VITEX Time!

Hi ladies, well after careful consideration I have decided to take Vitex! I am a bit nervous about side effects. (I hope there won't be any headaches or acne.)

Feel free to comfort me with your experience! ha ha ha :D

I am currently on CD 7

I have a SUPER nurser.. prob feeding 8 times a day.

So, how much do I take? I'm going to be taking the Nature's Way 400 mg capsules.

Should I take it with my other supps
(cal, mag, b-50 complex, folic) or.. without.

Morning or night.. does it matter?

Do you take it with or without food?

Do I take 2 400 mg capsules at the same time, or twice a day.. morning and night.

The main reason I am taking it is.. I have my period every month on the 22nd day.. but when ovulation comes around I have a +opk 4-5 days in a row! In February it was 8 days of +opk! (ya, no kidding!) So I'm not sure I'm even ovulating. So I hope this will help. I am positive it will since it has helped you ladies!!! Also it seems my first positive opk doesn't happen until like CD 23.

Thank you ladies!


So hoping for a Vitex *PINK* ~*Princess*~ :)

~Butterfly

Not much help here, I just took it after reading an article about how not having periods does a lot of harm to your body, freaked a bit and took 1 pill 2x day morning and night, not at specific times just around breakfast and before bed. Only took it 10 days and I hadn't had a period in 1 year, never breastfed, and it did give me one. not one since and i never remember to take the pills and freakout is over lol. I wouldn't take more than recommended, I have Nature's Way I believe and it said 2x day 1 pills morning and night may take 8 weeks to work I believe. I don't OPK so I'm not sure if I O'ed or not, but first cycle in a year it did something.

when i had my second son i started taking vitex and it really helped. i was taking 3 - 400 mg. had a girl.

Thanks for sharing ladies! I popped 2 400 mg with 2 cups milk this morning. I'm thinking two in the morning.. and one at night.. haven't decided on the night one yet. :) I Feel TIRED now tho haha did it make anyone feel tired?

I took one in the morning and one at night, total of 800 mg, from AF-O (and actually usually the day before O because I found this time that I would not ovulate until I stopped taking it). I used to be super careful about when I took it while BF but honestly I noticed no diff. whatsoever with either boy I took it with and gradually relaxed over time. I never started it when they were very small of course and they were getting most of their nutrients from other sources.

I didn't always take it with food and never noticed any difference. It doesn't seem to matter if you take it with other supps or not.

Got one boy and one girl while taking it.

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Originally Posted by ThroughWithBlue

Not much help here, I just took it after reading an article about how not having periods does a lot of harm to your body, freaked a bit and took 1 pill 2x day morning and night, not at specific times just around breakfast and before bed. Only took it 10 days and I hadn't had a period in 1 year, never breastfed, and it did give me one. not one since and i never remember to take the pills and freakout is over lol. I wouldn't take more than recommended, I have Nature's Way I believe and it said 2x day 1 pills morning and night may take 8 weeks to work I believe. I don't OPK so I'm not sure if I O'ed or not, but first cycle in a year it did something.

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Hmmm...I think you need to see a doc TWB. Is this related to exercise (I think you mentioned that on anotehr thread but may have been someone else). Having 1 period a year is not the best because it can be good to flush out the cells every so often.

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Originally Posted by atomic sagebrush

I took one in the morning and one at night, total of 800 mg, from AF-O (and actually usually the day before O because I found this time that I would not ovulate until I stopped taking it). I used to be super careful about when I took it while BF but honestly I noticed no diff. whatsoever with either boy I took it with and gradually relaxed over time. I never started it when they were very small of course and they were getting most of their nutrients from other sources.

Ugh, thanks Atomic. my little one seems fine too. Day one was fine.. 2 in the morn and one at night.. then this morning I woke up with a slight headache and then got worse when I took the 2 in the am and it turned into slight nausea.. hormonal changes headache? This SUCKS! :( I guess I might have to take motrin to help with it. I think it will help me ovulate so I will try to stick with it. Did you have headaches or nausea?
I didn't always take it with food and never noticed any difference. It doesn't seem to matter if you take it with other supps or not.

Got one boy and one girl while taking it.

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Ugh, thanks Atomic. my little one seems fine too. Day one was fine.. 2 in the morn and one at night.. then this morning I woke up with a slight headache and then got worse when I took the 2 in the am and it turned into slight nausea.. hormonal changes headache? This SUCKS! :( I guess I might have to take motrin to help with it. I think it will help me ovulate so I will try to stick with it. Did you have headaches or nausea? Didn't you get prego with twins or were you already prego with twins? I remember reading that once.

UPDATE: Atomic one other Q, I trolled the internet to find relief and I took magnesium a bit ago and I think it's starting to help. Would that mean it's stopped the effects of the vitex? Silly Q but why would it stop the headache?

I never had headaches with the vitex. I think you'd need to take it more than a day or two to really affect your hormones but you may just be super sensi to it.

I did get pg with twins the first time but don't know gender becos I lost it too early, I tend to think it was a boy due to where it implanted but no way to know.

Magnesium can help with headaches because it relaxes your veins and arteries and that is one of the main causes of headaches. Both tension and migraine headaches are caused by your veins and arteries tightening up (they think). I don't think it had anything to do with the vitex working or not working (the vitex may have given you a headache but the magnesium doesn't interfere with that.)

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Originally Posted by atomic sagebrush

Magnesium can help with headaches because it relaxes your veins and arteries and that is one of the main causes of headaches. Both tension and migraine headaches are caused by your veins and arteries tightening up (they think). I don't think it had anything to do with the vitex working or not working (the vitex may have given you a headache but the magnesium doesn't interfere with that.)

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I'm sorry again about the twin Atomic, that's so sad! :(

Thanks for sharing your experience, and yes I must be SUPER sensitive to it..yesterday I had such a bad headache I didn't take that third evening pill and today I decided not to take it and I have a lingering headache even a lot of EWCM tinged with white .. which is crazy because I'm only on day 11 of my cycle! I will try it again but I have a medical procedure tmw and I can't have any motrin so I have to wait to Fri to try Vitex again.

maybe take it once a day before bed instead, so you sleep during the side effects?

That's a good idea rainbow, and that way Butterfly, if there is anything to be gained from getting used to it you may be able to sneak into it.

I really like Vitex as a herb (I haven't fallen pregnant yet so can't give gender input.....) I have very heavy periods and a short Luteal Phase and it has improved both of these. My Luteal phase is up from 10 to 12 days and this month my period was really quite light. I take 2 pills a day (one morning and one evening) AF-O and haven't had any adverse effects so far.

I would definately start on one pill a day as 400mg may be enough for you. You can always try adding another pill in a while if you tolerate one ok?

Good luck!

Well ladies I had a very stressful day and my medical procedure was cancelled. I popped 2 vitex this morn with All my supps.. the Calcium, Mag, B-50 complex, and I didn't get a headache, a lingering one but never started up like the other day. I am in shock! Maybe that is the key! So I'm going to do that from now on.. Maybe I won't take that nightly Vitex pill and just do the 800 mg in the am. YAY! *Crosses fingers* I really want to take this supplement!!!!!! :)

great news!! it's strange how time of day can affect things sometimes! I remember a lot of people saying their morning sickness was worse if they took certain tablets in the morning instead of the evenings

This is my second cycle taking vitex. I take one 400mg in the morning and 400 again at night from AF to O. I haven't had any side effects, and my cycle did not change at all. The only change I have had is that for the first time in a LOOONG time, I do not have a single breakout. I wish I had started taking it a long time ago!

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Originally Posted by rainbowflower

great news!! it's strange how time of day can affect things sometimes! I remember a lot of people saying their morning sickness was worse if they took certain tablets in the morning instead of the evenings

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Yes mam, I read on the internet that it absorbs the best in the am, so I was all over that. So day 2 of no headache..YAY!!! I take the 800 mg right along with my other supps. My hubby was shocked when I told him that magnesium takes away headaches. He hasn't taken his supps in several days.. so he popped his today. He has no idea that I'm taking Vitex.. or what it does.. Oh he teeter totters so bad.. but I'm afraid this is the final decision.. SO I had to up my arsenal. Wish me luck.. I'm on my own!

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Originally Posted by allison

This is my second cycle taking vitex. I take one 400mg in the morning and 400 again at night from AF to O. I haven't had any side effects, and my cycle did not change at all. The only change I have had is that for the first time in a LOOONG time, I do not have a single breakout. I wish I had started taking it a long time ago!

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Really Allison, how wonderful! I am so glad to hear that it helps your complexion! I have heard that it can stop or make BAD breakouts. :) Lucky girl!!!

Be aware tho that mag can also give ya major diarrhea when you take it unexpectedly - may not be a good trade LOL.

Feeling REALLY tired today I decided to test today to see if yesterdays opk got darker! Well I got a blaring positive OPK... It's CD 15! :holysheep: (in the past years I've Oed on CD 16)!!! I'm amazed hmm I want to take a pic of it but I can't find my camera! Usually I don't have my + until day 23 AT LEAST... so.. hmm. This Vitex might just be my magic pill. This looks like my luteal phase will be longer this cycle! Here's crossing my fingers I get a chance from hubby. I will keep testing to see how long this + stays. I was so excited I just had to come tell you ladies!!!!! :running:

go make that baby!

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Originally Posted by rainbowflower

go make that baby!

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I will TRY Rainbow! ;) Maybe I'm nuts but for safe measure used Rephresh.

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Originally Posted by Butterfly Spirit

I will TRY Rainbow! ;) Maybe I'm nuts but for safe measure used Rephresh.

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Q though... am I using the right tube? There's only a nickel size amount in the end of it ? :)

yeah a full application of RepHresh is only a small amount! not sure how big a nickel is - from what I remember it was about the quantity of a broadbean or maybe a little less

Good luck!!

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Originally Posted by rainbowflower

go make that baby!

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K so I put on something sassy to go to bed and hubby was attracted, and he couldn't help himself! I said a prayer prior to it and he didn't even mean to go off.. he pulled out mid explosion but A LOT got in there woo hoooo!!! A chance a chance, I have a CHANCE this month!

Took another opk and it's the same color, not blaring anymore... what does that mean!? I couldn't of Oed yet right? I thought that once it's fading it means ovulation took place.. and it was my FMU Sorry I'm freakin out there haha.

No, OPK are annoying because they can stay positive for days after O and they can also fade out immediately even if you haven't Oed yet. It doesn't mean anything other than the amount of LH that came out in your urine was a little less.

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Originally Posted by atomic sagebrush

No, OPK are annoying because they can stay positive for days after O and they can also fade out immediately even if you haven't Oed yet. It doesn't mean anything other than the amount of LH that came out in your urine was a little less.

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That's nuts! :\ So there's no way to tell if I ovulate or not? Last Fall I was going 2 days at the most positive. It's still as dark as the test line, so I don't know what the heck is going on. I still think Vitex is good though. :)

the only ways to tell if you actually OV or not are:
temping
BFP 2 weeks later
AF 2 weeks later
ultrasounds (showing corpus luteum)
blood tests (showing progesterone rise)

temping is the one most of us go for because it's cheaper and faster



BTW, not sure if you saw my scan pics in the ultrasound forum yet!

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Originally Posted by rainbowflower

the only ways to tell if you actually OV or not are:
temping
BFP 2 weeks later
AF 2 weeks later
ultrasounds (showing corpus luteum)
blood tests (showing progesterone rise)

temping is the one most of us go for because it's cheaper and faster



BTW, not sure if you saw my scan pics in the ultrasound forum yet!

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:agree: :agree: :agree: Brilliant response Rainbow!

And even with temping, you can't know until 3 days past ovulation!

OPK are not perfect, they're just one of the better tools we have and really OPK and fertility monitors are the ONLY way short of ultrasound to at least get a heads up that O is coming at some point.

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Originally Posted by rainbowflower

the only ways to tell if you actually OV or not are:
temping
BFP 2 weeks later
AF 2 weeks later
ultrasounds (showing corpus luteum)
blood tests (showing progesterone rise)

temping is the one most of us go for because it's cheaper and faster



BTW, not sure if you saw my scan pics in the ultrasound forum yet!

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Well I do get my period hehe. This morn I took an OPK dark positive still but I'll take one later in the day and see. :)
I just saw your pics! I still say GIRL~!! :)

thank you! are you doing FR? still BDing?

He goes off almost every day. He won't BD often since it's a risk. I know one lady on here or IG had a girl and they didn't even finish their BD. Maybe it's Baby Dust. So I'm holding on to that hope! I seduced hubby today, and he doesn't think he pulled out in time.. less sperm I'd say also sways for a girl! haha

I seduced him AGAIN! and he fully went off! YAY!!! ;) But he says he won't do me anymore. haha.. we'll see.

April has to be my month!!!

K this is for whomever will answer. :) I used a whole other tube of rephresh 15 or so mins later after BD.. is that bad? Will it kill the spermies?

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Originally Posted by Butterfly Spirit

He goes off almost every day. He won't BD often since it's a risk. I know one lady on here or IG had a girl and they didn't even finish their BD. Maybe it's Baby Dust. So I'm holding on to that hope! I seduced hubby today, and he doesn't think he pulled out in time.. less sperm I'd say also sways for a girl! haha

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The lady who claims to have discovered O+12 also got pg this way. Husband did not even finish, it was from pre-e.

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Originally Posted by Butterfly Spirit

I seduced him AGAIN! and he fully went off! YAY!!! ;) But he says he won't do me anymore. haha.. we'll see.

April has to be my month!!!

K this is for whomever will answer. :) I used a whole other tube of rephresh 15 or so mins later after BD.. is that bad? Will it kill the spermies?

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It's not great or necessary, but the good news is that 15 min. later most of the sperm may have made it to the safety of the cervical crypts and if you had some CM they were being protected there.

For best odds of pg, don't use RepHresh any sooner than 8-12 hours before BD and nothing afterwards.

Ok ladies, I'm frustrated with myself. I still have that opk and the lines are the same. I'm on day 20 of my cycle and usually "ovulate" around day 23. My gut is saying stop taking the vitex until AF. So.. even though I have days of +s and I was hoping I would have a painful obvious ovulation. Could my have not stoping vitex at the first + opk have stopped O all together? I didn't even get the painful poking and aching I usually do every month on the right side. Maybe I'm ok and haven't done it yet and still will? I don't know... my my gut is screaming DON'T take it today. So I guess I won't. I was just thinking that maybe the vitex would get the eggie out but I guess just stop at fist opk no matter how many days I have +s after that.

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Originally Posted by atomic sagebrush

The lady who claims to have discovered O+12 also got pg this way. Husband did not even finish, it was from pre-e.

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That's so nuts to me! But I love to know that it could happen! :)

Seduced hubby yet again last night (I'm trying SO hard for frequent BDing) He says he got a shot off in there.. then I snuck some that I found on the couch. lol :giggle: then this morning just some play but he didn't go off. I'm hoping for the low count sperm thing will make a girl as I know it will! I'm not sure If I ovulated or not. But the Opk is finally completely faded as of last night. YAY this is good I hope. *crosses fingers*