rofl. I know I had it there because my phone lagged and it wrote vitvitex and I had to fix it. Stupid phone.

 

[katherinegrey]

I had no side effects personally, hope it helps you and the side effects clear up though good luck and x

 

[lisax4156]

I've been taking it for 2 mos now and I have no side effects either...

 

[Care76]

Well it seems I am one if the small percent that shouldn't use Vitex. Besides the weight gain, crazy mood swings, and breakouts, my period came early and I never ovulated this cycle. My cycle isnt over so I guess it could come late, but I am very regular and I had no ewcm, no ferning, and no + opks in well over a week. I could just kick myself.

I took vitex because it is supposed to help with bad pms, cramps, and sore breasts. Also a girl I know that is similar to me in fertility did great on it and got pregnant. So if you are regular think twice before taking vitex. Or if you get any of the above symptoms stop taking it. For most it works wonders though, just be aware that some people don't do well on it and it can mess them up more.

 

[steffa]

Ive been taking it for about 4 months and no side effects whatsoever, Im also trying to loose weight and it hasnt affected that at all. It sounds like maybe you're not eating enough! I recommend Weight Loss Resources, its all about healthy eating and you will know what calories you are burning and how many you actually should eat (there is a minimum). On the upside with Vitex my cycle is definetly more regular and my LP is a day longer now, this month I even O'd sooner, now in the 2WW so don't know what will happen!
Good luck with it!

 

[Care76]

I know I don't eat enough, but I have been like that for years. I got better before I started taking vitex though. When I first got my fitness app tracker (I think it is called My Fitness) on my phone about 5 months ago, I was eating between 500-800 calories a day, now I eat 650-1150 a day (from the spring I started eating more throughout the day). I ate like that before vitex and didn't gain 10 pounds in a month ever. I think it has something to do with my hormones because I gained 20 pounds when on clomid (in a year though). I looked into it more and it is not unheard of, I just happen to be one of the few that it effects badly. I know a lot of women that sear by it. But if you are regular, that is when I think you should stay away.

 

[lisax4156]

Well... after posting that I had no side effects... come to find out i haven't O'd yet this cycle. I should have O'd 4 days ago. Not sure what's going on considering it regulated my cycles the past 2 mos. I was having 29 day cycles and I O'd on day 15. Now it's day 19 and no O in sight. Not sure what I should do.....

 

[Care76]

I am sorry to hear that. If you google it these things do happen to some women. I was taking it for two months when I didn't o either. I stopped taking it. I cut back to half the dose after one and a half month after all the side effects I had. Then when I didn't o i stopped completely. Still no signs of o though.

I might have given it time with a lower dose, but we are going for ivf this winter and I would still like to try naturally before that. That doesn't leave us much time. Especially when I have to go on the bcp a month or two before. So I just decided vitex wasn't for me.

 

[SLH]

Well it seems I am one if the small percent that shouldn't use Vitex. Besides the weight gain, crazy mood swings, and breakouts, my period came early and I never ovulated this cycle. My cycle isnt over so I guess it could come late, but I am very regular and I had no ewcm, no ferning, and no + opks in well over a week. I could just kick myself.

I took vitex because it is supposed to help with bad pms, cramps, and sore breasts. Also a girl I know that is similar to me in fertility did great on it and got pregnant. So if you are regular think twice before taking vitex. Or if you get any of the above symptoms stop taking it. For most it works wonders though, just be aware that some people don't do well on it and it can mess them up more.

Should I not take it then if I ovulate every month and have a regular 26-29 cycle? I wanted to take it because I have a luteal phase defect, but I'm not sure if it would be a good idea now. I don't want it to screw up my cycles, and I certainly don't want to gain wait. BC did that to me wear I couldn't lose any wait even if I was at the gym 6 times a week. I would just gain and gain.

What's a blood type a diet? That's my blood type so I'm curious lol. Even though it probably has nothing to do with a blood type.

 

[Care76]

The weight thing seems to be very uncommon, but I think a lot of it is bloating. I already lost a few pounds. I don't know what to say. A lot of women have great results with vitex, I think it is about 20% that end up worse off.

The blood type diet is exactly that, eat according to your blood type. I read the book because I knew a few people that swear by it. For our blood type eating this way is suppossed to help with fertility problems. Type A is a vegetarian type diet with no beef or pork. Chicken, turkey, and fish (no shell fish though) are ok. I eat a lot of veggies with fish and some chicken or turkey. Rye bread is ok, along with true sprouted wheat breads and cornbreads or rice bread. I don't eat other breads although it is a loud if you don't want to loose weight. I make oatmeal and blueberry muffins because oatmeal and blueberries are very good for us, along with cherries and broccoli (too may to mention now). Nuts and seeds are also good for us. No potatoes or dairy. Mozzarella is ok sometimes.

What I ate yesterday is this:
Breakfast - organic oatmeal with apples, cinnamon, and tiny pinch of stevia

Snak - organic blueberry energy bar

Lunch - salmon, pan fried in olive oil with real lemon and ground pepper

Dinner - homemade lemon ginger chicken with broccoli, green beans, and onions

Snack - sesame and seaweed rice chips

All of that only adds up to about 900 calories, but it's not like I am starving.

I also only drink water (always have), but you can drink black coffee, green tea, and white wine. A glass of red wine/day is recommended, but I don't drink it.