Hi all. I am interested in other people's experiences of Agnus Castus. It seems every time it is mentioned on here there are some posters who immediately warn against taking it without consulting doctors but I know there are plenty of women who DO self Medicate and some who have a positive experience to share.

Can you tell me what you think of Agnus Castus, and more importantly why you think what you do?

Has anyone here had real problems with it or has it helped you to change your cycle or even boosted your fertility?

Thanks.

Hi beanisteve

This is something I've been thinking about using, to extend my LP from 10 days.

The most information I've been able to find out about it is here. I've no idea what strength these people would sell it in, but I do know you can buy Agnus Castus from Holland and Barratt.

One other question I have about it is when to start taking it? Do you wait until CD1 and take it all the way through your cycle, or do you start taking it from the point of ovulation? If anyone has an answer to that I'd appreciate it.

Like beaniesteve, I'd also welcome hearing other peoples' past experience of it, and any side effects that might have been experienced. And also, whether it was used on its own or in conjunction with other remedies.

Thanks!

Glasto

Hiya Glastochick.

I have some which are 500 mg each and the jar says to take 2 capsules twice daily.

Only take them from day one of your cycle and up to Ovulation unless you are not TTC. I read that you should really take them for 3 months without TTC and without stopping at ovulation, before stopping and then begingin TTC again.

I am really quie interested in why some people reccommend you don't take them at all, I've read several comments here where people have been warned against it.

bump for funkeymunkey

My limited knowledge is that it can overstimulate the production of Lutenising Hormone (LH) which, in women who have hormone imbalances may not help. For example, women with Poly-cystic Ovarian Syndrome tend to have consistently high levels of LH throughout their cycle.

Depending on your age and ttc history, it would be better to seek referral for hormone tests, to ensure that you are not exacerbating an existing problem.

HTH.

Thanks beaniesteve for shedding some light on when you should and shouldn't take it in your cycle . To be honest though, I don't think I could manage to stop TTC for 3 months and then start again as I feel we shouldn't be wasting any opportunity!

Reach, I am on cycle 8 of TTC so unable to visit my Dr yet to see if there is anything holding us back. My cycles since starting TTC have regularly been 27 days with ovulation on CD17 (apart from the last two cycles of 25 and 30 days respecitely, which I guess averages out at 27 days). I don't have any reason to believe I have PCOS or endometriosis. My only concern is my reflexologist, who I have recently started seeing, has identified congestion in my right ovary which rang a bell with me because I only ever feel myself ovulate from the left side. However, I'm not sure whether my Dr will begin investigations because my reflexologist has noticed some congestion. I also know that an LP of 10 days can be enough to conceive, and to be honest I'd like to try as many avenues as possible before asking for something like Clomid and / or going through (in my eyes) invasive tests.

Sorry, bit of a waffle there

I comment on AC to the effect that if there are underlying hormonal imbalances (a common cause of irregular periods for example) this can actually make things worse. It can encourage the production of LH; a hormone that is often in excess in women with PCOS.

It is therefore not ideal to self medicate with AC (strengths of AC do vary). I suggest that if people want to take this (and I am not saying that they should not) they should seek out the advice of a properly qualified medical herbalist beforehand.

glastochick - don't think your GP is going to take any notice whatsoever of your reflexologist talking about supposed "congestion" in your right ovary. Think your GP would be very sceptical. Ovulation as well is not an exact science; you may well have your ovulation date wrong. Ovulation can occur earlier, later or not at all in any given cycle. Tests such as a blood test and a semen analysis can be done by your GP and these in themselves are not invasive.

I took AC and wouldn't take it again.

In hindsight I don't know why I took it as i have a regular 28 day cycle. I just felt that anything that could give me a boost must be worth a shot.

However it immediately lengthened my cycle and stopped me ovulating. As soon as I stopped with the AC I was back to 28 days and day 14 OV.

If you are going to take it then you do need to take it throughout your cycle. If you take it for two weeks on and two weeks off it won't have any effect and you'll be wasting your money.

One woman (on another site) who was a serial miscarrier was advised to continue taking hers throughout the firt trimester as it can keep progesterone levels high.

Glastochick - I agree with Atilla - your GP won't pay any heed to anything a reflexologist says and rightly so in my opinion (sorry!) but they have no medical qualifications and cannot diagnose things like blocked fallopian tubes.

Ok - I fess up. I took it for the first part of my cycle this month. Stopped a few days before I ovulated and now my period is 2 days late so I was thinking that might be why. Probably not though as I stopped taking it half way through?

I have a 24 day cycle usually, it's like clockwork. I'm on day 26 now, no spotting, nothing. Had a negative test this morning so I don't think I can be pregnant. I am taking it purely to regulate my cycle as I have been getting two periods a calendar month sometimes and I have 2 major events in June for which I don't want my period. Looks like if my cycle were to stay at 24 days I would have my period for both events.

I've not been diagnosed with any kind of fertility problems, but then I've not had all the tests (Just blood ones), and my cycle has always been regular apart from the month before last when I had a cycle of over 30 days for no reason.

I used AC (self-medicated along with a lot of other things) because I had the hormone blood test before I started ttc and was told I had marginally low progesterone and was referred to an infertility clinic. I don't know if it worked or if I was just lucky: I have 3 DCs all conceived first attempt. I don't think it made any difference to my cycle (always has been 23 days) but maybe I didn't take it for long enough?