In my previous post on Vitex I outlined when you should consider using this herbal treatment. Vitex can be a great help for women with a number of different conditions and in a number of different situations. However, I do not recommend Vitex to my clients who have been diagnosed with PCOS, except in one specific circumstance, which I will explain here.
Vitex is a fantastic tool – it’s well-researched and evidenced as helpful for women with problematic menstrual cycles – but, as with any herb or supplement, it does not have a chance of helping you if it’s the only thing you choose to change about your daily routine. Any kind of period or cycle-related problem needs to be addressed from a functional medicine perspective – food first, then supplements, then specifically targeted lifestyle hacks, which from my standpoint, is living in your FLO. Supplements of any kind are best seen as a way to super-charge your other efforts with diet and lifestyle changes. They are never a solution in themselves.
Why most women with PCOS shouldn’t use Vitex
Vitex increases progesterone levels by increasing LH (luteinizing hormone) levels, and it suppresses prolactin levels – the result is increased ovulatory cycles. This sounds like a perfect scenario for PCOS sufferers, but there’s a problem. Vitex can actually worsen PCOS for some because their LH levels are already high. If you know your LH level is high (if you don’t know – ask for a hormonal panel blood test from your doctor), you should not use Vitex. Most women have the kind of PCOS that is insulin-resistant and comes with high LH, and they should avoid Vitex.
When you should take Vitex if you have PCOS
If you have PCOS with normal LH levels and high prolactin levels, you might consider using Vitex. You can have your prolactin levels tested by your doctor. This kind of PCOS has a different root cause, usually inflammation from allergens like dairy and gluten or as the result of using the birth control pill. Vitex in this case can help to suppress prolactin levels and increase ovulatory cycles.
Vitex is a slow-acting herb. You will need to commit to taking it for up to 3 months to see any change in your cycles or improvement of symptoms. Be sure to purchase Vitex from a reputable, long-standing supplement company like Gaia so you know you are getting a potent formulation, without fillers.
What to take instead of Vitex to manage your PCOS
There are several kinds of PCOS, but these two supplements will work for any woman with the condition. They will work best in conjunction with the FLO Living diet and lifestyle protocol.
- Cinnamon – I suggest you take the cinnamon supplement from New Chapter. Cinnamon is a proven natural treatment for insulin-resistant PCOS. You can also add cinnamon to your oatmeal, eggs or beans and make it part of your meals.
- Magnesium – Try a topical form of magnesium like those created by Ancient Minerals or the powdered form from Natural Calm. Magnesium is an essential mineral that most of us are deficient in, but it’s a proven treatment for improving insulin resistance.
Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this – the science of your body is on your side!
to your FLO,
Alisa
Good things come in threes:
I want to hear from you!
First, do you have PCOS?
Second, have you tried Vitex?
Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good ovary karma and share this article on social 😉
Is Your Period Healthy?
How do you know if your hormones are healthy? The answer is in your 5th vital sign – your period.
The color of your flow, frequency of your period, and symptoms you have each month can tell you a lot about your health. There are 5 different V-SIGN TYPES, and knowing which one you have will help you get healthy now and prevent disease in the future.
Hi Alisa,
I have pcos and quit the pill 9 months ago, and took vitex for 6 months until I decided to quit it. I had some blood tests done and my LH is 18. 0 U/L. I don’t know where I’m at my cycle but I have been spotting for about 3 months now and no periods. I’m 27 years old and my bmi is 20. Unfortunately my doc never heard of vitex so she couldn’t help me.
Is a LH of 18 considered high?
Thanks,
Mariane
Hi Alissa,
I have not been diagnosed with pcos but I do have hashimotos hypothyroidism. Anyway my oh was under 3 I believe and I took vitex for 3 months and my cycles got longer (43 days) and my acne continued to worsen. In fact I’m Vitex caused me to breakout the worst right after my period. Question is… can I stop vitex cold turkey or do I need to wean off of iT? And should my acne go back to normal severity after stopping the vitex?
Sorry I meant my LH
Thank you for this post! I was trying to self treat my PCOS symptoms with vitex, and it made me break out almost immediately and made my mood swings worse!! Lol. I guess it’s not for me 🙂
After reading so much about vitex, I started it in August this year. I haven’t had a hormonal test in awhile and really can’t predict what kind of PCOS I have as my period comes monthly. I try to check my diet but sometimes it isn’t that easy. I also take Maca, is this good for me?
I forgot to add that I had very high prolactin levels and had to take parlodel to bring it down.
Is vitex good for me?
Hi Angela,
If you are taking a medication that controls hormones,I would not take Vitex. Prolactin can be brought down naturally using the protocol to re-balance the body!
Alisa
even with a prolactinoma?
Hi Angela,
I would not recommend Maca for PCOS, especially if you are not sure which kind you have.
Alisa
I was diagnosed with PCOS years ago, and though I had it under control for s while (period every 2-3 months) I found 3 months ago I was approaching 4 months without one, and so decided to try vitex. I’m just closing in on the 3-month recommended amount of time to take it, and my period just started yesterday. I’m happy that it worked! I’m 25 and of a healthy weight, so I’m not the typical PCOS candidate.
Wonderful news!
Alisa
Hi Brooke, I know this is a couple years old- but I am currently in the shoes you were in!
How much Vitex did you take per day, if you can remember?
Thanks
I have PCOS, but have never been overweight or had insulin resistance problems. I have taken vitex many times and it has always induced ovulation and I got pregnant three times while taking it. I just started taking it again since I’ve been anovulatory for a while again. I did ovulation tests this last cycle and I don’t think I ovulated as the line on my test was just almost as dark as the control, so I’m guessing my LH is low, so I will keep takin the vitex.
I have pcos I’m 32 and I’ve tried everything to get my periods metformin and progesterone everything but once I have vitex a try my periods are like clockwork every month except for when I was out of the vitex for a month so it can work for pcos
I was just diagnosed with PCOS, after over 12 years of irregular periods and low progesterone. my LH is also low so my doctor recommended I try vitex, warning me that it may cause acne and hair loss. I took it for the first time last night and it caused me to have severe diarrhea. Should I stop taking it? Has anyone else had this symptom?
Hi! I was diagnosed with PCOS about 7 years ago. I got treatment, and I got pregnant right after. Since then, I have never had any symptoms, no pain, no weight gain, and my periods are within regular ranges.
We did got pregnant again 2 years ago, unfortunately, it ended up on a miscarriage. We’ve been trying again, and have not been successful. Since I do not have any PCOS symptoms, I would love to try the Vitex. What’s your advice/input?
Thank you so much!
Hi Gema,
Vitex can be helpful for supporting hormonal balance, especially if estrogen is higher and progesterone is lower. However, it is not recommended while pregnant. You want to find out first if you are ovulating and support your progesterone levels (if they are low) so that conception can happen.
Alisa
Hi gemma! Could you mention what kind of treatment did you get?
Hi- I’m 27 and have always had very irregular periods. Missing them for months at a time. My doctor will not say if I have PCOS, although have not been able to become pregnant after 4 years of trying, I have only been seeing current Dr for a year in regards to these issues. I am looking at trying Vitex but wondering if anyone else has tried who is unsure of actually having PCOS.
Hi Brittany, I’m no dr. But I will say, I was 13 when I got my period, I always had ivery irregular periods (going 6months to a full yr without one). Seeing different dr. they never diagnosed me, only recommending me birth control pills and shots. Which did not help at all! I wanted to go natural. It was 5yrs later that a new dr diagnosed me with PCOS. Till this day, at 23, I’m not sure which type of PCOS I have, but she did recommend I switch my diet. That was the best thing that I could do! She told me to cut out starchy foods- rice, potatoes, corn, etc- which was really hard bc family made those side dishes with just about EVERY MEAL, but 6yrs later, I have cut those starchy foods out and eating MORE VEGGIES than fruits and I get my period every month. It doesn’t last a full 7 days, at least 4 days, every consecutive month, just by switching my diet.
Recently a sex educator told me about Vitex, about how it can regulate our periods. After about a month I learned my body didn’t like it. I think it made me spot after 2wks, I continued it, and I got a horrible pain in my lower abdomen then it went over to my right side, maybe my kidneys. I don’t usually have internal problems, nor do I get sick often at all. I’m pretty healthy dealing with PCOS.
My advice: find a dr that has your best interest, find out your LH, and see if Vitex is right for you. It can be a painful mistake, as in my experience.
Goodluck ❤️
Hi! I’m 26 years old! I have both PCOS and Hypothyroidism! Thyroid since I was 17 years old and diagnosed with PCOS 6 years ago! I got married 2years ago! My doctor prescribed metformin which gave me an upset stomach everytime so I stopped taking it! Now I’m just on Ovacure supplements..i know 2 years are less but I really want to get pregnant soon! None of doctors I’ve visited told me anything about clomid,fermara or vitex! Just told me to lose weight and take metformin! Ive lost 5-6 kgs but still unable to get pregnant! Any advice or suggestions would be great! Thanks xxx
Hi,
You mentioned the second kind of PCOS, as a result from taking birth control pills. I belong in this category. I have low LH, and high FSH, but my prolactin is also low. My progesterone is less than 0.5! Can I take Vitex?
Hi , I was diagnosed with PCOS 4 years ago and my prolactin is a little bit high,is vitex advisable for me to use? and I have been trying to get pregnant for 6 years , please help.
Hello Alisa,
My hormones test showed that my LH and FSH results are inverted, unbalanced. So I am not sure if Vitex can help me or not. I have taken it for about two months I and I have felt different, but I can´t tell if it is helping or not… I´d love to hear your advice,
Thanks for reading me, Stef.
Hi Stef, Vitex should help with this condition.
Alisa
Hi, I have PCOS, insulin resistant but also have had a total hysterectomy and am taking Invokamet. At first everything was working great, blood sugar came down, weight all of a sudden came down, 15 # in a year. Now suddenly after 4-5 months, my sugar numbers are climbing with no change in diet or exercise. Any ideas? I did take Vitex before the hysterectomy and it worked great with regulating my cycle, no acne, or weight gain then either.
What is considered a high LH level? Mine is 17.
Hi Alisa,
Jut signed up for the MonthlyFlo program! I’m very excited.
I was having predictable cycles for about a year after changing my eating habits and eating primarily paleo. I saw a functional medicine doctor and when my labs showed very low progesterone, she suggested I take vitex for the ten days after I ovulate to help with pms and boost my progesterone levels. For about three months now, I’ve been spotting more and more between cycles, with my last period never showing up and just spotting for about 14 days now. I just reviewed my lab results again after reading this article and see that while my progesterone was at .1 (with normal range for luteal phase referenced at 1.8- 23.9) my LH was at 24.9. (Reference range for luteal phase references at 1.0-11.4).
My question is, should I discontinue the vitex as I suspect it may be a culprit in throwing off my cycle? Will the MonthlyFlo protocol I signed up for help me stop spotting and have a “real” period again?
Hi Rachel,
So happy to have you on board!! I would stop the Vitex for now and really focus on the diet and lifestyle changes: blood sugar balancing, digestion and healing the adrenals – these will make the biggest differences! Have you gotten on to the Ning support community? This is the support platform for all members – you can ask your questions every day to a coach! Good luck and I hope to hear about your results on Ning!
Alisa