Is it better to take Vitex and SP for 6 weeks before TTC or to have a break?

[maybeoneday]

Hi, I was just wondering if there is any advantage to taking Vitex and SP for the whole month before TTC - so taking it for 6 weeks straight or are you better to do 2 weeks on a 2 weeks off as if TTC?

They are making me seriously hormonal - it is like I have permanent PMT but will suffer that is it helps me get my girl! xx

[Sassy]

I did exactly that - took it straight for 6 weeks then went to 2 on 2 off for 2 months before we actually TTC. It did the opposite for me and I had NO PMS! Atomic might chime in here, but I think a lot of people have taken vitex non stop until they O then have ended up with girls.

[zanacal]

I took them both non-stop until the month we ttc too (actually, I started off taking the Vitex AF-O for 2 cycles then switched and took it 6 weeks solid before our attempt). I took Saw P for around 10 weeks straight before our attempt.

My body did seem a little more weird once I'd taken them both for a full cycle (and I had evil PMT that month - it was awful!). I also had cramping and EWCM during my luteal phase. I felt like they had more affect both taken for a full cycle but I may have imagined that!

I asked Atomic's advice before taking them for the full 6 weeks and she suggested it may help. You just need to be sure to switch to AF-O once there's a chance you could be pregnant.

[atomic sagebrush]

Yes, just to echo what the others said, as long as you're not TTC and you're using birth control. Vitex seems safe to stay on for several months, but with SP I would rather you guys minimized the length of time you're taking it, at least somewhat (so don't start it several months in advance of swaying or anything like that.) I think taking it for 6 weeks prior to TTC is fine and may help, so you'd take it from AF-AF Month One and then AF-O month 2. Please know that it may delay your O to do this.

Vitex also gives me vicious PMS though after I've been on it awhile it kinda calms down.

PLEASE take a pg test every month while you're taking it even if you get AF. You can have what seems to be a perfectly normal AF and still be pg and this happened to me personally and I ended up taking vitex for 2 weeks while I was actually pregnant. :(

[Indira]

Atomic, for how long is it save to take SP? And what are the risks if you take it for a longer period?
I started taking it AF-O in May, 6 weeks before my first attempt, and in October I will have my 4th attempt.
Can I continue to take it for another couple of months? I´m taking 320 every other day.

[atomic sagebrush]

Yes, I think it's fine to take for several months (like 6-9) 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off. I just don't want anyone to think, "I'll attempt in a year so I'll start the SP now and then my T levels will be really super low." and then take it every day for a year and then sway after that.

The thing that gives me pause about SP is it's just not a known quantity. The PCOS gals do take it and they seem ok. My "test case" was my FIL who took it nonstop in high doses for several years for his prostate and he seemed fine so I thought it must be safe, but now he has Lou Gehrig's disease. I don't think at all that the SP caused it, but I can't say with 100% certainty, KWIM??

Here is a link that talks about some of the risks - it's believed to be safe but I just want for us to use it to maximize the benefits of it while minimizing any risks.http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/971.html

[Indira]

Thanks Atomic!