Another Vitex question....
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Category: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Name: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Description: Trying to get pregnant? Going through fertility treatment? Just planning your first or second child? There are many people out there in the same boat to help and listen and share with
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Topic: Another Vitex question....
Posted By: Mumma2be
Subject: Another Vitex question....
Date Posted: 05 November 2011 at 2:58pm
| So I have been taking Vitex with B6 for a few months now and it seemed to be helping my short LP, going from 9 days to around 11 days. This month however I am day 22 of my cycle (has been 25/26 days) and I am spotting like i do when my period is coming so i know its going to be full on by the end of the day. I am so over this TTC business and really thought i was on track to regulating my period. Has anyone else experienced success with Vitex sorting out their cycle only to suddenly change one month to a very short cycle? |
Replies:
Posted By: ooligator
Date Posted: 08 November 2011 at 3:44pm
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I used Vitex for a year to help lengthen my short LP. When I started taking Vitex, my LP was 5-7 days. It lengthened it to a steady 9 days, with the rare occasional 10/11 day LP, but consistently was 9 days. Sometimes it'd drop back to being 7/8 days.
A range of +/- 2 days either side is deemed "normal" in terms of luteal phase length. Vitex did bring my OV forward, as I was OVing around CD20, and having a 25 day cycle. It brought it forward to about CD15/18. ------------- Me 38 DH 39 DD1 - 3 years, born prem at 30 weeks after 5 years TTC DD2 - born prem at 33 weeks http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Mumma2be
Date Posted: 08 November 2011 at 4:17pm
Congrats on your BFP ooligator, was thrilled for you. Gives me some hope!  I guess my main concern was the the actual length of my cycle was alot shorter than normal 22 days oppose to my standard 25/26. Its making me skeptical about using Vitex. Did you end up getting pregnant naturally or did you go through Clomid etc? I see you have done acupuncture, do you feel this helped? Thanks, and sorry for all the questions :-)
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 20 November 2011 at 9:54pm
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so I have another vitex question too...
'Studies also indicate Vitex may be useful to stimulating both production and secretion of breast milk. Since there are no reported harmful effects, Vitex should be considered a first line treatment before hormone therapies are undertaken. ' from a website... but then contra-indicated for breatfeeding mums - has anyone else used vitex while feeding or asked a health professional what the deal is? Thanks Jo ------------- http://lilypie.com] 
http://lilypie.com] 
http://lilypie.com] 
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Posted By: Lizze
Date Posted: 22 November 2011 at 2:12pm
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i was under the impression vitex slowed down milk production, therefore not recommended while breastfeeding unless its fully established and baby is over 6 months? ------------- 
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 22 November 2011 at 4:11pm
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well there is something about it reducing prolactin production but then I went and got some yesterday and spoke to the woman at the health store and she said its because it increases milk supply , just like the website said so I guess we will see
and 'baby' is 16 months so I guess its not too much of an issue but I dont want her to stop feeding either ------------- http://lilypie.com]
http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: TripleJ
Date Posted: 22 November 2011 at 7:03pm
I found this site on vitex http://natural-fertility-info.com/vitex and it says both; increases milk supply but also decreases prolactin levels - interesting but confusing  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: newme
Date Posted: 28 November 2011 at 9:52am
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vitex is a hormone balancer. So it can work both ways.
I used it when breasteeding (my son was about a year old), and it had no noticeable effect on my supply whatsoever. |
Posted By: ooligator
Date Posted: 28 November 2011 at 8:13pm
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Mumma2be, sorry, I only saw your question today. Thanks for the congratulations Yes we conceived on a natural cycle. I did 2x clomid cycles (June & July this year) but found it made my endo symptoms worse, so stopped it. Then the cycle we conceived on, was our 2nd post-clomid cycle, when I'd started back on the vitex (stopped it during clomid cycles as they can counteract each other).
Yes, I most definitely think the acupuncture helped. That's how we conceived our DD after 5 years TTC was using acupuncture and herb treatment. Worked quickly that time (within 3 months treatment) not so quickly this time round, but when combined with seeing an osteopath to keep my body physically/structurally in balance (optimising the blood flow), and started seeing a naturopath the cycle we conceived. Vitex can help with breastmilk production, but from what I've read, it's a fine balance between getting the dose right to help or having it effect milk supply, so if you are breastfeeding, I personally wouldn't start taking Vitex until baby was well established on solids. I started taking Vitex when my DD was about 18 months old, I did notice a decrease in milk supply, but not enough to make her wean, just not as full before a feed. ------------- Me 38 DH 39 DD1 - 3 years, born prem at 30 weeks after 5 years TTC DD2 - born prem at 33 weeks http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 29 November 2011 at 9:41am
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I am noticing a definate decrease in milk first thing in the morning, which is a pain, so I will just finish off this month and then stop them. I have to put my baby first, even if I do reallly want another!!!!
------------- http://lilypie.com]
http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: Luckymama23
Date Posted: 30 November 2011 at 6:41pm
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Hey sorry to just jump in!
My Naturopath has just put me on a vitex supplement, and I was just wondering does it make your LP longer by making your whole cycle longer, or by making you OV earlier?? Thanks ------------- 2 superstars too many miscarriages 2009-2014 |
Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 30 November 2011 at 11:11pm
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I understood it to balance your cycle - so for want of a better way to put it - if your isses are short LP - it would lengthen it to a ' normal' length and encourage ovulation if youwerent ovulating etc ------------- http://lilypie.com]
http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: epictraveller
Date Posted: 01 December 2011 at 7:28am
| Just a wee comment from me on this. I just started taking Vitex on the recommendation of TripleJ about 10 days ago when I was on something like CD63. Now I've got four zits. I cannot even remember the last time I have more than one at a time, so I'm taking this as a sign of impending AF and increased hormones due to the Vitex. (Correct me if I'm wildly wrong) but it seems to be a positive sign. Thanks TripleJ! |
Posted By: TripleJ
Date Posted: 01 December 2011 at 8:22am
Yay epictraveller :) That's is great news!! I hope AF is just around the corner for you  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ooligator
Date Posted: 01 December 2011 at 8:23pm
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Kazza, as Raspberryjam said, the way vitex tends to work is it helps balance the hormones (though it is not a hormone itself) so if your issue is not ovulating, it will balance the hormones enough so that you will. If you have short cycles, it will help lengthen them, whether that's by bringing OV forward (if you OV later in the cycle), or just lengthening your LP. If short LP is your issue, I suggest adding in a B-100 supplement too, as vitamin B6 in particular, helps lengthen luteal phase issues.
epictraveller, that's a good sign, it could be your body building up to OV. Have you got any signs of fertile CM? As often it may make you OV before you get AF. Even on such a long cycle. ------------- Me 38 DH 39 DD1 - 3 years, born prem at 30 weeks after 5 years TTC DD2 - born prem at 33 weeks http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Raspberryjam
Date Posted: 01 December 2011 at 8:35pm
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My ovaries were aching the other night, (although I think that could be the ache for a baby sometimes )and I think Im ovulating now (rubbish timing DH is working loads) so I think it definately helps. TBH Im getting so p***ed off with the whole thing right now. I dont mean to be ungrateful, I do have two gorgy girls but I just want this now!!!
Im really excited for my preggy friends but I so wish I could join them!! Im taking exec b and spirulina too.... but all a waste of time when DH's work keeps intereferring with my plans! ------------- http://lilypie.com]
http://lilypie.com]
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Posted By: epictraveller
Date Posted: 04 December 2011 at 7:21am
| TripleJ and ooligator - the wait is over. AF is here and I will hopefully be on normal cycles after this. Hopefully! Thanks a billion again for your help! Raspberry Jam - what are you waiting for - jump the man when he gets home! ;) |