Trying to Conceive Forum

by **kelly815** » Thu Jun 07, 2012 6:05 am

Hey ladies,

Im tottaly new to the ttc with suppliments thing. Can someone please explain to me what these supplements do? Or why someone would take them. I'm am ttc and I have irregular cycles and tend to ovulate late, would one of these things help?

EPR
SOY
VITEX

5 times · by **TTCnumber2at42** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 4:38 am

Women TTC take herbs to rectify for what they believe (or told by a dr or fertility tests, etc.) is the issue why they can not concieve naturally.

The follwoing websites may provide better information on herbs, but please do your homework. I have seen women take certian herbs that have hurt their chances rather than help them.
http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/herbs.html
http://natural-fertility-info.com/natur ... ealth.html

You mentioned the folwoing herbs:

EPR ~ used to enhance the volume and quality of cervical fluids (cervical mucus, or CM). CM is essential to ensure the sperm can reach the egg. If you produce a lot of EWCM at time of O this is not necessary. If you do not produce a lot of EWCM at time of O an alternative is to use Preseed (http://www.preseed.com) when you BD instead of EPR or other supplements. Use only prior to O.

SOY ~ I've heard good and bad things about Soy so in my opinion (take it or leave it) I would stay away from this one.

Vitex ~ Vitex has been found to help normalize ovulation, improve a short luteal phase and reduce Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), all known fertility inhibitors. This is another one I've heard mixed reviews about but I think mostly becuase women were taking it and had regular cycles to begin with.

Personally, I've taken so many different herbs (Maca, Fertile CM, green tea, red raspberry leaf tea, don quai, royal jelly) now I am taking daily a prenatal vitamin (highly recommended), Co Enzyme Q 10 600 mg daily (to improve egg quality due to my age), Omega 3 (to produce a healthy and regular menstrual cycle with minimal cramps and PMS symptoms), and Vitamin D3 (produce sex hormones and regulating cell growth). Lately, I have been going to an accupuncturist for 2 months, he has done wonders for AF. Sorry for the TMI but it is not as heavy, clotty and it is a brighter red (no an old red). I also have no more brown spotting prior to AF. I am working on getting AF to as close to a healthy 28 day cycle as possible; improving blood flow and building a healthier uterine lining.

If you do not already, research taking your morning temperature or BBT. I use Fertility Friend ~ http://www.fertilityfriend.com/ttc/, to track my temps/meds/symptoms, etc. You can try it free for the first month but it helps to show when you have O'd, tracking your luteal phase and also if you decide to join ($45/year) it will tell you when is the best times to BD to conceive. Just a suggestion that I find really helpful for me.

by **kelly815** » Fri Jun 08, 2012 9:47 am

Thank you for your response that was very helpful...I am charting my BBT through ff. which is when I started noticing my issues with wacky ovulation maybe I'll give vitex a try

5 times · by **TTCnumber2at42** » Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:10 am

Perhaps you may want to add a post the General TTC forum ... that forum tends to get a lot of traffic and just ask if anyone has used Vitex and what the outcome was.

by **babybells** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:47 pm

I had slight irregular cycles. One cycle would be 33 days the next 36-37. My ovulation would vary right along with it. Latest would be cd22. Drove me nuts!!! So I ordered vitex. Done alot of research. My first cycle seemed normal. But I wasnt gonna throw it out just yet because it can take some time to really start working for you. My second month, I ovulated cd 16! had a 31 day cycle! I was so excited! Hadnt had that in a while!! And now Im on my third month. Hoping for the same results. I have had no bad side effects from it. But everyones different! GL!!

6 times · by **MrsPih1024** » Fri Aug 10, 2012 4:50 am

I know this post is older, but thought I would chime in with my experience.

I started with Vitex 4 cycles ago (I'm not on my 6th cycle). By the 3rd cycle of taking it, my cycle had normalized. I was having cycles that ranged from 36- 40 days with irregularity. Now, I have 30-31 days cycles, which is what I always had. I had some mid-cycle spotting the first cycle I used Vitex, but I read that is normal. If you don't have a problem with long cycles, PMS, or irregular cycles, then don't use it. If you have a normal cycle, it can screw up your cycle.
If you are taking it to normalize your cycle, take it the whole cycle. There are women that take it through their first trimester to prevent miscarriage as well. But as always do your research.

I also take EPO. I started taking this on my 3rd cycle. I skipped the 4th cycle (we were taking a break - ha! right!)... Anyways, last cycle, I took the full 3,000 mg and at O for the first time since TTC I had a TON of EWCM. You only take it to O b/c it can cause uterine contractions.