Castor oil packs for endometrial thickness

[Gardenlady543]

Has anyone used castor oil packs to increase their endometrial thickness, if so what kind of results did you get?

Long story short, I only just found out that my endometrium looked thin when I had my initial investigations back in September, it was 9dpo and it was just 5.4mm. In my recent FET my endometrium got up to 8.1mm but my specialist suspects it gets a lot thinner when I start in progesterone, as it was noted at the transfer that the lining looked thin.

Everything to date has indicated that me and DH can produce very good embryos, but I’ve never had a BFP and we’re having recurrent implantation investigations.

I’m due to start a mock cycle with a ERA and my specialist has recommended aspirin in it. I want to do whatever I can to get the endometrium as thick as I can, so when it does compact with the progesterone, it will hopefully be at a good thickness. I’ve seen castor oil packs recommended a lot, although my specialist has never heard of them and there is no evidence base to them.

Bump in case anyone’s heard of this/ tried it?

Hi I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful but thought I’d mention I have tried castor oil packs in the past but only when we were trying naturally. It didn’t work or change anything for me although we later found out our issue is more male factor. I did find them quite relaxing to do so I don’t think it would do any harm if you want to try this on the off chance that it could help.

Have you tried patches as well as tablets for estrogen? I found the patches worked great for me.

Other things I’ve heard about are drinking lots of water, eating a Brazil nut every day and vitamin e which I’m sure you’ve heard about anyway. Not sure how much (if any) evidence there is for any of this and the only one my clinic asked me to do was drink plenty of water.

Good luck, let me know how you get on!

Thanks @OhPeanuts in my FET I was on estradiol 10mg a day orally, this time I’m going to go on 6mg orally and then also have the patches. I think I’m going to try the castor oil packs in the mock cycle, I’ve just started taking vitamin E, hopefully that will help too. Thanks for all the tips, I’m going to try and go on the most intense endometrial thickness diet in the mock cycle. I vomit on the estradiol so think I’ll need luck!

I vomit taking pretty much anything orally as well, even norethisterone had me vomiting all night so I know how you feel. If it helps the patches have been great, I had no side effects at all and felt wonderful until starting progesterone but even that seems ok for now as none of it is oral.

I forgot to say maybe try walking every day and yoga, I’ve been doing that as well. And apparently keep your feet warm all the time. Who knows if it helps but it’s easy enough to just try anyway!

Fingers crossed for you 🤞

@Gardenlady543 I hope you’re doing ok. I’ve got lots to catch up on on the other thread! I did a search for castor oil packs and saw your post. Did you end up trying it at all? Do you have any recommendations for where to get them from? I’m reluctant to do the messy option as I know I’ll get it everywhere x

@Spin101 I'm the same haven't got anywhere unfortunately :(

I tried them, I just bought castor oil I think from Holland and Barrett and used a flannel soaked in it. It didn't do anything for me, I just tried it the once cycle.

@Gardenlady543 I’m so sorry :( this journey is so long and painful. I don’t think I have the patience for the castor oil packs. I’m going to start acupuncture soon even though I’m not sure it’ll help with my lack of cycles. Have you had acupuncture?

@Spin101 yeah I tried it before but properly did it in a recent FET, unfortunately the protocol wasn't right for me and the cycle was abandoned with a lining of 3mm, the antagonist in my modified natural cycle was started too early and it caused all the follicles to disappear and my estradiol level to plummet. So nothing the acupuncture could have done to help. After that my body would have been confused so they put me on the OCP to reset, my body then decided to make a massive follicle while I was on it so I went in for a baseline scan to start my FET a couple of weeks ago and it was abandoned again because of this unexpected follicle, so I triggered to ovulate the egg in it and now I'm waiting on a period. Here's hoping I can actually start this time and it doesn't get abandoned!

@Gardenlady543 I’m so sorry you’ve had two abandoned cycles recently. Did you ovulate whilst on the pill and did you try naturally? What protocol are you for your next cycle?
I should hopefully be able to start in the next month or two on mild stims but have no idea what medication I’ll be on yet