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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Angus Castus

33 replies

Hulababy · 29/11/2004 09:53

Can anyone tell me more about the use of Angus Castus to aid conception?

Just read through a Google search I should take a dose of 1000mg? Is this right?

And, is this okay to take throughout cycle, or is it just part of cycle? Can't seem to find anything definte on that.

Thanks

OP posts:
bran · 29/11/2004 10:18

I take Agnus Castus to help with my PCOS, but when I was having IVF I stopped because it's not recommended when you're pregnant. It has quite a strong hormonal effect so I would recommend talking to homoeopath or a herbalist before taking it.

birdsong · 29/11/2004 10:20

Hulababy , I got agnus castus from health shop for pmt. It says to take 15-20 drops in a little water twice daily. I took half that dose for a few days and I have never felt so poorly in my life. Never heard about it aiding conception though sorry.

moschops · 29/11/2004 10:21

it regulates hormones that are connected to your menstrual cycle. i have the tincture form and it says to take 15 - 20 drops in a glass of water twice daily (the tincture gets into your system quicker than tablet form)

have read mixed reports on how to use it. i was told it takes three cycles to level out the hormone production, and to stop taking it as soon as i found out if i was pregnant, but i have also been told you should only take it up to ovulation. i'm not taking it at the moment because i cannot find out for definite which of these statements is true.

would be excellent if anyone on here can clear this up for us?

geordie · 29/11/2004 10:25

hi girls...I'm off to see the reflexologist on day 10 of my next cycle...if my leutal phase isn't longet this month then she is going to prescribe it to help bring on ovulation...I'll aske her about the issue of taking it after ovulation...unless of course someone else answers the question first....

on a positive note I did google and read of someone who fell pg taking AC...she took it all cycle and only stopped taking it as soon as she got a bfp!

Original poster
Hulababy · 29/11/2004 10:26

Cheers. I am a little concerned that, as my temps only raise for slightly after OV and FF doesn't even note OV this month as a result, that my levels of prostegene may be low, so have been told that A.C. can help to regulate this.

Have heard some reports that suggest taking it for just the first half of the cycle, until OV and not for the second half.

And that you can get it idn different forms - like capsules, etc.

OP posts:
tootle · 29/11/2004 11:51

Hi,

I bought some of this and so have read A LOT of information about it. I also found contradictory information.

I took it all cycle long. I think that, as long as you are looking out for being pregnant, i.e. testing as soon as your period is normally due, then it is okay to take up until that point.

From reading posts on Fertility Friend, it seems that it is thought of as great or disastrous. Those who found it great had irregular cycles. Whne they took Agnus Castus, it made them ovulate sooner and regulated their cycles to 28 days.

Those who found it disastrous already had a near on 28 day cycle and when they took this high dose of Agnus Castus (1000mg) they found that they ovulated LATER! and it messed up their cycles.

I only took it for one cycle (for luteal phase defect) and I took a high dose. My chart was weird that month. I got a 28 day cycle but I still don't know if I O'd on cd14, meaning it fixed my lpd or whether I ovulated on CD19 - as FF said, and it actually messed up my cycle.

Do you have irregular cycles? They call it natures Clomid, so you could take it in a high does just for 5 days pre-O, like clomid, or else take a lower dose all cycle. Try it and see.

MeerkatsUnite · 29/11/2004 12:52

As I am led to understand it is not adviseable to self medicate with AC as it can in some cases make things worse. It can increase the production of LH; as many women with PCOS have an excess of this hormone anyway, taking AC can make this worse. If you want to go down this route you are far better off seeking the advice of a properly qualified medical herbalist beforehand.

codswallop · 29/11/2004 13:18

( coddy peeps head in as ds1 is called angus - sees i t is nothing to do wih her and slopes off again!)

hester · 29/11/2004 13:46

{grin] Coddy!

This is such a useful thread! I am horrified that it may be worse than useless for people with regular cycles - I've been taking it in a half-hearted kind of way and have a pretty regular 28 day cycle. I'm going to stop immediately!

Just goes to show that they're right when they advise you to consult expert advice on all these things. I, of course, prefer to self-medicate till I rattle, and goodness knows how all my supplements are interacting inside of me. I'd probably have six kids by now if I could just stop trying to 'help things along'!

SweetFudge · 29/11/2004 14:00

Meerkasuntie, will increasing LH levels in women without PCOS be detremental to conception success as well? Are there any articles you can point me to on the subject? I'm been trawling the web and have little success.

Thanks.

Original poster
Hulababy · 29/11/2004 16:35

My cycles are pretty much regular I think (still early days) and near to 28 days. I tend to OV later than CD14 though, and as my temps are pretty low even after OV - only jump bu 0.1-0.2 at the most, I was just wonderng whether my levels of progestone are high enough to concieve and sistain pg. Sure it may have een one of issues with my early mc (before DD) as all pg tests up to the mc (at 7 weeks) were quite faint.

Don't want to risk makign things worse though, so I'll do some more reseach I guess.

OP posts:
munnzieb · 29/11/2004 18:50

I take it by tablet, 4 a day, two at breckie, and two at night, the dose... is... 400mg, i'm assuming that's each tablet, not sure of the side effects, apart form AF is one day early, but that could be to do with the starflower i'm also taking (thins CM)

I've spoke to one herbalist and holland and barrets, both said that angus catcus will increase Prog. levels. which is good, there is an artical on Angus catcus in this months mag from holland and barrets if you can get it

MeerkatsUnite · 30/11/2004 12:50

Sweetfudge,

Re: LH levels

Have a read of this page:-

www.dpcweb.com/medical/reproductive_endocrinology/lh.html

HTH

moschops · 30/11/2004 20:04

i have had this response to my question about using agnus castus for my irregular cycles (from a fully qualified herbalist/homeopath)

The Agnus Castus is used throughout cycle, except for days of the
menstrual period. It actually aids in preparing the body for pregnancy, and
should not be a problem even if pregnancy is not discovered right away;
after which its use is usually stopped, mainly as it is no longer needed.
The BLACK HAW extract is also good for the condition you
mention, and is actually a preventer of miscarriage.

SweetFudge · 01/12/2004 00:21

MeerkatsUnite, I've read the article from your link now. Thanks very much!

LadyLazarus · 22/01/2005 21:26

Just to let you know, I have just found out I'm pregnant, after trying for 5 months. I took Agnus Castus AND Royal Jelly, which I read in the Gillian McKeith book You Are What You Eat are suposed to be good for TTC. Hope that helps!

Debbsywillgetherbeanie · 16/08/2005 22:30

im going to resurrect this thread as i could do with an answer please as im taking angus castus im on cd16 and my boobs are hurting me v unusual; for this time of the month is it something to do with the tabs do you think ??

nimmles · 17/08/2005 09:20

hello!
think it could be the AC, i took it when trying for DD and i definitely had sore boobs straight after ov until af. tried to take it last month to prepare for ttc no.2 but had to stop as it made my AF really really horrendously heavy
anyone else had this?
xx

Debbsywillgetherbeanie · 17/08/2005 18:37

thanks nimies thought it was not going to take it any more.

funkeymunkey · 13/05/2008 10:44

Hey all
New to all this so pls bear wiv me. I have 3 kids all conceived naturally. I was on Depo Provera injection for 5 years. I am now ttc again and 3 yrs later still nothing. We both had all checks (lap & dye, sperm count blah blah) doc said nothing at all wrong. Have used clomid for 5 months to no avail. I have been using angus castus 400mg x2 twice daily from Holland and Barratts. According to my research it can be taken all through the month but stop if you lucky enuff to get pregnant. If anyone has experience of angus castus i would love to hear from you.

Baby Dust to all x x x

beaniesteve · 13/05/2008 10:49

You should stop at Ovulation if you are TTC and it shouldn't be taken with Clomid at all.

minxi · 13/05/2008 12:51

Funky I was on depo for only 15 months, had the last Nov 2004 - body seemed to get back to normal July 2006, and have been trying since then - had all the tests done too and all clear - clomid didnt' work either...its very frustrating!!!

minxi · 13/05/2008 12:52

Meant to say have 2 DS both conceived naturally, DS 2 is nearly 5 now...

funkeymunkey · 15/05/2008 10:06

Hi minxi i know how you feel my last depo was march 05 periods returned quickly. lap and dye was done aug 07 that and all other tests come back ok. Took clomid for 5mth but the side effects were terrible. Its very frustrating when we have already conceived naturally. My heart goes out to them trying for the first time. Due to all those people saying relax an it will happen try not to think about it ( yeh right!!!) i have stopped all charting so i dont know when i ovulate now, but i am told by experts angus castus can be taken all way thru stop when preg. I am very frustrated at the mo coz i have had af signs from cd15 of 26/28 day cycle, pains in tummy 8 days past suspected ovulation, and now i am cd 23 all syptoms have gone away its so confusing i dont do where to turn! DD 13 DD 10 and DS 7 now.

minxi · 15/05/2008 11:27

Funkey I am trying accupuncture now to see if that helps, actually I am cd1 today (34 day cycle) but my LP has gone back to 14 days which is good, I can only imagine that the accupucnture is helping..going to give it another couple of months and see how it goes...it's not cheap but worth a try before we think of iui or ivf (which my consultant suggested) ....
I had my lap and dye done Sept 07 - all clear, and yes clomid side effects were awful!! I was awful!