Agnus Castus - any success?

[jaykay987]

Hello

I current have cycles ranging from 35-39. I have read Agnus Castus can shorten cycles. However most of the forums I've seen it discussed on - people had crazy long cycles (70-100+ days).

I just wondered if anyone had tried using it to reduce long ish cycles like mine?

I don't want to mess up my cycles, as they are regular - but if it could give me 12 chances to ttc this year, rather than 10 - then I'd like to try.

Any feedback?

[blueamber]

If your cycles are regular, even though they're long, I wouldn't take AC. In women with regular cycles, this can actually delay ovulation.

My experience is that I started taking it after coming off the pill and not having had a period for two months. My body did gear up for ovulation every 28 days, but the hormonal surge wasn't strong enough. When I took AC my body started gearing up again after 28 days, but this time the whole process was a lot longer and even though I finally ovulated it was two weeks later than it should have been. So I don't know if my body would have naturally ovulated and the AC delayed it, or if it did help to ovulate even though it delayed it.

[RaRaZ]

Ahhhh! Depends on the person: I swear by it and I'd say exactly the opposite of the two posters above. I've used it for cramps for years (only thing that works), and now I use it to help keep my cycles regular as well. They're the most regular now that they've ever been, and my cycle length is shortening rather than lengthening (which is good in my case). I'm seeing an accupuncturist for fertility/mc avoidance, and she also deals with herbs. She said it's good to take if your CM isn't ideal for conception, and for regulating cycles and promoting ovulation. I've got pg on it twice so it obviously doesn't stop me ovulating, and I'm pretty sure I still am ovulating now I'm using it more - but having my Day 21 bloods taken in just over an hour so I'll let you know! I'd say try it and judge for yourself - nothing it can do is undoable if you don't like it.

[eurochick]

I took it alongside acu and something helped make my cycles very regular (they weren't that bad but slightly long - 31-32 days - and Chinese medicine likes everything to be as clockwork as possible.

[KittyKK]

Hi - I've recently started taking Vitex (Agnus Castus) drops each morning. Also to ensure that I've got a regular cycle. Seemed to work with bringing AF on time!

Now in 2ww, so I'll let you know if it "works" :)

[lj123]

I used it even though my periods are regular and got a BFP the same month I started using it.
Unfortunately my pregnancy was ectopic, not saying that will happen but not sure I can muster up the courage to take it again, although temptation is there just for the BFP satisfaction as haven't conceived since my ectopic.

[jaykay987]

Thanks for all the responses.

Very varied. Can't make my mind up!

[FrankelInFoal]

My advice would be never take anything without professional advice. If you are genuinely interested in taking AC then consult a herbal practitioner. Self-medication can be very dangerous.

[RaRaZ]

Consulting a herbal practitioner is no bad idea, but potentially expensive. I think this is something that can be used without too much worry so long as you are careful and stick to the recommended dose. If it does fuck up your cycle, stop using it and your cycle will go back to normal. If you think it might help, don't be afraid to try it. It's a plant. Yeah, it could do harm, but so can many of the vegetables we eat - in terms of fertility at least. Peas in large amounts aren't good for your fertility, and fennel can cause uterine cramping, but can bring on early mc, but no-one would suggest it was dangerous to eat them.

[pxmx]

Apologies for hijacking the thread i have been thinking of trying this myself have been ttc since xmas. My first day of lmp was fri 26th july and this is now cycle 9 for us so, i'm up for trying any thing at this stage. My cycles vary from 31 to 37 days and i'm hoping angus catus will help. My question is when do i start taking it?? I understand this might not work but i'm willing to try, if it doesnt agree with me i will stop but it's surely worth one shot.

[jaykay987]

From what I've read there are several opinions on the timings.

Majority suggest cd1-ovulation.

[MissStrawberry]

I haven't noticed any huge changes in my cycle when on it but I was taking it more for PMT reasons. It does help for that as long as you take them every day.

[pxmx]

well misssstrawberry im def gonna try it so, since i came off the pill i'm like a fire breathing dragon at pmt time every month dh will be a very happy boy if it works for that alone!!

[MissStrawberry]

Good luck!

[RaRaZ]

You can start it any time :-)

[FrankelInFoal]

You should stop taking AC as soon as ovulation occurs, or at the very least the second you suspect you might be pregnant. There is evidence to suggest that AC causes mini contractions in your uterus which will dislodge a developing embryo.

Of course it is entirely up to you, but I'd say again, you really ought to consult someone before taking anything.

[RaRaZ]

Sorry, I meant to say that - but at 2am I wasn't really on the ball any more! I used to take it right through my cycle, but I've since read wat Frankel just said and now I only take it during my period and up till the day I get my Peak Fertility reading.

[pxmx]

Thanks for all the advice and sorry again for barging in op! I'm going to get some tomorrow and will start straight away and stop as soon as i get a pos opk. I'm not expecting miracles but its surely worth a try :)

[jaykay987]

Not at all! Is been an interesting convo!

[KittyKK]

Ladies - just to follow up on my post last week...Agnus Castus worked for me first cycle....I was diagnosed as "slightly polycystic" during recent smear test (private hospital, so test included ultrasound of ovaries).

Usually only had 10 periods each year. Got BFP today, so I would say there's nothing to lose by trying AC!

[jaykay987]

Kitty - how long did you take it?

I am waiting for AF and was planning on waiting til cd1. When did you start?

[Buddhagirl]

Just brought these tablets, I'm 4 cycles off the patch and my last cycle was 14 bloody days. Hoping it will settle them as hoping to start ttc in January.

[PinkParsnips]

AC seemed to do the trick for me. I've got pcos and my cycles varied from 25-77 days. I took the tablets rather than the drops and my cycles regulated to between 29-33 days every month.

The month I fell pg I was also taking a vitamin b6 complex and first month of a selenium supplement.

They do say consult a herbalist though as its a strong herb. Must confess I didnt though!

[CountryCob]

Not heard of this herb before for conception I do give it to my horse in a specialist supplement on adviced doses to reduce his stallion like behaviour and a small amount works for a large horse very strong stuff I would think twice before taking it myself without advice

[Lolly12]

Agree with RaRaz. I did my own research and felt comfortable taking it but getting expert advice if you can afford it wouldn't hurt.

I had success with AC in regulating and reducing cycle length from 40-60 days to around 33 days (I have mild PCOS). I then conceived my DS so stopped taking it once I found out I was pregnant (I took it throughout my cycle). I was temping and I don't think I was ovulating before but after about three months of taking it started seeing a temperature shift then conceived next cycle. Had no other side effects at all.