VITEX??? (Ladies Only)

http://www.womentowomen.com/default.aspx

They have a wealth of information for women! Check it out! Never used VITEX.

You are not alone, I was told I had PCOS in may I bought three bottles of the Vitex, I was told I could not have the MET unless I was trying for a baby, well first the doctor told me to lose weight. I was planning on starting the vitex here in the next week. Have you started it yet? Have joined PCOS challenge website, its got great info, groups and message boards on this stuff with more people that are going through what you are. Good luck

I wish you the best, I am to my BF and i have been together for tow years, and plan to marry in a couple. I do not want to do the Met at all, so herbal is the way I will try first. keep me posted.

I don't have PCOS but I have had issues regulating my cycle and frequently get ovarian cysts (though not more than one at a time). I used Vitex twice. The first time, we were TTC and after 4 months, I was pregnant, so discontinued use.

About 6 months after I delivered my youngest, I ended up with a very bad case of endometriosis wherein I had a tube and ovary removed. Again, my cycle irregularity kicked in again, and my doctor recommended reconvening because my hormones were all out of whack from taking the depo lupron cycles and it should've helped decrease my cramping as well.

The first time I took it, it regulated my cycle pretty much immediately. It also decreased the intensity of my cramping, which was bad enough that at any given point during my first 2 days, I would black out from the pain, to the point that I could actually function without having to take IB Profeun or any other pain meds.

The second time I took it, I was varied regularity, ranging from 24 days to 37 days for almost a year. After I started taking it, it did regulate my cycle to 27 days, but it also increased the length of bleeding from 4 days to about 9 days. I discontinued it after about 8 months, after reading that Vitex for a woman with endometriosis was like Miracle Grow for plants. My cycle has stayed regulated since, and the length has decreased, and the intensity of my cramps reduced by the addition of a fitness program into my everyday life.

Anyway, that is my experience. My sister has a pretty severe form of PCOS and she has taken it for the past year pretty successfully. I can't speak for her, but I know that she has not had to go to the doctor for ruptured cysts and the like for about 8 months or so.

I hope that helps some!

ETA: It typically works best if you start it on CD1 instead of mid cycle. Starting mid cycle whacks your hormones out and can cause a cycle shift and other unsavory things (increased bleeding, cramping, etc.) Also, if you skip more than a day (two at most, perhaps), discontinue until next CD1. Otherwise it will trigger menses, no matter where in your cycle you are.

I took it back in 2007.
After a few months, I ended up pregnant (total surprise)
I didn't have PCOS, but random periods that would come like ever 4-6 months and last 3 weeks.
I had tried for 3 years to try and have another baby, and had given up.

I went to a natural health center and got mine. I think any kind of store that is not like Walmart or Walgreens is your best bet. I know that mine was actually Chasteberry the first time and Vitex the second time. I can't remember the brand, sorry.

I have been doing some research for natural ways to deal with my PCOS. Its not as bad as it could be and has improved slightly over the years. I was prescribed metformin a couple years ago and was quickly taken off the drug after a few complications. I have been searching for the last week or so for a natural way to deal with it. I read on a few sites that Vitex (chaste tree berry) aids in regulating your cycle and helps improve chances of fertility. I have read the studies and they seem pretty convincing. I purchased a few bottles yesterday and plan on giving it a try. My question is has anybody ever used vitex and did they see any improvements?

Yes, I use it and I am finally getting the symptoms of PCOS to finally go away.

It works to help regulate the amount of Progesterone that is produced and it also helps to regulate the Pituitary gland and how it makes the various hormones.

And because of the effect on the Pituitary, it aids in better function of the Thyroid and the amount of insulin the pancreas secretes.

The last 2 things are due to the effects of the pituitary.