Agnus Castus side effects?

the_pink_panther_2

Reading reviews online about Vitex Agnus Castus, everything looks positive and it appears that everyone writing has had good experiences, or if nothing more, not bad ones.

I took it about a year ago as my periods were very slightly irregular. After starting to take it my periods became much lighter, shorter and less frequent, CM dropped off almost entirely. I stopped taking it after about 3 months (it took that long before I realised that the problem was getting worse not better). A year on, although periods are back to normal frequency, they are still light, short and still nearly no CM.

I was wondering whether anyone else has had negative experiences, or any ideas how to overcome the problem. My doctor didn't seem interested but I'm worried for my fertility.

angeltreats

Goodness, it's funny you should say this. I've been taking AC ever since coming off Depo in October 2011. My periods started again in February 2012 and since then have been extremely short and extremely light (albeit regular) and I have no CM to speak of. I wonder if the AC is what's causing it. Think I'll stop it for a bit and see if it changes.

the_pink_panther_2

Thank you so so much for replying- you have no idea how much it helps, as literally every review is positive but my experience goes completely against the grain. The problem I have, is that coming off the AC has now regulated the cycle, but all the other problems still remain. I don't know how to fix it and am desperate for suggestions.

miss_independent

the_pink_panther wrote: »

Reading reviews online about Vitex Agnus Castus, everything looks positive and it appears that everyone writing has had good experiences, or if nothing more, not bad ones.

I took it about a year ago as my periods were very slightly irregular. After starting to take it my periods became much lighter, shorter and less frequent, CM dropped off almost entirely. I stopped taking it after about 3 months (it took that long before I realised that the problem was getting worse not better). A year on, although periods are back to normal frequency, they are still light, short and still nearly no CM.

I was wondering whether anyone else has had negative experiences, or any ideas how to overcome the problem. My doctor didn't seem interested but I'm worried for my fertility.

Sorry but what is CM? I'm worried as I've been taking Agnus Castus for years and I hope to have children in the future!

Nicki

One of the dangers of self-medicating is the risk of unwanted consequences. TTC women in particular often take a cocktail of herbal and OTC remedies to improve their chances but they don't always work as they should.

Rather than trying anything else which might make things worse rather than better, why not book a consultation either with a mainstream fertility specialist (if you have been trying for less than a year you will probably have to self-finance this) or a herbalist/naturalist healer for advice?

Greener_Grass

I took it for a few months to try and help get pregnant but it didn't work. Can't say I remember any side effects though sorry

the_pink_panther_2

miss_independent wrote: »

Sorry but what is CM? I'm worried as I've been taking Agnus Castus for years and I hope to have children in the future!

CM = Cervical Mucus

claire16c

What do you mean by slightly irregular? If you've got hardly any cm that will not help you get pregnant.

I would not take anything unless I had really really screwed up cycles & was desperate to try something,

I have irregular periods but I don't feel the need to take anything yet. As long as you're getting periods it doesn't matter if they're a bit irregular.

If you're only having a few a year or something that's another matter & you should see a dr.

osian

I took it a few years ago when I was trying to get pregnant after a miscarriage (I'd got pregnant very quickly (1st try) with that pregnancy).

I'd been trying to get pregnant for months after that, and after a while I started to track my cycle (taking my temperature) and found that the time between ovulation (is it luteal phase - I can't remember) and my period was very short not really allowing much time for an egg to implant.

Anyway I decided to take it and I only took it for a couple of weeks but it seemed to delay ovulation, I stopped taking it and things did sort of come back to normal after a while, I just had a mega long cycle which was not at all normal for me. I was worried I'd messed everything up but I did get pregnant the next cycle so it must have reset everything.

miss_independent

the_pink_panther wrote: »

CM = Cervical Mucus

Ok thanks - no, no problems with CM and I've been taking it for years due to PMS and breast pain. I'm definitely ovulating (I get mittelschmerz). When I don't take agnus castus I have a 33 day cycle but with it my cycle becomes 28 days. However, if I was TTC I wouldn't take it.

Good Luck, hope it all works out for you x

charlishae

I got pregnant whilst using it. I remember it gave me much worse pms symptoms even though its designed to do the opposite!