Soy Isoflavones..yay or nay?

[moly39x]

Been doing some research on soy isoflavones & I didn't know what people's opinions are?

I have a 35 day cycle, ovulate between CD17-21 - currently 7th month in of TTC after 1 early loss at 5 week in October.

Do people have any experience with taking them? I read the following on an old thread here about with CD to take them..

My concerns are; I have little/none EWCM (have conceive plus lube) but I get positive OPK every month (temping just stressed me out which I decided would do more harm?!) and I'm sure soy iso is to help ovulate? But now I've read the below, it looks as though it can help the egg. I'm cautious about messing up my cycle so was just looking to hear other people's experience.

Here's the info I've read here (have lots more saved in my notes if people want to see about the dose etc if interest) :)

Thank you x

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.

One thing just for the thread, apparently if you take soy you shouldn't take maca or agnus at the same time, as they can work to cancel each other out. Don't know how true it is, I read it on a holistic fertility site last night with a midwife who also practices holistic fertility

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I'm sorry I'm being negative and mopey, I know testing everyday isn't helping me but not knowing feels the same/maybe worse. I'm trying to hold it together. No point in getting upset while nothing has happened yet it's so hard to stay positive because of my history.

How many sessions do you have to do? I think as long as your cycle is a normal length, your luteal phase is good, and your other cycles don't vary by more than 7 days (I believe that's the norm) then you should be fine? So I don't know what that means for soy and you'll probably not know until you try, as long as the other things stay the same then it's a good thing

@choccrumpet you don't ever need to apologise, this is our space to vent, with others going through similar struggles and supporting each other! Be sad and feel mopey today, and treat yourself really kindly. I'm still really hopeful for you, but I completely understand why you're feeling so anxious with your losses. I think anyone would be anxious and stressed and sad. You're not a negative person! You've been so lovely on this thread and on others.

On the acupuncture front, they haven't actually said. Their fertility course is 12 sessions, but its expensive, so I think I'm going to pay per session and see how I get on/if I like it. I do think I have to go in the follicular phase (next week), around ovulation, and then in the luteal phase - so at least three. My luteal phase was actually 12 days this cycle, because my period started on the 13th dpo. So better but still not perfect. Total cycle 26 days - my shortest ever!!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 thank you, I'm conscious I may come across as super negative and don't want to make others feel the same. I'm not out yet and agree things could still turn around, it's scary to get hopeful so I'm trying not to just yet.

I don't know what you do for work but is it something you could claim through them depending on what benefits you get, if any? I know sometimes it's possible, even for just 1 session. I think 12 days is good, anything above 10 is good. And that is a short cycle! Mine used to be that short first off the pill but then averaged to 28 days.

Re my ovulation, I got a positive OPK test on a Friday and Saturday, so I could have ovulated on the Saturday, Sunday or Monday. So I am anywhere from 10DPO to 12DPO. So ideally if I did start bleeding I'd want it to be in a few more days to be safe (for a better luteal phase). But this is all guesswork

@choccrumpet agree on the scared to be hopeful, makes it feel worse when you start hoping I think!

I couldn't because its fertility related, and so excluded from my private healthcare. I don't mind the cost if its helping, but reluctant to sign up and pay in advance for 12 sessions if it turns out I hate it 😂 Turns out my partner thinks its a great idea and has booked himself in on the same morning as me for back acupuncture, and also head as he's hoping it will stave off any hair loss 🤣

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 with just the bbt it was hard to pinpoint my actual ovulation as some months my body has to try a few time before it gets there or doesnt ovulate but with bbt and opk I've managed to pinpoint ovulation and my Lp is all over the place! My temp is a little lower today so af may very well be on the way for me too. Great that it's lengthened your Lp though! Sounds like you've definitely regulated a bit even though af arrived that'll be good for next months try!
I'm deffo going to try 3-7 next month as I did 2-6 this month.

@choccrumpet I can't see a line but the really don't show up well in pics! You're not being negetive, we all feel bad when we don't know what's happening. It's normal to feel like this just try and distract yourself and either test again tomorrow or wait for af. Either way you will know more in the next few days.

I haven't tried acupuncture myself but know lots who have and say it has a great effect on their cycles, one lady said her acupuncturist said you'll only need a few sessions at the most then top up every few months and if any other one tells you different they're not doing it properly. It's quite a personal thing too apparently and you have to find the right one for you.

I'm 13dpo not really feeling any symptoms today of pg or af, my temp went down ever so slightly so af could be here in the next few days 🤷🏼‍♀️

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 ooh thanks for info about not taking soy/agnus at the same time. It's all so confusing isn't it. I'll see what happens this month before changing anything though. I can't wait to hear how you get on with acupuncture!

@Marvellouslymadmum I feel like you are the expert here! Think I'll go 3-7 this cycle also. Hopefully not period for you, because if it only went down slightly, hopefully its just nothing. And no symptoms of period sounds good!

I'm getting some liposomal vit c on your recommendation also, as my multivit has got way less than the recommended amount for progesterone support. Ubiquinol - does it matter which type or can I just get a liposomal coQ10 for better absorption also? Again my multi vit doesn't have sufficient for the It Starts With Egg recommendations.

@RoseGold24 started with my chia seeds today. I also spoke to the Dr about my cycles, they've ordered bloods to be done next week, so he said I am to stop the soy or anything which could affect hormones just for the tests so they can see what is up. So I won't take the soy or seeds this cycle

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I've just been ttc that long that I've read most of google on the subject and am well on my way to my google phd 😂 I take 1000mg of bit c a day and as long as what you get has ubiquinol rather than uniquinon as it's the more absorbable version of co-q10

I'm also seed cycling didn't have any chia seeds in the one I found though just flax and pumpkin before ov and sesame and sunflower after!

I'm mot holding out much hope as last month my temp topped gradually over 3 days until af though my rhr is still going up and I believe that's a good sign but first month of tracking that!

@Marvellouslymadmum well not long til you can test now 🤞 ! Or wait and see. That’s interesting with the RHR also. Do you feel healthier with all of the vitamins, is it a noticeable difference?

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I don't know what's with me this month one min I'm convincing myself I'm pg the next I'm convinced af is on the way 😂 yes I do think the vitamins are helping and a feel healthier though very windy which I'm sure is something to do with them 🌬🤦🏼‍♀️ how are you doing?

Morning ladies, I just got my period (which I felt was coming a few seconds before it actually came 😅 feel like I've got a superpower, normally it comes out of nowhere) and I'm honestly relieved that I don't have to wait and question any longer.

I believe my faint lines were another chemical as I also had such strong symptoms, there's no other explanation for getting at least 5 tests with faint lines.

The positive is that we won't have another Christmas baby in the house (not a big deal but I would prefer not to). And I can start my soy tomorrow which I'm excited about, I hope it brings my ovulation forward, I'm not enjoying my new 30+day cycles. And my luteal phase would have been 10-12 days this cycle which is okay but not great if on the lower end.

On to month 9 now. Starting to lose hope.. but trying to stay optimistic. Hope you're all doing okay.

@choccrumpet sorry af arrived but I understand with the Christmas babies! We have so many December birthdays including my son amd both my partners sons too 🤦🏼‍♀️ at this point in ttc I just couldn't avoid the month as it's been so long but if it doesn't happen (which I don't think it will) it'll be a lot easier for us!

Month two can sometimes be more promising on clomid and soy so 🤞🏻 for you!

@Marvellouslymadmum I know what you mean about continuing to try, fingers crossed for you.

I didn't actually take soy this month so I feel a bit bad for taking over this thread with my comments 🙈 but I'm definitely trying it from tomorrow. I really hope it helps bring my ovulation forward.

@choccrumpet I'm really so sorry 😥 hoping you're okay xx

@choccrumpet ahh in that case definitely lots of chance for next month! I'm sure it'll help with ovulation. I'm 99.9% sure I'm out this month anyway

@choccrumpet absolutely, I think its the only way to look at it every month is to be hopeful for the next! After having a day of feeling a bit crappy and indulging with sugar, booze, and crappy tv.

Hopefully you'll be one of the ones it happens for 1st time on the soy, and you also @Marvellouslymadmum you're not out yet either!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I did still have a little hope a couple of days ago that's ty much gone now just waiting for af to arrive so I can start again!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 good luck with the seeds etc next cycle then!

@choccrumpet sorry AF arrived but you sound super positive, excited for you starting your soy journey!

@Marvellouslymadmum how are you finding seed cycling? I haaate flax but the rest are fine.

I'm on CD14. Lots of EWCM the last few days, more than usual. So that's good but last month I ovulated on day 19 and Natural Cycles is predicting Sunday this month which would be CD17 which is still in my usual range. So no change there!

@RoseGold24 the flax are a bit odd but I find the pumpkin seeds huge too! I prefer the second half of the month as I have ground sunflower seeds and sesame seeds are tiny lol

Well that's me out this month too, I knew the witch 🧙‍♀️ was on her way and boy has she arrived with a vengeance! I'm agony here! Sooooo on to the next month and soy 3-7 for me this time!

@Marvellouslymadmum that's frustrating 🙄 mine has been painful and uncomfortable this time.

Looking forward to trying soy tonight. I'll do the same dosage that @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 did but am trying to set/lower my expectations due to my history.. I feel like if this doesn't help then I need to consider getting further testing done, potentially privately depending where my nhs referral is at that point. Never thought I'd be in this position 😞

@choccrumpet I'm starting to think the issue may be my partner anyway as all the tests I've had so far have been ok and he had issues years ago plus multiple infections in that area over the years, however he is reluctant to do his sa when the appointment ever comes through because he has health anxiety so all the soy in the world could make no difference whatsoever! But I'll try again this month and chase the sa anyway. What doses have you all taken?

@Marvellouslymadmum that's a tough situation to be in. I hope you'll get some answers soon. My partner hasn't been tested yet but we'll probably look into that if nothing changes in a few months.

I'll be taking 100 on CD2-3, 150 cd4-5, 200 cd6, if I don't have any major side effects, otherwise I might consider keeping to a lower dose. This seems to be a common amount to start off with.