Vitex and conflicting info?

I started taking Vitex on the recommendation of my naturopath to help with my short luteal phase.


He said to take it ALL cycle, including during AF, as it is a herb (not a hormone) so to give it the chance to be effective, it needs to be taken all the cycle. It takes 3-6 months to become fully effective.


I'd also add in vitamin B6, or take Natures Way Femaprin (vitex with B6 included).


It's not recommended to take it during pregnancy, though I've seen people say that they weaned themselves off it over the first trimester, as they had been told that suddenly stopping it when you get a BFP may cause a m/c if your body was depending on it to help keep your progesterone levels high enough to conceive.


It helped lengthen my LP to 9 days, but that's about it, I was on it for just over a year. I'm not on it at the moment.

Edited by ooligator

I definately recomend seeing a naturopath, as what works for one might not always work for another so getting a more individual approach is always better.
I took it all cycle and am still actually taking it at double the packet dose as per my naturopaths instructions. There is no way I would recomend doing that without specific specialised advice though.

Hi Mumma2be, I started taking vitex about 2 1/2 weeks ago to encourage AF back after coming of the BCP. I am going to take it until AF comes back and I see some regularity in my cycles.

I went to a naturopath who put me on vitex, told me I'd be taking it until 12wks pregnant. So I guess she thinks that theres no prob during early preg. Said it would take a few months to work.

I'm on it because my FSH was 27.4 (meant to be below 10, over 30 is post menopause) and I wasn't ovulating. And amazingly, after being on it for a little over a month, I ovulated! Only other thing I was taking (again at naturopaths direction) was multivitamins, zinc supplement, omega 3 supplement. So I have a good opinion of vitex at the moment.

Mumma2be I am actually taking because of my MC's apparently it is a hormone balancer so should help support the appropriate hormones during early pregnancy (well thats the basics of what my naturopath told me). I have great faith in my her and am sure if she believed it caused MC's I would not be on it.
I have to say though although I have never had any issues actually getting UTD when I have taken vitex it has taken alot shorter amount of time (i.e. this time round I was UTD first cycle back trying rather than the 4-5 it has taken before) so it definately works for that side of things.

I have a luteal phase defect and I took it throughout the month while TTC.

Hi pocohontas
I went to a naturopath when trying to concieve DS2. I went alone as it was me that needed help with working out my cyles and we knew Dh was fine as we already had DS1. She put me on herbs, fish oil, multi, zinc to stimulate ovulation and i charted. it took one cycle with her help. I went back throught out the preganacy a few times.Cost: around $ 70 an hour so pricey but worth every cent! Good luck

Hi I know this thread is very old. I jus wanted to check if you had any review about the naturopath that you saw in Hamilton. Thinking of visiting her so jus checking