OK , tell me about agnus castor, please.

[flowerfairy]

Was out with a friend yesterday that recommended agnus castor for ttc. My sister gave me a few she had after she got pregnant, which i took. But didnot get pg. Think I Have read someone say on here that it is only for people who have irregular periods. Is that right?

Please can someone enlghten me as to whether it works, what it does, or would i be wasting my money?

[LullyMummaOfOne]

I dont have any helpful answers as ive never heard of this before but i just wanted to say i hope you get a response soon as i will be intrested to see also.
Good luck

[flowerfairy]

Come on i know there is someone out there who knows MNetters

[beanieb]

I have been advised not to take it if you think there may be underlying issues with your period/cycle.

It can apparently help to regulate your cycle so if your cycle is very long for example it can shorten it. I have taken it to lengthen my cycle but not seen much success. A very long cycle can be a symptom of other fertility problems and it's best to get those checked out before taking agnus Castus.

The advice is to take Agnus castus for three months continually without TTC, but if you are not prepared to do that you can take it up to Ovulation but should stop once you ovulate and then start again if you get your period.

[flowerfairy]

Thanks Beanie B

[flowerfairy]

Have been ttc #2 for almost a year. Am 35, cycle had been spot on 30 days for many months then occasionally, including last 2 months will have a 35-37 day cycle. Never test before at least a week so is it possible i have had chemical pregnancy?

Took 3 months of really trying with ds to conceive and use of OPK. Trying OPK but have had no + this time.

Have been to see gp because was having very bad pms over the last 6 months-very painful breasts, nausea, very tired for 2 weeks + of cycle. Said i was ttc said to come back in couple of months. Am on last ditch attempt this month before going back.

Does this help at all

[bythepowerofgreyskull]

I took Agnus Castus 5 years ago when ttc DS1
my cycles we anything from 28-63 days.

I researched it on the internet. talked to people in the 2 independent health food stores in town and lady in Holland and Barrat.

Bought Tincture took it 4 times a day for 10 days, had a period.
Didn't continue to take it 28 days later I had another period.
I have had a 28 day cycle ever since.

I don't know what it is like for actual fertility issues but for regulating your cycle there are lots of sites on the net suggesting it has been used for generations to help with "female" issues.

[lastboxoftampons]

I've been taking it this month. My cycle is usually around 28 days long, but I don't OV until about CD18 and have a 10 day LP with spotting.

I'm currently on CD31. I have three possible ov dates at the moment - the first being CD16, then CD22 and CD26. I was traveling across time zones this month, so my temps were quite hard to read, but I suppose it's possible that the AC did delay my ovulation. I'll probably know better in a week or so. I will say I tend to have low pre-ov temperatures and since taking the AC I've noticed they've been generally higher, which I think is the AC balancing out the amount of estrogen in my body (I suspect I'm estrogen dominant)

[flowerfairy]

Now i'm going to sound abit stupid, but what is your luteal phase. Spend most of my time on here atm and i still don't know. Was trying to find out when i ov with opk, but like i say never seemed to get a +. Had been feeling alot calmer and relaxed about ttc then for some reason today and yesterday have been getting worked up about it and thinking i'm too old (i know i'm not but it's that 35 number making me nervous)

[lastboxoftampons]

Your LP is the amount of time between ovulation and your period. While your ov date can change drastically due to all sorts of factors including stress, travel, etc, your LP won't' change more than a day or so from cycle to cycle. In a text book 28-day cycle a woman will ovulate on CD14 and have an LP of 14 days. "Normal" LP's range from about 12-16 days. Anything less than 10 days may be considered problematic because, as implantation usually occurs between 7-10 dpo, it could hinder/prevent the egg imbedding.

Hope that helps!

[lastboxoftampons]

PS - bythepowerofgreyskull I LOVE your name!

[flowerfairy]

Thanks for that. Still have no idea as not sure when i ov. Don't think temping is for me, as i'm a lazy cow and dh thinks i'm getting obsessed enough. Am about to go away so i'm hoping that this month as we will be less stressed maybe we will be lucky otherwise i'll be visiting gp.
it is a great name- was trying to think how to shorten it and it seems a shame too.

[flowerfairy]

Was going to add thanks for all the advice too.

[bythepowerofgreyskull]

thanks ladies