Admit defeat or try agnus castus?

[hippychick66]

Basically I'm 45. Have 2 wonderful DC. 2 years ago I had a MMC followed 3 months later by a mc.

No BFPs since then.

My cycle has now started behaving differently and according to Toni's bible it is to be expected at my age.

I get lots of opk positives but no temp rise. Cycle used to be always very regular - charts were text-book.

Now sometimes I will eventually get the rise on about day 35 followed by a period on day 50.

The book says that as you approach menopause your body may make several failed attempts to ovulate each month.

My questions are - is it worth taking agnus castus up until I see a temp rise (I've heard it is natures clomid and can encourage ovulation) or should I just let mother nature win and give in gracefully?

Also, could all these LH surges be dangerous for my overies (eg. Cysts)

I need advise - attilathemeerkat seems very knowledgable - or anyone else!

Thanks X

[hippychick66]

Forgot to mention that my temp is very low during all the attempts at ovulation. 36.15 that kind of thing.
X

[randomimposter]

TRY AC Hippster xxxxxxx
What's the worst that can happen?

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Thank you for writing such a nice compliment:).

I would not want you to admit defeat yet but at 45 your chances of conceiving without specialist help now are not high.

I would be looking to have blood tests done by the GP to see what your actual hormone levels are like now. You are probably not ovulating regularly now, if at all, and may well be peri menopausal (it is quite possible to have periods without ovulating). OPK's are not useful to use if the cycle has become more irregular.

I would also see if you can have a AMH test done; this I seem to recall can measure ovarian reserve.

I would not use or self medicate with AC without seeking the advice of a medical herbalist beforehand.

If egg quality is not good, it may be that other more invasive treatments are needed. Would you want that for yourself?

I wish you the very best of luck, do keep us posted.

[hippychick66]

Hi to Jolls - my friendly stalker :)

attilathemeerkat to be honest with you I would actually be too embarrased to see a doctor about ttc. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying women my age shouldn't be able to discuss it with doctors - I just feel like the obvious response will be move on Hippy you have your family, the time has come and gone. I was embarrased about being pregnant at 43 too - stupid I know but I feel like people will say, "what did you expect?"

We recently moved to a beautiful sea-side town where the doctor is great but I fear he thinks it is approx 1952. I would have to tell HIM what tests to do!

You make a good point that it may well lead to investigative surgery and to be honest AGAIN I wouldn't want to go down that road. I have had laparoscapies for endometriosis numerous times plus an EPRC and I think that's enough for me. Plus my boys should be my priority.

Sounds like I'm talking myself into jacking it in, doesn't it?

[PrincessPrecious]

I think give it a go. Why not? My Mum had me at 41 and took Agnus Castus back in the day when no one (apart from her obviously) was as in to herbal remedies as they are now. Why don't you just ttc without expecting anything to happen and if it does, great.

[PrincessPrecious]

Interesting, my Mum is always on at me to take it even though I am only 35 (I say only as if it is really young or something......:) and conceived DD very quickly. Would like another one (or more...) though so might give it a try. Asked the GP who said it was only for menopausal women. So can I take it at 35? Anyone know? Back to OP I still think you should go for the ttc thing. You have nothing to lose by giving it a try.

[hippychick66]

I have been giving it a go without expecting much for a while now but at least before my cycle was very regular and I felt like I was ovulating. Getting pregnant twice fairly easily at 43 made me think it would just be a case of keep going.

Thanks princessprecuous and aviatrix for your advise. Can you tell me aviatrix what dose you took and what days please? Eg. Did you stop after a temp rise?

Attila - I'm not ignoring your advise not to self medicate, I'm just exploring all options. [Smile]

[hippychick66]

Meant to add - princessprecious you sound young to me, sweetie. I had dc2 at 36 with no worries. Hopefully you have lots of time. Maybe my new role model aviatrix can tell you if you can take ac at 35????

[MooleyWooleyShamaLamaDingDong]

Hi ladies, have been reading this with interest. I'm 30 and have PCOS and have been trying for my first for 10 months now. I have read that AC can be good for PCOS sufferers, but before I rush out and buy someone I'd be interested to hear any pearls of wisdom from you wise and knowledgable lot. I'm under care of a gynae but still waiting patiently for my HSG.

[MooleyWooleyShamaLamaDingDong]

I hasten to add I'm not rushing out to buy someone but rather buy some AC!!!

[willitbe]

hippy, please check your fb messages... I have sent one to you. This is my new disguise here on mn, you will recognise me as someone else!!!!! :-)

[Liveinthepresent]

op just a quick reply - do some research on ac. I can't claim to any expertise on this but myself and a friend both had very positive experience of ac balancing cycles and pms type symptoms - in your shoes I would def try it.
If you only want to go as far as giving mother nature a little nudge then I think it is pretty safe - only other thing occurred to me is what about an acupuncturist - I think they are good as provide holistic advice and may also help you get your feelings straight if they are a fertility specialist.
Good luck

[PrincessPrecious]

Thanks hippy for convincing me I am young. I was so sure at 33 when I conceived DD that it would take ages as I was in my 30s and it happened immediately. You are right of course. Life begins at 40, 50 or whatever it is so I am nowhere near there yet. Good luck with getting pregnant again! It may woork you'd be surprised, was remembering an Irish girl I knew at Uni, she was the youngest of 7 and her Mum had her at 47.

[eurochick]

I took AC at 35. I did it to help ttc, on the advice of my acupuncturist. I took a tincture and worked up to 20 drops morning and night. It did seem to help regularise my periods (which were never that bad anyway) but I didn't get pregnant on it.

[hippychick66]

Thank you all for your replies. Does anyone know if you stop taking it once you think you've ov'd? I guess at the very least it may help me as i approach the bloody menopause. willitbe -

please can I just say, I honestly don't think women my age shouldn't go to the doctors or have blood tests for fertility - I am only referring to myself being too embarrased. My mum and my sister began the menopause in their mid 40's and i just feel like i'm fighting the inevitable.

[randomimposter]

Most say take for one half of the cycle only (I've read both halves suggested?). Recurrent MC theory (and one of our FB chums) suggests you take it throughout the cycle and in fact continue taking when you get a BFP until 12 weeks?
FWIW I was taking (but only half the dose H&B suggest on their bottle) all through the cycle for about 4 months. Stopped before Christmas as along with the DHEA and Folic and Multivits I was fed up of rattling, and as you know in Jan I got a BFP.
Who knows...?

[hippychick66]

eurochick - sorry to hear you didn't get pregnant on AC.

[hippychick66]

Thanks buggerlugs - important to hear the cons as well as the pros. Hope you're ok now?

[hippychick66]

Yes Jolls I do know you got a BFP and I'm completely bloody chuffed about it - surely it can't be a coincidence

(Hippychick clutches at straws in her attempts to be like Jolls)

[hippychick66]

Buggerlugs - sorry to hear that. I know how awful an MC can be. Wishing you luck with ttc - thanks for the warning. X

[Mk89]

Hi girls i'm new to this so thought id share my story sorry if i ramble on. I came of the pill about two years ago and had no period at all apart from one the doctor induced. I desperately wanted a baby and was really fed up with BFN all the time, since i didn't have periods i thought there was no hope til i got them back but the doctor said its still possible for an egg to be released. Anyway i researched a lot and AGNUS CASTUS popped up so i thought stuff it gave it ago, i went to holland and barrett the girl told me drops where better so i got two 500ml bottles and i've been taking it for about month and a half, the last few days i've had a sore head heartburn and sore nipples and last night i swear i think i'm spotting its very light and away this morning it was like dark brownish and i'm taking a test tmrw. this is the first anything has happened in two years and in up to two months of taking agnus castus. FACT! Its a god send i recommend to anyone who is trying esp with no periods infertility or psos! Hope for BFP tmrw> message me for any info xxxxx baby dust to all