Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Goodbye Vitex

Many of you have probably heard of Vitex.

In the world of infertility it is not an unknown herb.

For those of you unawares, it is an herb that helps regulate hormonal functions, specifically progesterone and estrogen.

I've been taking Vitex on and off for years now.  When we began this journey and I discovered I wasn't ovulating it was one of the first homeopathic remedies I tried in an effort to try to regulate my hormones naturally.  Unfortunately it takes months to build up in your system and work properly and when you get into this TTC business an unknown number of months is usually longer than you're willing to dedicate to any one treatment just to SEE if it will work.

Ultimately the Vitex did not work for me, at least not in any measurable capacity, i.e. it did not help me ovulate.   So, when we made the leap to Clomid, the Vitex got left by the wayside as you're not allowed to take the two together.

Throughout the first pregnancy Vitex never entered my mind.  I was pregnant what did I need any of my TTC herbs for?  Western medicine had won the day!

But almost immediately after the miscarriage I did a complete 180 and started popping Vitex again in hopes of regulating my hormones and get my period sooner rather than later.  I got back on the homeopathic bandwagon, herbs and acupuncture all the way.

And wouldn't you know it?  Just 8 weeks later I actually ovulated.

I can't say with any certainty that the Vitex helped me ovulate because more than likely it was just the pregnancy/miscarriage...or the acupuncture...or who the hell knows?!

BUT because I was on Vitex for the last few months leading up to the 2nd pregnancy everyone, midwives, naturopaths, acupuncturists, etc. told me to keep taking it through the first trimester EVEN THOUGH it is normally not recommended during pregnancy.  

In fact it says right on it DO NOT TAKE WHILE PREGNANT.

So, I took everyone's advice after doing a little bit of my own research and continued taking the Vitex through the first trimester.

And 2 days ago I finished my bottle, the first trimester is over and I'M OFF THE VITEX.

It's kind of exhilarating and liberating, one less pill to take everyday, one more milestone, all sorts of awesome.

Anyone else try Vitex?  Anyone else have promising results from it?

6 comments:

  1. I recently started looking into it. With PCOS and crazy cycles (if they come at all, I was willing to spend the little money it costs. My order will arrive tomorrow. Not only did I order the Vitex I also ordered the Soy Isoflavones (which is suppose to be "nature's Clomid").

    This is my first time commenting on here and I just recently came across your blog. I am just assuming here but did you conceive on Vitex alone?

    I too was unaware that you can take Vitex after getting a BFP. Glad to hear a success story with this!!!

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  2. Hey Erica,

    I started taking the Vitex immediately after my miscarriage and conceived 8 weeks later with no other help except acupuncture. I have no idea if it was the pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage that just jump started my ovaries enough for me to ovulate that one time or if the vitex played a part, but since I can't say it WASN'T the vitex either I'm gonna go ahead and say it did it's job or at least helped the process along.

    Good luck with the Vitex but only take it with a pregnancy if you've been advised to do so and only if you've been taking if for several months leading up to the BFP!

    Hope it helps!

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  3. Yay for graduating from the 1st trimester :)

    Have no experience with Vitex though so I can't speak to it but I'm glad it worked for you!!

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  4. Hi Jessica! I just wanted to ask if it was really safe continuing to take Vitex after getting BFP. I just found out yesterday that I am pregnant (4weeks) and I was taking Vitex for my skin before that. I am scared to stop because it might have helped me conceive but also scared to continue because it says on the bottle not to use during pregnancy. Please enlighten me with this, it is my first time to get pregnant and I am 32 years old. I really do not want to miscarry. Please email me at gihanhalim@gmail.com. I will be so grateful to hear from you. Thank you so much. 

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  5. I know this is an old post but just wondering how your pregnancy worked out with or without continuing vitex? I've been on it 3 months for skin and low hormones. Medical dr is of no help for advice because she didn't even know what vitex was! So frustrated but I don't want to stop cold turkey then have my progesterone drop and end up with a miscarriage.

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