soy isoflavones yes or no?

[ckd10]

i have already posted this evening but forgot to ask......
ive had 6 months of clomid, didnt work, cant afford extra treatment
has anyone tried soy isoflavoes? do they work? how do i take them? etc xxx

[Silverglitter]

I've heard great things about them so am going to give them a try if I don't get my bfp this month but I'm not sure how to take them either (dosage, point in cycle etc)

[BobsyBoo]

ckd10 and Silverglitter I got the below off another thread that someone had posted on. I have taken them on cycles 3-7 this cycle, I have yet to see if they do work..

Soya Isoflavones are derived from soya beans. They have been dubbed “the natural Clomid,”
As they work in pretty much an identical manner.
Just like Clomid; Soya Isoflavones work by tricking your body into thinking its low on oestrogen. Your body then kick starts production of FSH (Follicle-stimulating hormone) followed by LH (Luteinizing hormone) Which are both necessary to release Healthy Eggs during ovulation.
FSH is released at the start of the menstrual cycle; it stimulates the growth of an immature egg into a fully matured egg. When the egg has matured your body then releases a surge of LH. LH is the hormone that tells the ovary to release the egg.

WHEN?
You take Soy Isoflavones, like Clomid, on either CD 1-5 , 2-6, 3-7 , 4-8 or 5-9.
If you take soy Isoflavones during the later time bracket, for example CD5-9, you shall strengthen the egg that has already started growing producing a healthier egg. The earlier in your cycle you take It, the higher your chance of releasing multiple eggs but these eggs will not be as mature as the eggs grown from taking Soya later.
A lot of women will choose the middle cycle (3 -7) allowing time for a strong and healthy egg to develop without erasing the chance of a second egg being developed and released.

1-5 = you produce more eggs, and ovulate sooner, with a stronger ovulation.

2-6 = you produce more eggs that usual, but not as many as taking it 1-5. Eggs may be more mature, and ovulation will be slightly more strong than 1-5.

3-7 = The best of both worlds, a few more eggs, and all eggs will be strong & mature, and ovulation will be alot stronger than 1-5.

4-8 = No more eggs will be produced, but the ones already there, will be matured alot more than usual, and ovulation will be very strong. Ovulation may only be brought forward a teeny bit.

5-9 = You'll have one very mature strong egg, from the ones you already produced on your own. Ovulation will either happen when it usually does, or a few days later, but your egg will be of great quality.

DOSE?
The dose is really down to you but you should always use the lowest amount that works for you.
With Clomid the starting dose is 100mg. Soya Isoflavones are said to be half the strength of Clomid, so it makes sense for the starting dose to be 100mg.
The trouble with 100mg of soya is that the capsules tend to come as 40mg. So you have a choice of starting at 80mg.
Some women change the dose on different days. So they may start at 120mg for the first 3 days then give an extra boost for the last 2 days with 160mg.

As I have said though, use the lowest dose possible for yourself. If you ovulate using 120mg/day stick to that for a few cycles. GIVE IT A CHANCE. It is said that it takes 3months to get the full benefits of what you are taking. NEVER EXCEED 200mg/day.

OTHER BENEFITS?
The following potential health benefits are attributed to Isoflavones:
Reduce heart disease risk
Protect against prostate problems
improve bone health
Reduce cancer risk

SIDE EFFECTS?
As with any medication, taking Soya Isoflavones may cause side effects such as:
Nausea
Headaches
Dizziness
Hot flushes
Night sweats
Cramping
Diarrhoea
Lack of fertile cm
Thrush
Obviously the higher the dose you take the higher your chance of experiencing side effects.

DO NOT TAKE SOYA ISOFLAVONES WITHOUT CONSULTING A DOCTOR IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
Breast cancer, hepatic disease, prostate cancer, kidney disease, taking hormone treatments, thyroid disease, and allergies to soy, peanuts or other legumes.
Soy Isoflavones should not be taken while breastfeeding or pregnant.
Soy Isoflavones may interact with the following medications; androstenedione, antibiotics, clomiphene, DHEA, contraceptives and other female hormones, finasteride, raloxifene, red clover, tamoxifen, testosterone and other male hormones, thyroid hormones, and toremifene.
NOTE: Just like Clomid, Soya Isoflavones may not help some women at all!
Although research carried out on FF has shown that 77% of women taking Soya Isoflavones on the stated days at the stated doses, got there BFP on their first cycle taking them!

[Silverglitter]

Thanks great info Bobsy thanks so much. The 77% figure is very encouraging!

[BobsyBoo]

Yeh it is isn't it let's hope they work as well for us.

[ckd10]

oh wow, thankyou so much for that!
Fingers and toes crossed for us all! xx

[BobsyBoo]

No problem cdk10 Everything crossed they work for us.

Just read your other thread, I'm also trying for my second & have been since January last year. My DD is 4 & I would really love a brother or sister for her. I've had a scan & blood tests & all ok, my doctor won't check anything else as she says its my age! I'm now 38 I was 36 when we started trying.

I've taken the Soy on cycle days 3-7 but I've only just ovulated so still a wait to see if they've worked. xx

[Chookford]

hi ckd10

I am a success story... took soy lasy cycle days 2-6 after trying for number 2 for 14months, worked first time for me, I am currently 7/8 weeks pregnant we think so I would say give them a go, I know they wont have the same result for everyone but its worth a shot

Hope you get your bfp soon.

[lucysnowe]

Hi yes they seemed to work for me in conceiving DS (now 3!). I read that they are only suitable for people who don't ovulate or ovulate very late, as they can muck up the cycle otherwise, so you have to be a bit careful. Also you have to be very careful to only take them on the suggested dates, and stop completely after. It is a while back so I don't remember exactly but I think I started with the smallest dose for the first day and increased it to the maximum advised each day after.

Good luck guys, hope they work for you! :-)

[ScarlettInSpace]

Quick question to those of you the soy iso have worked for, where did you buy it? TIA

[BobsyBoo]

I'm yet to find out of the soy has worked, but I bought them from Tesco.

[ScarlettInSpace]

Oh really thanks, I had visions of buying dodgy imports from the US, like I had to with the DHEA that didn't work & from which my cycle has never recovered

[BobsyBoo]

I was quite surprised I managed to get some from Tesco. I've not heard of DHEA but hope that the soya sorts your cycles out for you. I've already found I ovulated a little earlier than expected this cycle & also the cheap stick OPK's worked for me when they didn't work previously.
Good luck with them.

[Chookford]

I got mine from Amazon, ebay do them too.. think they are the same as the Tesco ones though so if its easier to get them from there go for it!

[lucysnowe]

Tesco for me too AFAIK. People usually take them for hormonal imbalance/menopause I think?

[KittyVonCatsington]

We are all going to have to take Soya Isoflavones anyway when we reach menopause as they form part of HRT

Mine were Natures Aid from Amazon but only as I don't have a Tesco near me!

Another success story here (I hope!)
Was TTC for almost a year (9th cycle but 11th month of trying due to erratic cycles) with one early mc back in Feb. I ovulate very late due to poor oestrogen at the start of every cycle (temping bbt helped me work this out) and it worked first cycle of taking them.

Brought forward my ovulation day by 7 days to CD14. Had darkest OPK line I have ever seen. DTD day before, on day and day after ovulation. BBT temp rose beautifully after ovulation and had a lovely implantation dip at 6dpo. Am now 12 weeks pregnant with my Soy baby!

I took 100mg CD2, 150mg CD 3-4 and 200mg CD5-6. Tablets taken at night to reduce side effects.

Remember not to take Soy if you ovulate during the normal period in a cycle and have regular cycles as it can cause issues with your ovaries.

Good luck!

[ckd10]

Thanks everyone, i bought mine from holland and barret, im going to start taking them tonight so fingers crossed, ive heard lots of different things,
i hope it works for you all!
bobsyboo, i dont believe the age thing....look at Claire Sweeney!! xxxxxxx

[rooroo32]

I looked at the ones I Holland and Barratt but they were 750mg, so unless I am mis-interpreting how they are comprised isn't that far too high a dose?

[spinningirl10]

Hi, yes the holland and Barrett ones are far too high a dose, they are for women in the menopause.
I took soy this cycle and ov'd super early on cd9!! I thought it was a false positive due to the soy but I've been temping and ff says I have ovulated. Not sure if I'll take them again next cycle.
Good luck ladies

[BobsyBoo]

Thanks cdk10 and good point about Claire Sweeney!

Good luck with the Soy hope it works for you. xxx

[MrsExtraOrdinary]

We've been ttc since December and after other success I decided to give it a go as my cycles were getting longer and longer. It worked second cycle and so far so good. I'm 6 +1. I feel horrendous so that's probably a good sign. I've not had a sniff of a BFP all year until now.

[ckd10]

Thankyou all, its great to see some positive results, bit worried though as i bought the holland and barrett ones, i couldnt find the dosage level so ive been taking 2! oh dear! xx

[Shellster52]

Can anyone offer advice on soy foods. I am doing IVF (again!) in Dec 14 and have read that high protein low carb diet increases success. I am vegetarian so have been eating soy as an alternative. I have read some things that say soy is bad for fertility and I wondered if I should cut it out - but being vego I don't have much alternative for high protein foods so I continue to eat it.

So it's interesting to hear of people actually taking soy tablets to help with fertility - and a few success stories here too! Since everyone on here is trying this or has tried this, wondering if you have also read any research about eating soy and if this is good/bad for fertility. I'm eating it regularly throughout the cycle rather than days 2-7 for ovulation.

Should I cut it out or continue on with it. I usually have a cup of soy milk in my protein shake every morning for breakky. The alternative is cows milk but I have read controversial things about dairy too so I am a bit confused about what is best.

[ProbablyMe]

Shellster - I have read a few things suggesting that soy foods should be avoided after ovulation, a shame as I'm addicted to soya chocolate milk!

[Shellster52]

Okay, so avoid it after ovulation. Makes sense since they soy isoflavens you are talking about on this thread are taken days 2-6 or 3-7 - so before ovulation. My period is due any day and I shall try and be good to avoid it after ovulation next cycle as the following cycle we are doing IVF so I should at least make sure my hormones are all good in the cycle prior to IVF.

Soya chocolate milk hey. Sounds good. I won't even try it as it will just be one more soy think I won't want to give up!

[pocketfullofsunshine]

Ladies i know this is a super old thread.. just wondering how you all got on?
I have long cycles and dont bleed properly at all.. all bloos tests so far have come back okay and im waiting forever for gynie appointment.
Debating on using soy isos to help me conceive (unsure whether i ovulated this month or not as tests are iffy)