What is Vitex?
The herb Vitex is also known as Chaste Tree or Chasteberry as it comes from a small shrub that grows in the Mediterranean.
The fruits of this shrub have been used for some 2000 years as a natural treatment for female fertility and hormonal health. As a result of the many studies that have proven its effectiveness, Vitex has become one of the most popular herbal remedies for hormonal imbalance.
If you’re seeking natural treatment for PMS, infertility, PCOS, or Endometriosis – it’s likely that you’ve come across Vitex. Vitex is available to us in herbal supplement tablet or tincture form.
Does Vitex resolve hormonal imbalance or help infertility?
Vitex supports your pituitary gland to produce progesterone and luteinizing hormone – both of which are necessary for your body to ovulate, for regular menstrual cycles, and for you to avoid symptoms of hormonal imbalance like PMS. When a woman is progesterone deficient (or estrogen dominant, to put it another way) and has what is known as a luteal phase defect Vitex can support her endocrine system to create more progesterone, ovulate regularly, and develop a healthy cycle.
This will help balance out the estrogen dominance that is at the root of many of your cycle issues. The pituitary gland is also called the “master” gland and it talks to the ovaries, letting them know how much hormone to make. Vitex works on the pituitary gland function, enhancing its ability to do this work.
So, yes, Vitex is well-researched as an aid for female fertility and hormonal imbalance. It is an effective and often successful natural treatment and a great tool for women to have at their disposal when facing cycle problems. However, my perspective is that Vitex is a short term solution to some hormonal imbalance issues.
Vitex can act like jumper cables to the pituitary gland and stimulate it to make the right level of hormones again.
However, Vitex alone will not fix your infertility, PMS, PCOS, or Endometriosis long term, IF you don’t also change your internal hormonal ecosystem with food. If you don’t address your hormonal ecosystem as a whole, you may see changes within the prescribed time (although Vitex is less likely to be successful), but when you come off (which you will eventually want to), your symptoms and problems will return.
Supporting your whole system by eating the right foods at the right times, per the Flo Living protocol, will provide your body with the building blocks it needs. Doing this and then taking Vitex on top for a short time will improve the effectiveness of the herb, increase the efficiency of the pituitary gland long term, and give you symptom-free cycles more rapidly.re
When you should use Vitex
There are certain times in a woman’s life when Vitex can be very helpful as part of a hormonally-supportive diet and lifestyle.
After using the birth control pill – Vitex is effective at supporting the body’s return to natural hormone production and cycling. If you come off the birth control pill and find your periods do not return within a few months, Vitex is an effective natural treatment option.
When you are entering the second stage of perimenopause and finding your cycles are becoming more irregular, Vitex can help to regulate your cycles and as such decrease the symptoms associated with perimenopause in your 40s.
When you have PMS symptoms like acne and breast tenderness as the result of a progesterone deficiency and estrogen dominance, Vitex can boost the body’s production of progesterone and ease these issues.
When you’re trying to get pregnant – Vitex supports regular ovulation, so if you’re experiencing frequent annovulatory cycles you can take this natural treatment to support the return of your fertility.
When you’re suffering with the symptoms of mild Endometriosis – in some European countries Vitex is commonly prescribed for this hormonal health issue.
When you want to breastfeed – for many years Vitex has been used to increase the production of breastmilk post-partum, although you would only use it short term.
How you should use Vitex
Vitex is a relatively slow-acting herb. Therefore you need to commit to taking it for up to 6 months to see any change in your cycles or improvement of symptoms. This is also the reason why this is not an easy treatment option compared to food therapy, as you have to take this herb everyday for such a long time and let’s face it, that’s tough to remember to do. If you do want to try this route, then I advise my clients to try it for this amount of time and then take a month’s break to see how they feel without the Vitex.
You should not use Vitex if you are currently on the Pill (it won’t have any impact on your hormones as the synthetic hormonal Pill replaces your body’s natural hormone production and suppresses the endocrine system). You should also not take Vitex if you’re using IVF drugs already as this can cause over-stimulation of the ovaries.
It is less commonly known and important to understand that using Vitex when you have a history of depression can cause your depression symptoms to worsen. So, be cautious if your PMS commonly includes feeling really low and depressed, rather than anxiety, irritation or fatigue.
Be sure to buy Vitex from a reputable, long-standing supplement company like Gaia so you know you are getting a potent formulation, without fillers.
Vitex will not be a successful natural treatment for you if it is the only thing you change about your daily habits. If you do not feed your body with hormonally-supportive foods and avoid processed products, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, dairy and gluten, then Vitex cannot work miracles! I recommend that you have the Flo Living protocol already in play when you start using Vitex as an additional booster.
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
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Such a great article – thank you! I’m on the hormonal sync system and was considering taking Vitex. This helped Answer all my questions about that! Thank you. 🙂
I have been taking vitex for a few months for PMS. I’ve noticed good things as far as my mood, but after I ovulate my breasts become huge and sore. I am not pregnant. Should I keep taking it? I thought the sore breasts were due to estrogen dominance and that Vitex was supposed to help balance the progesterone/estrogen, not make it worse. My breasts were not this big & sore before starting Vitex. I am also only taking one pill a day instead of two like the bottle suggests.
Hello did you ever get a response to this because I am experiencing the same things
Hi, me too getting that same my second cycle after ovulation I am getting huge breast and spotting and cramps also.
I have been taking a blended tincture with vitex dominance, to great effect. Went from random cycle to regular! But, I had this same issue in the beginning, I reduced the dose and the tender breast went away.
Hello, I am Fatima. I have an inquiry about the time. Use of Vitax pills. Should I use it before or after menstruation?
Great article. Thanks for sharing ❤️! I wanted to try vitex. I was taking metformin 850mg x 2 and a prenatal with dha. I got pregnant on round 2 50mg clomid (very happy😊 I googled ‘Get365bfp’ and got it). I was told not to use vitex or anything of that nature because it cancels out the clomid, which helps me a lot.
This has happened to me with Vitex too. Along with additional PMS depression and cystic acne I never had before.
I forgot to add that I love Alisa’s book! Thank you
Thank you! I started taking Vitex 3 months ago and while my acne cleared, I got severely depressed on my cycle- ruining a rare vacation trip with my mom and brother. I couldn’t stop crying for two days. It was terrible. It also made me remember the same thing for a day a month prior. Here I thought I was getting depressed and your post has made me consider it’s the vitex. I started taking it bc I have signs of estrogen dominance and low energy.
Thank you!
The same thing happened to me and I am realizing now that it’s the Vitex. Sucks because it did clear my skin up as well, but have had the bouts of crying, OCD thought patterns and overall depression/catastrophic thinking. -__-
Take it in combination with DIM.
Why? What does it do? Thanks.
O my, I have a touch of OCD now, thinking of making it home from my errands so I can wash my hands. I was never like this, I don’t mind the cry with PMS that’s why it’s PMS, when I was a teen it would make me viciously angry now PMS makes me cry, only affects me 3 days. But the OCD is all month, at least my hands are clean, haven’t caught a cold.
i was informed vitex helps boost progesterone which helps your overall mood???? ie relieving any heaviness depression!
No, this is not necessarily how it works. It can be helpful in cases where estrogen is high and progesterone is low. Some women will experience mood issues on it, so be mindful.
Alisa
Hey I got severe anxiety and panic attacks on vitex when it’s supposed to work the opposite. It was a bummer cause it cleared my skin and I woke up earlier than previous but it really doesn’t help some people with pre existing anxiety or depression issues
Hi Natalie,
Yes, unfortunately it can worsen depression in some. This is something to be mindful of.
Alisa
I have to agree it does increase
Progesterone and helps mood where dim supplement balances your estrogen
Lower your dosage, I was dam near suicidal. I lowered my dosage to 400 mg a day and now I’m fine.
Are we supposed to take this only during our period? Or do we take it every day?
I’ve read several sources that say everyday.
Hello i had a partial hysterectomy…only have ovaries…i am 62…low estrogen and progesterone…am i a candidate for Vitex?
Thank you
Hi Alisa!
Many thanks for your blog!
I’ve heard that one should quit vitex during the period. Is this true?
Hi Olga, Yes, you can give it a break during your period!
Alisa
SHOULD you though? and why?
Summing up what I have read ( I’m not a professional): If using Vitex for to long, it can lose some effect on the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. Some therefor recommend taking brakes every 3-4 months (for 1-2 months) and others recommend taking a break monthly (for aprox. 5 days). There is a natural drop in progesterone (and estrogen) when your period starts. Since Vitex supposedly helps body with producing progesterone, this time is a good one for taking a break – then you start again when the body naturally/normally produce more progesterone.
Please correct me if I’m wrong, anybody! 🙂
Hi, I have taken Vitex in the past and it worked wonders for me. It cleared my acne, eliminated PMS and ovarian cysts, and after 1 year of taking it I got pregnant. The way I took Vitex was once in the morning for 23 days, then stopped it for 5 days. During the 5 day break is when I had my period. If you start having signs of depression on Vitex, then maybe you need to take it only on days 15 thru 23 of your cycle. Taking it this way helps from making too much progesterone. These are the two options on taking Vitex that my Integrative doctor explained to me.
Hi, my period hasn’t come since taking Vitex ! Is this because I didn’t take a break? 3 Negative pregnancy tests
Hi i have pcos. I just got off birth control a month ago and started taking vitex right after. But I learned that your supposed to wait after getting off birth control. So do I need to stop taking vitex even tho i already started?? to give my body a few months to get rid of the birth control ??? So far it’s been working and my period is on track like normal but I don’t wanna keep taking it if it could hurt me in the future cuz I didn’t give my body a chance to go back to normal on it’s own
Hi Alisa, what would you suggest for a dosage ? My 1st cycle on it was shorter , my 2nd cycle completely normal , the 3rd cycle was long, & 3 days late. I’m normally very regular, but am experiencing unexplained infertility & night sweats, insomnia but ” normal ” horomones says My dr.. is the vitex messing with my cycle? I don’t know what dose to exactly take- I was doing 80mg twice a day – a reduced it to once a day thats where my cycle got longer
There are different opinions and reasons and ways to take vitex so it seems. I have come across that in case of a regular cycle you only need to take it for 5 days starting from the first day of menstruation. And with irregular cycle to start at the first day and take it for 25 days. It works on the pituitary gland so it depends on how good the gland is already doing its job.
Hi Alisa,
I took Vitex for about a week to help support my hormones which were feeling a little out of whack but I feel like it did more harm than good.. I’m following the WomanCode protocol and was feeling great but after a week on Vitex I started to get extreme anxiety and major mood swings. Do you know anything about the negative side effects of Vitex for some people? After a bit of googling I found other woman claiming to have not reacted well to Vitex but a lot say it did amazing things for them. I think it should be approached with major caution. It’s strong stuff. Perhaps if I had stayed on it I would have had better results but I was too scared to continue.
Just thought I’d mention it because there doesn’t see to be much out there about this sort of reaction.
Thanks for bringing me into the FLO…:)
Desiree
The same thing happened to me. I experienced inexplicable anxiety, depression, and what seemed like irrational/illogical thinking + insomnia. Progesterone cream is the only thing I can take which doesn’t cause any side effects. I have tried black cohosh, DIM, maca, longjack, DHEA, fenugreek and Vitex. Fenugreek is okay, but progesterone cream is the only truly non-side effect product I can tolerate.
It seems that if you’re naturally sensitive to medications as a whole, Vitex might have an especially strong adverse effect on you.
There are different opinions and reasons and ways to take vitex so it seems. I have come across that in case of a regular cycle you only need to take it for 5 days starting from the first day of menstruation. And with irregular cycle to start at the first day and take it for 25 days. It works on the pituitary gland so it depends on how good the gland is already doing its job.
I got a bad stomach ache the first day that I took the pill. I couldn’t continue with my daily routine because of the upset stomach pain and gassiness and a painkiller did not help. I also couldn’t sleep at night and I am posting this now.
I personally don’t recommend this product.
Hi there, I am sorry you had this experience – Vitex is definitely not appropriate for everyone and for every hormonal imbalance. I am glad you listened to your body!
XO, Christina – FLO Coach
What dose do you recommend taking for anovulation (PCOS) and how many times a day? Thank you!
Hi Julia,
I would recommend taking the dosage recommended on the container!
Alisa
Hello, I have a question. How long does it take for vitex to get out of your system? I took vitex back in November and stopped December. No cycle for January and sore breasts. Hate the fact that I got negative pregnancy tests because it gave me false hope. I took vitex for not ovulating. Now I’m spotting. I’m discouraged and disappointed. Just want to give up.
Hi I took too much vitex for about 1 month and now my period is late, how did yours regulate again? Just by stopping or is there anything else you took to make it regulate again? Does this mean that I had too much progesterone or prolactin?
Did you ever get a response about this?
I took Vitex this month for the first time and now I’m on day 38 of my cycle and still no period…. negative tests too. I have PCOS and want to get pregnant. Should I stop taking it??
Hi Faye, Vitex is not for everyone and not for all hormone issues. Please consult with a coach or an herbalist to decide whether this is the correct supplement for you!
XO, Christina – FLO Coach
Hi,
My doctor prescribed ‘Vitanica Women’s Phase 1’ which has Vitex in it because of my bad PMS (emotional, feeling very irrational, and intense cravings). I have been taking it for two cycles so far. The first cycle I thought I noticed a difference in PMS symptoms, (was less irritable, still felt very sad but less angry and irrational, much easier to deal and my cravings were MUCH less intense than normal. I did not feel I had to give into them which is how I usually feel.) However, this cycle while the emotional stuff is again much better, I am having PMS right now but I do not feel angry or irrational like I usually do or even as sad. The cravings however are pretty intense, not as bad as usual but not like the last cycle. The first cycle while I was taking it I was also doing acupuncture. So, I’m thinking this might have been a help too? It is sometimes so tricky to know! I eat a gluten free and dairy free diet and try to stay away from sugar and coffee. Sometimes I definitely do give in!!!
Thank you.
Hi Laura,
I would apply the diet by phase that I describe in my book and on the online program! This can help a lot. In general I notice how people talk about what they are NOT eating, but what we are eating is what needs to be highlighted! Remember, a craving is a request from the body for a nutrient/s; it should be heeded!
Alisa
Can I take dim along with Vitex with this be more affective ?
I’d like to know this too
Haley,if you don’t mind sharing…what type of ovarian cysts were they? How long did they take to shrink and how much Vitex did you take? Thank you
Alisa,
thanks for the article. I wanted to ask…i have a history of pituitary benign adenoma, missed my periods for years and years, until i found out i had a high prolactin.
Started taking Vitex for a while, helped a lot, however depression and mood swings are still present, before period. And even after. Acne always was present and i suffered from it from age 15. I quit Vitex three years ago, and recently about a year ago decided to try an Ayurvedic herb Shatavari. (just read online that Shatavari comes in different form powder and crystals which is one churna and kalpha, one is for men and the other for women, i was taking from Organic India, not sure which is which now), Little that i knew that it increased estrogen , but it did helped me a lot with acne and with my cycle. I was taking it with Ashwagandha and Triphala. I have noticed that i became rounded in the hip area butt and thighs. I have always been a healthy eater, and eat relatively Paleo diet, with healthy curbs.
At this point I decided to quit Shatavari and see if i will loose those hips and butt, however continue with Ashwagandha and Triphala.. My question is, can you suggest me, should i start with Vitex again? I am in my forties (42) had no children, and not planning any. Thank you
Hi Alisa,
Vitex can certainly be part of the plan if you found it helped! However, it sounds like just the supplement is not enough to do everything you need, which is what I talk about a lot: supplements won’t do the job of food and lifestyle! Look at what you are eating, blood sugar balance and adrenal health to support you reaching your goals!
Alisa
Can this help endometriomas?
Hi Eli,
Not sure if you will see this. But I also have high prolactin from a pituitary ademona. I am treating with cabergoline but with the level down still have cystic acne. What helped you as far as taking vitnex or Shatavari? Was your progestrone low or estrogen? Of course I can get no clear answers from my western medicine doctors as to what is imbalanced causing the acne.
Thank you Alisa,
i am still wondering should a woman with my past diagnosis, be on any hormonal herbal support…? Nowadays it seems like every woman has something…some hormonal disbalance…
Thanks again
This is a great article. I am following the Woman Code protocol and would like to include Vitex as well. I know that many people take the pill form but what about naturally? I actually have a Vitex plant and want to use it instead of paying for a supplement. I’ve heard of making a tea with it but there are no clear guidelines of supplementation. Any words of advice?
Great article. I took vitex regularly for several months along with diet changes with hopes of improving fertility (I have diagnosed PCOS and hypothyroidism) – and, I finally did get pregnant but miscarried at 7 weeks. I did continue taking vitex during those 7 weeks of pregnancy, but stopped the vitex during the course of the miscarriage itself. When should I start it up again? Should I have never stopped taking it (it was a gut feeling, I was somehow worried the vitex might ‘stall’ the progression of my miscarriage)?
Hello! How did you take the vitex and what dosage?
Hi there, I have just started the WomanCode for new onset of heavy periods and rapid weight gain. A hormone panel showed high estradiol and estrone and normal progesterone. I tried vitex and after a week stopped as I felt very irritable and depressed, I.have a hx of depression and anxiety. If I continue with vitex, will those symptoms subside? If not, is there an alternative? Thanks, I really appreciate all your work!
Hi Annamarie,
If Vitex is not working for you then I would not use it. In any case, using the food and lifestyle solutions are the only way to fix hormonal issues in the long term. If you are older than 35, you can try Maca, but please read my article on it first:
https://www.floliving.com/maca-hormones/
Alisa
Hi Alisa
I took your V-sign quiz and came up as brown. I came off the combined pill 5 months ago (took it for 2 years) and have had 3 periods. Cycles: 30 days, 32 days and now this one has been 40 days.(Used to be 28 day cycles before the pill) PMS for a week before involves painful cystic acne, depression, over-emotion and irrational thinking. I get brown spotting for a few days leading up to it and I think at ovulation this month as well (day 20 of the 40 day cycle). Now I have my period its heavy with back pain, light headedness and nausea on day 2. Would vitex be a good idea for me? Or would maca or black cohosh be better?
I took maca after coming off the pill but stopped taking once my periods came back.
I have a healthy diet with no sugar, gluten, dairy or caffeine.
Many thanks
Holly
How long did you take the maca ?
I am using this medication for pregnancy. I’ve been pregnant three times using this medicine. Unfortunately, due to safety problems have been aborted . My pituitary accustomed to the drug in the long-term effect and does not work. How do I take this medicine?
Unfortunately, due to Immune problems have been aborted
Hello! I just finished your audio book and LOVE it! Thank you so much. I am currently taking Vitex; however, my Dr called today and said that my estrogen (E2) levels are very low. I noticed you reference estrogen dominance above (which I am not)…will Vitex lower my estrogen even more or help in the long run? I am also adding Dong Quai this week. Thanks for your help!
Hi Christina,
Vitex may not be the most suitable supplement for you. I would also add tea like red raspberry leaf, and licorice root to support estrogen.
Alisa
Hi Alisa,
I have uterine fibroids and been taking Vitex for six months and I’m not sure I’ve noticed much of a difference. I’ve also heard and read about Meca but Vitex was the recommended option by my naturopath. Do you know about Meca and how it is different from Vitex and when someone might want to switch from one to the other?
Thanks for your great blog,
Christine
Hi Christine,
I know that a supplement is so tempting in this case, but trust me, it won’t. on it’s own, reduce the fibroid. It is so important to get blood sugar issues, adrenal health and liver health lined up! So important! I would not recommend Maca here.
Alisa
Please help.
I have heavy menstrual flow and extreme emotional depression and anxiety during pms . I had all tests including Internal and all is fine . I also have a history of anxiety and depression generally . The naturopath has put me on vitex and it’s my 5th day and my period is due tomorrow and I feel miserable . Should I keep taking it? She said my estrogen was a little bit low when I had the test done it was the last day of my period . What can I take? Should I stop the vitex or wait? Should I add evening primrose oil or flaxseed oil ? She said I can’t take dong qaiu as my mother had breast cancer . Or is this just because it’s not working yet and it’s too early to tell. I’m 33 and it’s getting worse as I get older . Can I add St. John’s wort? Thanks so much
Hi Emma!
Not sure if you’ll see this since it’s been a couple of years, I was just wondering if you’ve made any progress ? I seem to have the same symptoms and I’m the same age as you were when you posted this.
Hi Alissa,
I need help. I had a baby 7 months ago and I had a saliva hormone test done 2 months postpartum and my testosterone was a little high (58) but my DHEAS and cortisol and such were in range. My estrogen and progesterone were low. I took vitex combined with licorice and peony for 3 months and noticed my acne worsening and my cycles were 43 days apart. I had normal cycles (32 days before pregnancy. I retook a hormone test and my testosterone jumped to 107. My DHEAS went from 6 to 22.7 and my cortisol in the morning from 16 to 110!!! Could vitex have caused my hormone to get 10x worse??? And is it possible to develop pcos after pregnancy? As my only symptom before was I had acne but normal cycles and ovulation.
Did you receive a response to this? I think Vitex caused me to rapidly gain 10 pounds of belly fat in 3 weeks. I stopped taking the Vitex and am working to lose the fat.
I’m online looking to see if any gains weight while taking vitex. I’ve noticed I’ve gained 10 pounds (or a bit more) in the past couple months, despite eating well and being active. All of a sudden tonight, I was wondering if the vitex is the culprit! It’s the only thing I’ve changed in the past couple months..
Hi Alisa,
I came off the pill about a year ago as I developed acne at 22, and after changing pills a few times it gave me a whole host of horrific problems!
I’m so glad to be off the pill, though I had a pretty rough time in the months after stopping it. But did start taking EPO and TTC vitamins (I’m not ttc but was told with the B6 &12 etc it would help balance hormones).
In June last year (about 6 months later) I started vitex. After about a month my skin improved, and after 3 months it was amazing and clear. I was soooo happy and never thought I would see the day that I had not a single pimple for a few weeks at a time!
I stupidly thought my skin was cured and stopped taking them, but it flared up badly again. I started taking the vitex again 2 and a half months ago but my skin is not improving at all and seems to be just as bad as before =(
Please advise if there is anything else I can do. Does vitex stop working or could it just take longer to work this time and I need to persist?
I am getting married in June and freaking out about my skin still being this bad.
Thanks
Hi Rebecca,
What happens is that the supplement, any supplement really, can only do so much. The fix has to come via diet and lifestyle, and then the supplements will give that extra push. The great news is that your body did respond! Yay! So now we just want to take a close look and figure out how to take care of you so that you can heal this imbalance! Reach out to my team to set up a complementary consult if you would like to speak to one of my counselors to discuss option at Flo.
Alisa
Hello,
I really enjoyed your article. I am wondering, how soon after quitting my birth control pill should I begin taking Vitex. Also, you mentioned that some Vitex capsules contain bad ingredients. What ingredients should I be on the look out for?
Thank you so much,
Alyssa
Hi Alyssa,
Get something with as few additives as possible. Gaia Herbs has a nice one!
Alisa
Hello,
I have regular cycles, however my androgens are high (prgesterone and estrogen ar e okay). is vitex a good choice for me?
Hi Anna,
Vitex is not good for lowering testosterone. Looking at diet and lifestyle would be the first step – we want to encourage the female hormone production.
Alisa
I took Vitex during 6 months to balance my hormones. I have PCOS and I guess VItex was just not the right choice for me. During the first month, my skin (normally clear) turned horribly bad and got super oily with lots of acne, my mood changed a lot and I felt constantly depressed/anxious or just indifferent towards everything. I also gained weight and I have always been a very thin girl. Another thing I noticed is that I got cellulites (is this possible due to hormone changes? I have NEVER in my life had it before and my mum has no cellulites at age 55. My diet is quite healthy, I’m a vegetarian and eat lots of greens and little sugar, no caffeine etc.). So of course I stopped taking the Vitex, although now 3 months later I still feel different than my normal self and I didn’t lose any of the weight I gained and the cellulites wont go away also. This makes me a little worried. I feel like I messed up the system in some way since my periods come even more irregularly now after the Vitex also. How long can it take for the hormones to go back to the level they were (will it happen?) and what is good to eat to lower testosterone in the body? Thank you Alisa.
Minna, did you eventually receive a response about the weight gain or lose the weight? I hope so. I also quickly gained 15 pounds of mostly abdominal fat taking 2,000 mg/day Gaia brand Vitex for only 3 weeks. I know the fat gain was from the Vitex because I’d previously lost weight on a low carb paleo keto diet & kept it off for 7 years. On the Vitex, it was as if the fat came roaring back .
Wow, that is a lot of vitex! I would assume that taking so much could have adverse side effects, I take 450mg and even at that amount I’m considering backing down a bit.
Did you receive a response and are you feeling better?I also rapidly gained belly fat from Vitex and am seeking answers.
Still no response
Thank you for your informative post. I am on the birth control pill right now but I want to stop taking it because of its negative effects on my body. My endometriosis in in my left ovary and 3cm. When I stop taking the pill, I’ll start taking vitex (in the form of tablet). Can I also drink Lady’s Mantle tea and/or Yarrow (achillea millefolium) tea while taking Vitex? Do they interact? Thanks in advance for your reply.
At age 48 with no menstration for 5yrs can I take Vitex? As am expecting to have more babies
Thanks for including the possibility of experiencing depression. I have a long history of depression and started taking vitex for PCOS and fell into a deep depression for 2 weeks. Though I’ve been stabilized for awhile with medication for my depression, I assumed it was returning. It took me a few days to realize the possible correlation and when I stopped taking vitex, the depression subsided. It’s easy to assume that herbal remedies are going to be gentle and underestimate their power. I found little mention of the possibility of depression during my research so I’m grateful that you are including that information. Thanks for sharing your research and knowledge.
I’ve been taking Vitex for two months following IUD removal and I think it’s really helping. I have had no acne or mood issues, but I eat a very healthy diet and exercise regularly. I have also been taking Maca Root and Tumeric with Milk Thistle supplements to try and clear out six years of synthetic progestin from my body. I feel so much healthier – I’ll do your recommended 6 months of Vitex. I had the IUD for endometriosis and mittleshmertz but now I’m learning I can control both of those things with diet and these supplements. I also use Clary Sage oil for menstrual pain and it takes the pain away right away, it’s incredible. I’m 46.
How do you use the Clary Sage oil?
Thanks for sharing this article. I have a question for you. I currently take Ovablend (6 per day) to help encourage ovulation and promote a regular cycle, which it has done for me for a couple of years (29 day cycles regularly) However, I have extremely low progesterone,0.39 to be exact.I am TTC my first child at age 34. I did suffer a miscarriage 8 months ago which I think was due to low progesterone. I concevied relativily quickly with my spouse the second month of our marriage so I have hope that I must be ovulating sometimes. I’ve never been on birth control pills. My LH is currently 7.8 and my FSH is 3.2. I have heard that Vitex can raise LH. I am trying to get my FSH to be slightly higher than my LH. Since I was already taking Ovablend to help ovulate, would you recommend Vitex instead of Ovablend seeing that it has the potential to help raise my progesterone levels? Or would it cause more harm and raise my LH even more out of a balanced ratio with my FSH?
Thank You
Nena
i took an opk test on three occasions with a negative results every time i took it ,so i decided to take vitex 450mg i started taking it 2 days before my period my period is due tomorrow i do have a lil brown discharge but not the symptoms i normally get before my period i’m scared that the vitex messed up my cycle ,i forgot to mention that my cycle was regular and that i have (pcos) so i had sex during my fertile window ,could i be pregnant please help
It is hard to tell what is happening without more information! I recommend that you reach out to my team and schedule a 30 minute session with one of my coaches, they can help!
Alisa
Did you ever get a response? I am in the same situation
I took vitex at 2000mg for 5 months for mild PCOS. My doctor has told me I have an inverse FSH LH ratio. I also have a few other things – digestive problems and chronic fatigue. My periods are fairly regular but I get really bad PMS. Terrible. I feel very very anxious during PMS and I get very tired. I fight with my spouse and he feels scared of my PMS!!!. The PMS can start 10-12 days before my periods. And I can sometimes get bad period pain. I am on 60mg progesterone cream which helps.
What I’ve noticed when taking vitex is I started to cry a lot when my periods started and feel sad more. This is so weird for me as normally when my periods start I feel a sense of relief and the anxiety fades away.
So I stopped the Vitex once my periods started, and this time I didn’t feel depressed at all. In fact my sadness has significantly reduced – almost gone. But I’ve been feeling a bit jittery. I think it’s because I stopped the Vitex suddenly. So I’m thinking to go on 1 pill. I’m on Day 19. I wish I could get some help with all of this! Whether to take 1 pill or to keep going with no vitex at all.
For my digestive issues I’ve seen a gastroenterologist and he has suggested to improve the microbial balance, so I’m going to start his 2 month protocol to reset the flora. I can’t eat quite a few foods because I get too much pain – like kidney beans, garbanzo beans, broccoli (?).
In the mean time I’m taking Alissa’s advice for PMS – mint, avoiding soy etc. Alissa – do you know if you can help me? Thanks!
Shivani
I have hypothyrodism and pcos .i am on high dose of 0.150 mg of synthyroid. No luck of getting pregnent since 8-9months . Periods are very irregular and not ovulating,low sex drive . Going through naturepath i found out my TPO antibodies are really high .so i have autoimmune diesease ,its attacking my thyroid gland.
I have gone gluten free ,less dairy and natural sugars only fruits and vegetables.it is good idea to go for vitex to give it a try.please suggest will be really appreciative.
I have hashimotos (high antibodies) also on synthroid.75
I also have endometriosis.
I am wondering what you did? I’m also gluten free because i have celiac.
Im having fertility problems cannot get pregnant. and hoping vitex will help.
i started the vitex six days ago (400 mg) and have started to feel a bit of anxiety/jitteryness/ trouble falling asleep (almost like the symptoms of hyperthyroidism).
what did you do? did you take the vitex in the end?
I don’t know if you’ll see this its been 2 years.
thank you!
Hi Alisa,
I take Vitex cause my periods didnt come and I have an adénom about 7mm on pituitary gland.
I stopped dostinex.
I prefer taking natural way.
So what could you suggest me to eat ?
Thanks
How long after stopping the combined pill can I begin Chaste Berry? One day? More?
No one is saying how long.
Hi Anne,
I would wait until you have a sense of what your period is like without the pill – it takes approx 3 months to start to see where you stand without the pill. Once you have established that Vitex is what you need to corrent any imbalance, you can start taking it.
Alisa
Hi, I’ve been taking vitex 100mg tablet once a day for approx 3 years. It helps with PMS, premenopausal symptoms. I did not feel any side effects, but not sure if it will have any side effects in the long term? Thanks.
Hi Hoa,
Take Vitex for 8 to 9 months, and then give it a 3 to 4 month break!
Alisa
Sorry 1000mg not 100.
Which foods will naturally increase progesterone???
Yams 10 – 12 oz a day. Eat broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, carrots, Brussels sprouts.
Thanks for the info Alisa!
I’m working with a naturopathic doctor to help balance my estrogen/progesterone ratio and clear up a fibroid. She just suggested vitex, so I’ll be adding that to what I’m already doing with diet and lifestyle. I’m excited to see what affect it will have!
Hi! I took Vitex to prevent endometriosis and ovarian cysts after getting a big surgery to remove my endo. I stopped taking it three months later as my holistic doctor said it wasn’t necessary. However, I was doing quite well on it and since stopping I have noticed an increase in period pain and ovary pain. A ct scan showed a ruptured cyst this month. I am considering taking it again. My biggest concern is that I cannot take the Vitex forever, so what happens when I stop? How long can I take this – 6 months, years? Thank you!
Hi Brooke,
This is the issue with supplements! They are wonderful to support healing alongside diet and lifestyle changes – they really are not meant to be used as stand alones. I would focus on the blood sugar balancing, adrenal health and liver supporting sections of my protocol – these should help you long term!
Alisa
Thoughts on hormonal yeast infections? How to keep them away for good? Vitex used , has helped a lot.
Probiotics are a great yeast infection remedy. I added homemade kimbucha to my diet (a few times a week not even daily) and haven’t had a YI in years.
Eliminating sugar and beer, and using a low carbohydrate diet eliminated painful chronic yeast infections for me. RePhresh ProB probiotic supplement helped immensely in beginning too but after awhile on the low carb diet, I no longer need it . Good wishes it’ll help you too
Hello, I have a question if my progesterone and estrogen levels are normal. But my periods were coming irregular from I think being overweight but for about 2months I have been eating healthy and working out. Should I take vitex to regulate my cycle even though my levels are normal?
Hi Joan,
It’s hard for me to say without more info. I would recommend doing a 30 minute consult with one of my coaches to dig a little deeper. My coaches will be able to give you specific tips and steps to follow depending on what’s happening for you.
Alisa
Are there benefits of taking this after going through menopause and using no hormone replacement therapy?
Thank you for providing this information. I don’t know if you answer questions for people, but If you do, I have the following. I have a life long problem with weepiness and emotional over-reactivity that I have treated with everything herbal and medical (ssris, mood stabilizers, everything.) Vitex seems to be making a real difference. after a month I am noticeable calmer and my psychiatrist agrees. We cannot find information how ever if this is for long term use or if I discontinue after a while, will the problem be corrected? Some websites say to take it for 3 months and then your body has corrected the underlying problem. is that the case? My interest is mood only, not fertility. I do have a uterine fibroid which seems unchanged by this.
thank you
Hi Michelle,
Emotions are linked to neurotransmitters which are connected to hormones! It all fits together. Vitex can be taken safely for up to 8-9 months, and then you want to give in a 4 month break and you can start again. I highly recommend, though, that you followup with some dietary shifts and look at lifestyle and skin products, etc, if you want to start to heal the fibroid naturally.
Alisa
Hi, i need understanding and guidance with my hormonal imbalance. How do i get in contaxt with one of your coaches?
Hi Raida,
Great. Please contact [email protected]. Or, if you know you would like a 30 minute consult to go over your situation, you can go to the link below and set that up right away!
https://www.floliving.com/counselor-consultation/
Alisa
I started taking vitex for about 2 weeks now with 1 400gm 3 times a day negative effects was direrea…heart palpitation and night sweat so i drop it to 2 time a day never felt better energy return felling good in body
I have very high progesterone levels, is this something I should avoid then?
Vitex will not help with high progesterone.
Alisa
Hello Alisa…
i’m currently taking vitex for 1 and 1/2 months… i am confused as for dosage to take whole month or stop after ovulation and continue after AF… rather confused on this…1st month i took 400mg on empty stomach and on second cycle i’m taking 800mg early morning.
also i’m suffering from hypothyoridism ( hashimoto’s) … just got blood checked..
hoping for BFP as it would be my first…
Hi Alisa, I have endometriosis and started taking Vitex a week and a half ago. This is my first cycle right after a failed IVF and I felt good at first but now I’m starting to have more cramps. Do you think I started taking the Vitex too soon after IVF? I started taking it on day 6 of my cycle. Should I stop taking them and try again next month or keep going with it? Thanks!
Hi Christie, If you are taking a break from IFV then you can continue the Vitex unless you feel that it is really not helping. Support your body with some herbs to support liver cleansing; the hormones from the IFV need to be supported to leave the body.
Alisa
Hello. I took the chaste tree capsule on Saturday morning and at night I had some blood like if it was my period. Now it’s been 3 days that I’ve been taking the pill but all I’ve been getting has been brownish discharge with small amounts of red blood. Should I discontinue? Up my dosage? Or what?
Hi Alis,
I would discontinue it for now. I would be more comfortable giving detailed advice if I had more info! If you are able, please schedule a 1/2 hour session with one of my coaches – they will be able to support and guide you in the right direction.
Alisa
Hi Alisa,
Hope you can help me, after reading your book, finding out that my results on the period tests was brown and experienced really painful breast before period, decided to give it a try to vitex. After first month pain was gone, however as still had brown spots after period I kept taking it, second month started to have insomnia and sweat nights, stopped it immediately but it is more than a month ago and still have insomnia every night , it is very annoying because I used to sleep very well. It is definitely vitex which mess up with my hormones as I do exercise, cycles are normal and stress levels are under control. What can I do now? Thanks!
Up until 14 mths ago I’d been on birth control for 15 yrs. After experiencing pain, 6 yrs ago I was diagnosed with endometriosis and had a laparoscopy to have it removed. At the same time I was fitted with a Mirena coil. I was informed this was the best way to keep my endometriosis at bay. It worked – I didn’t bleed for almost the entire 5 yrs and the pain stopped. I then had the Mirena removed as I want to start a family and I’ve been TTC for 14 mths with no success. It took 3 mths for me to bleed following its removal and I’ve experienced issues with spotting/irregular cycles/acne/weight gain/weepiness/mood swings. I’ve just had my hormones tested and been told that my progesterone levels are low and that I might not be ovulating every month. Given Mirena secretes a synthetic progesterone into the body I think my body needs support to produce its own progesterone again. My doctor just prescribed me something to get me ovulating each month but I want to address my underlying hormonal imbalance. I’m unsure whether I should be take vitex or pregnenolone? Or would a natural progesterone cream be better suited? Is it safe to take a combination of two or three of these? I’m desperate to conceive but I equally don’t want to completely mess up my hormones!
I took vitex last year for about 3 mths. I was trying to get pregnant. I stopped vitex and got pregnant the following month. unfortunately, that ended in a miscarriage at 12 wks.
Im currently trying to get pregnant again. Im starting taking vitex about 2 wks ago. I’m currently taking 400mg- 3 pills a day. I’ve been having sharp pain in my left ovary. Is this normal or am I taking to many pills per day? Any advice??
Hi,
I would go to your doctor and have your hormones tests first, and also check for the MTHFR gene mutation. This is were you want to start.
Alisa
Hi Alisa. My name is Alisa too. Lol. I am 42 and have struggled with migraines since age 12. After the birth of my last son at 37, I began having hormone induced excruciating 3-4 day migraines at ovulation and during my period. I do not treat allopathically unless it’s absolutely necessary so I have been searching for years for my cute for my hormone induced migraines. I started taking Vitex, maca, CoQ10, and hemp oil and so far this cycle I am migraine free, knock on wood. Haha. Do you think this combo could be my cure in controlling my hormone induced migraines? Also, should I continually take the supplements for months or take breaks? I’ve heard you can develop immunity but not sure if that’s true or not. I appreciate any feedback. Thanks in advance.
Hi Alisa!
I have been doing the WomenCode protocol for 2 months now. TTC and confused about whether to stop using Vitex after ovulation or use it for my whole cycle. Also what do you recommend for stopping or continuing once I am pregnant? I’ve seen such conflicting advice and I need yours!
Thank you!
Hi i am 24 years old and i have been ttc for about 5 months. previously was on bc pill(prior to that tried the mirena about 6 months and on depo for about 3 years) and quit taking all bc in dec 2017. i have been having regular 28 day cycles for about 4 months using a ovulation tracker app, havent gone so far as to start opk’s and having lots of sex before my predicted ovulation day according to me having a 28 day cycle and still no positive pg tests. i read about vitex and started taking it on June 6 2018 so i’ve been taking 800 mg a day for about 3 weeks. i have now missed my June period…its 7 days late today. i had a negative urine pg test. Is it the vitex causing me to miss my period?? also had lots of CM a couple of days ago, im wondering if the vitex made me ovulate and is delaying my period??? i feel nervous and want to know whats going on since my pg test was negative. Please HELP
Hi Brianna, I have had the same issue. Did you resolve this?
I’ve been on Vitex for over a month and I missed my period this month. I am not pregnant and have endometriosis and fibroids. Is this just a transition period? Or should I stop Vitex to get my period then start up again in 5 days?
Thanks!
Hi Tania,
Vitex is good in certain situation but not all. It is possible that this is not the right supplement for you.
Alisa
Hi, I need your advice as I’m really panicking at the moment! My periods have always been very regular but i wanted to slightly lengthen my luteal phase which is about 10/11 days. I’ve been TTC for 1 year without success, and about 6 weeks ago i started Vitex at 4mg once a day in the morning. I’m now on cycle day 25 and I did not ovulate! OPKs were all negative and I had an ultrasound done yesterday which confirmed that ovulation did not happen. This has never, ever happened to me and I’m 100% sure the Vitex has delayed/stopped ovulation for me. I stopped taking it 4 days ago. I’m now in full blown panic mode and not sleeping because of the anxiety and worry this has caused me. Can you please tell me what is going to happen now? Will I eventually ovulate? Will my periods go back to normal? Will I end up with a never ending cycle like some posts that I’ve read? I cannot find any answers to these questions online and I am making myself physically ill with worry. Messing up my cycle was the last thing i needed while TTC! Thanks so much and I’m REALLY looking forward to hearing from you!
Hi, i also had similar and worrying experiences with vitex and am so worried i am not ovulating now. I was wonderinf how you got on and managed ot fix it? Best wishes
Hi I have only been taking Vitex for 8 days now. I am currently on day 9 of cycle. I have irregular cycles 33-43 days long but my luteal phase is pretty much the same every month 13/14days after ovulation. I am currently ttc so I am trying to have a more regular cycle and shortening the follicular phase. So I’m wondering if Vitex is for me (I thought it was good for regulating FSH levels). I guess my question is can Vitex cause spotting? I don’t normally have spotting right after my cycle and I had heavier spotting last night and today. Has anyone experienced this before and is this normal?
Hi,
Only 10 days with Vitex and I noticed real changes on my cervical Mucus, which was egg white even after ovulation. Do you think Vitex has consequences on CM ?
Thanks a lot
Hi. What is the best time to take vitex? Do i need to have a meal first before taking it? Thanks for the answer
Hey, I came off birth control pill about 7 months ago and have noticed my sex drive and libido are struggling to come back. I have been on several vitamins and supplements for months but I have stopped taking them now as I’m worried they might be making it worse. What do you suggest I do? I’m struggling to feel aroused when I engage in sex with my husband. I used to be extremely sensitive to sex before. Appreciate your help!
So I started taking Vitex because a friend said it really helped her with hormonal headaches. I was on it 2 weeks (on and off) then realizes I shouldn’t be taking it when I’m on birth control pills (I know… I should have known better and read about it first). Anyways, in that two weeks there were some activities in the bedroom that happened. You guys think there’s a chance that I might be pregnant? I’m not expecting my period for another 10 days, but I did take a pregnancy test and it was negative.
Im taking Vitex now for almost 3 weeks. I am diagnosed with Endometriosis and Adenomyoma.. And Im taking a Dienogest(Visanne) Pills as well.
Is this good or not? But I ask my Doctor if its okey to take Vitex, and she said its okey.
Many Thanks..
It’s ok to take vitex is it going to make your period heavier .can you take it while you in your period , does it help with adenomyosis .
Hello Alisa,
Thank you so much for a great article! Do you have any recommendations for dosing Vitex by using the berries in tea? Will it be potent enough for an effect, or is pill/tincture form necessary to see a result?
Thanks so much!
Hi Emily,
Please consult with an herbalist on that!
Alisa
My fsh high estrogen low period irrgular
I’m 36 with pcos. Started using progesterone cream because my symptoms were getting worse and I’m tired of going to different doctors;which only wanna give u birth control and metformin. I got a tubal ligation 6 years ago so I’m not trying to conceive. I just wanna get rid of these terrible symptoms that wont let me live a normal life… ???
My question is if I can take vitex and use the progesterone cream at the same time…
Or stop the progesterone cream (which secretly I’m afraid of doing)
Hi Joanna,
I would not recommend using both at the same time. Please consult with an herbalist locally to get more support one this. Acupuncture may also be very helpful!
Alisa
Can I take thyroid tabs and Chasteberry together empty stomach in morning
Should i take the week of my period off vitex? Does it cause adult acne!
Thanks!
You can take the week of your period off from Vitex. Vitex can make acne worse – you want to make sure that you know for sure that you have low progesterone before taking Vitex.
Alisa
Hi
Can I take cod fish liver oil with Gaia Vitex chasteberry
Hi Alisa,
I’m 22 and went off the pill when I was 19 after being on it for 4 years (within those 4 years changing the brand of pill I was on about 6 times). Coming off the pill I felt a lot better emotionally but my periods have never been the same. I think I have anovulation now as my cycles are very irregular and long in between them plus I don’t get any ovulation symptoms like the egg white discharge I used to get before I started the pill. I’ve started taking vitex, exercising more and following the flo protocol for the past month. Is there a time frame in which I should definitely be able to see results by?
Hi Bree,
So happy that you have taken these steps! Honestly, I hope you are already feeling better as far as energy and general well being. For your cycle, I would give it a few months and see what shifts. If you find you are not shifting as much as you wanted, reach out to my team and you can speak with a coach for a quick session. You want to be able to keep blood sugar stable, make sure gut is healthy (so important after being on the pill!), and get the micronutrients in to your body. Keep me posted!
Alisa
I just started using vitex in empty stomach,it makes me spit alot.Should i continue ? has anyone experince samething
My hormone levels were normal when I had my blood checked in the follicular phase. I know something is off. Should I have it rechecked in a different phase before starting Vitex? Bad PMS, brown spotting 3-5 days before period, breast tenderness 2 weeks before period, low libido, hormonal acne, moodiness.
Hi Lauren,
Hormone levels may be in the normal range but still cause havoc if the ratios are off. The ranges tend to be pretty large, and are more of a general guideline than a precise indicator of hormonal health. If you are having discomfort with your cycle, then something is off. Vitex may be helpful for the symptoms that you describe. If you find that you need more help though, I would look at the areas of blood sugar and micro nutrient deficiency. The liver may need some support as well.
Alisa
Hey ever since i was 15 Will since i my first period I always had heavy bleeding nd irregular periods I got tired of it so in December 2017 I started using nueva ring because I want to get pregnant so I used it until may I stopped I did what the doc told me to get pregnant nd I did later on I had all the pregnant sytomas after I misscarge doc said I wasn’t pregnant when she just did a stupid pregnant pee test so I just stayed off of birth control hoping it will regular by it self so it didn’t I started birth control nueva ring again December 2018 am still using it but my plans is to get pregnant around July or August what do I do my plan is just to regular my period forever I don’t want to have anymore irregular periods nd I want to become pregnant too so what is the best thing to do plz help me .
Thank you for the thoughtful article. I’m an acupuncturist and one of my patients introduced me to your book, WomanCode, a few years ago. I am curious about something I have personally experienced – I am taking a fairly low dose of Vitex to balance some estrogen dominant symptoms from perimenopause and an interesting effect cropped up within a few days that has not changed: constant, prominent breast enlargement and tenderness. It is very similiar to pregnancy changes (thought I am not pregnant). I have been assuming this is from an increase in progesterone? Is this common and does it tend to settle out eventually?
I have been on chasteberry fruit pills for 3months now
Am TTC for 2years now
My prolactine level is high n was asked to use chasterbery fruit pills but its not improving
Still av milk coming out of my breast n its so embarrassing
How long will i keep using it to lower my prolactine levels
Hi Aisha,
If the Vitex is not working by now, my guess is it probably won’t help. I would consult with an herbalist, other practitioner or one of my coaches to see if you can find a more effective treatment.
Alisa
I have PCOS. I took Vitex to get things going again and now it won’t stop. I’m at day 38 and it is still not stopping. I stopped taking Vitex at week 4. I am considering seeing a doctor, but I do not want to go on chemical treatment.
I took vitex to get pregnant with my third. I also cut out all processed food and ground my own flour. For the first time in my life, I had three months of regular periods, and got pregnant with my third. I stayed on it until 14 weeks when I weaned off.
The only drawside was watching it work. I would get mildly dizzy on it, but not enough to try it.
Recently I tried it again, but couldn’t stick with it. The accompanying mood swings were terrifying. That did NOT happen the first time. However, I didn’t adjust my diet back to the good stuff the second time around. But still, I don’t know what is so different this time around. I think my thyroid may be messed up, and my periods are off kilter again. I would like one more baby, but can’t get pregnant. So I thought I would go back on it. Maybe I will get pregnant and not need thyroid medicine.
Hi All,thanks for a wonderful article,however I have had the depo shot once and will not be taking it again,due to its side effects! How can I use vitex to help regulate my cycle again?
Hi Chloe, So glad you reached out! One thing you can do is sign up for the Flo app – you can start to explore your cycle and symptoms and learn what to do about them on an ongoing basis. If you are healthy other than some cycle disruption, you could try the 4 day detox to help your body reset. You will want to follow that up with blood sugar stabilizing meals and cycle syncing your foods. The app will give you some of this info, and my book WomanCode will give you a lot more. Good luck!
Alisa
Hello, I’ve taken vitex for almost three weeks now. I started a day before my period (which was a part of an annovulatry cycle and as I’m TTC it really upset me) so I started taking vitex and now two weeks after i started my period I’ve had another period. Is this normal?
I have a miscarriage in January and have been trying to get pregnant since. But now ive has another full four days of bleeding. I blame vitex for this and I’m so worried that I will get my period again in the next 10 days.
How do I stop the bleeding and go back to normal? I’m worried I’ve messed with my cycle and have completely lost the chance to get pregnant now
Hi… I am 36 and I have been diagnosed with overian insufficy or pre menopause. My FSH ,LH and estrogen tests are not good. Estrogen level is also very low. I read about Vitex and started a week ago. I just read that this berry support progrestron. Should I continue this or can you recommend me something els plz.
Hi SK, Vitex will not be helpful to you with your hormone profile. You will want to look at many systems in the body to support adequate hormone production: you want to remove stressors on the body from diet and lifestyle, and make sure your digestion is working well; if you are not digesting foods well then you will not be getting the micronutrients you need to be healthy.
Alisa
Hey Alisa,
Just read your article and was wondering if you could help? I’m wanting to fall pregnant soon and have just started taking a prenatal vitamin (vitamin code raw pre-natal). I love that it’s a whole food blend of vitamins and probiotics however I’ve just noticed that it has 4mg Vitex in it.
Do you think this would be safe to have during pregnancy?
Hi Peta,
Generally Vitex is not recommended for pregnant women.
Alisa
Hi Alisa, I have been taking Vitex for a month now. Mainly for my PMS, ovarian cysts, and cramps. Otherwise my period have been pretty much on the clock for 25 years. I would like to get pregnant. How does that work, if I do get pregnant, do I stop taking vitex abruptly? Do I wean off it? Do I avoid taking it during ovulation. Not sure what to do…
Isabella
Hi Isabella, When you are actively trying to conceive you should come off the Vitex. You can just stop taking it!
XO, Christina – FLO Coach
Hello,
I had a myomectomy January of this year, I am considering using vitex to prevent re-growth of the fibroids… any advice on this?
Good article about Vitex.
ButI still have a doubt:
– Which is the right day of the cycle to start taking Vitex? Is it on the first day, after ovulation or it doesn’t matter what day it is?…
I’ve been taking a blended tincture, 250 ml vitex, 150 withania and 100ml St. John’s Wort. This worked like magic for me. My diet was already very clean AIP, but I went from 40-55 day cycles to 27day clockwork cycles. I did experience heavy tender breast after ovulation the first 2 months then I lowered my dose and those symptoms went away. I also noticed a big improvement in my mood. Witch I think is due to the St. John’s wort addition.
Hi there, I have a question.
I went on Vitex in a February and at first my PMS was better, no migraines and minimal symptoms. I still had tender breasts. I did notice I started getting migraines during ovulation which is unusual for me, but the period migraines were gone so I kept with it. I also noticed my anxiety levels really increased before my period. After 4 months of taking it, I had the worst period of my life. Migraines during ovulation and period, horrible mood swings and depressed mood, can’t sleep, etc. I talked to my naturopath and she said it could be the Vitex but she won’t know for sure until we do some tests. Any thoughts?
Hi Nathalie,
I would definitely go off of the Vitex asap, and get in with someone who can make sure that you are taking the right supplements for your situation. Herbs can be powerful and it is always good to have a session or several with someone who can get to know your body and symptoms and help you get on supplements that work for you.
Alisa
Hi there, I have a question.
I went on Vitex in a February and at first my PMS was better, no migraines and minimal symptoms. I still had tender breasts. I did notice I started getting migraines during ovulation which is unusual for me, but the period migraines were gone so I kept with it. I also noticed my anxiety levels really increased before my period during the second month. After 4 months of taking it, I had the worst period of my life. Migraines during ovulation and period, horrible mood swings and depressed mood, can’t sleep, etc. I talked to my doc and she said it could be the Vitex but she won’t know for sure until we do some tests. Any thoughts? I also have a history of anxiety
I’m also taking a b complex, iron and DIM supplements for estrogen issues.
I tried taking this recently and i found myself sad and on the verge of tears. My period after taking it was also much more painful and my whole body felt “off” as well as extremely bloated and sore. This could have been a coincidence but not chancing it again.
Hi Linda,
This supplement is definitely not appropriate for everyone. Bodies are complex, and understanding the root and specifically which herbs and supplements can help can requires a little analyses and research! Let my team know if they can help.
Alisa
I been taking vitex for around 2weeks now, and I am having huge problems with nausea, dizziness, urge to pee and drink a lot on daily basis. My lower back and ovaries are constantly cramping. Did anyone feel like this at the beginning and do you know how long it will last? I read it is possible to have such side effects but it is making me so tired and weak all the time, and i just want it to stop.
Hi Paula,
Please stop taking Vitex right away and see if the symptoms subside.
Alisa
Hi Alisa
I will stop taking them and see. Thank you
Hi ,
I took Vitex last year after a year ttc and within 2 cycles of starting I fell pregnant.
Sadly my son was stillborn.
I started to take the supplement again 2 months after his birth as I wanted my cycle to return to normal, however I have noticed that my last 3 cycles have been 29 days, 26 and now 25. I am ovulating earlier with the earliest being cd14 but luteal phase still only stays at 11 days.
I have stopped taking it for the last week as have taken a period. I hadn’t previously taken a break over the last 3 months and was just taking it right through. Maybe I should reduce the dose to one tablet per day?
I should say I was taking alongside Ubiquinol for better egg quality as well. So don’t know if it was this or Vitex that reduced my cycle to 25 days.
Any advice would be appreciated thank you.
I have been taking Vitex for 6 months and the progesterone levels have increased to bridge the higher estrogen gap. So it works. Wondering, if I take a break now (just past 6 months), would I then reintroduce for another 6 months if I notice symptoms again? What’s the overall protocol for use? When do I stop? I am perimenopausal 🙂
Hi Gina,
Generally, you can take Vitex for 8 months or so and then give it a 3 month break. Glad it is helpful!
Alisa
So 8 months on and 3 months off and start the cycle again? Makes sense to give the production factory a break! Would someone stop entirely when actual menopause begins?
Hi! I just turned 35 and I’ve been TTC for 6 months, my cycles have always been regular (27-29 days) until recently when they became a bit shorter. I chart every month so I know I ovulate around day 14. However, in the past few months I start spotting from day 19 on, all the way to the next period. So I started to take Vitex to support my progesterone. But now I’m freaked out because I’m on day 17 and my temperature has not risen yet, as it usualy does after ovulation. Is it possible for Vitex to delay ovulation? Or can it mess up a regular cycle? I’m taking 20 drops every morning. Also, I feel like crying a little almost everyday since I started taking it. Maybe it’s not the right herb for me? Or the dosage is wrong? Thank you so much for your help!
Vitex can cause depression in some. If you feel it is not working for you, please stop taking it. Are you cycle syncing your diet? Have you looked at the dietary and lifestyle factors that could be suppressing progesterone production? I would start there – you want to shift the hormonal state from within – this will insure that while you are pregnant your progesterone levels won’t decrease again. It is not recommended to take Vitex while you are pregnant.
Alisa
Hello, I started taking vitex to help me ovulate and clearly it worked because I have a very early positive test! My question being, when should I taking or should I not? I had a still birth back in May at 6 months due to a blood clot but I’ve read stopping vitex can lead to miscarriage and I’m reading too many sites that say I should stay on or stay off?
Hi Christine,
It is not recommended to take Vitex while you are pregnant. If you have a hormone imbalance you will want to address that with food and lifestyle changes – this will ensure that the shifts to your health come from deep within. Vitex can be helpful as a supplementary support in your healing process, but you don’t want to rely on it solely.
Alisa
My period ceased, it only flows when induced. My doc prescribed combination 3 pill for me. Should I take the pill in the morning while I take vitex in the evening for quick result?
OR
Should I take the pill completely before taking vitex?
Please help.
Thanks
Hi Vicky,
I feel for you! Please get in touch with one of my team – I really need to know more about your specific situation before I can give you a plan of action! You can reach them at [email protected]
Alisa
Thanks so much
Hello! Thanks for your article! Vitex was a game changer for me. I have had low progesterone for a long time due to the stress of being an entrepreneur and other factors. So I quit caffeine, alcohol, ate healthy and was taking bio-identical progesterone cream…but still had low progesterone. I decided to start taking one tincture of Vitex every morning for 3 months and my PMS symptoms went away, my mood was better (but I have no history of depression) and I ended up getting pregnant at 40 years old! As soon as I got pregnant, I stopped taking it and stayed on my progesterone cream for the rest of the first trimester to make sure my progesterone levels stayed high enough to support the pregnancy. So I am a believer in Vitex along with a healthy diet and lifestyle!
Yay Melissa! So great to read your story. Amazing job! xoxo
Alisa
Hello, I just wondered why it is best to take Vitex in the morning on an empty stomach? What is it about the supplement that makes it more effective taking it this way? Thanks!
Hi LaToya,
Taking it this way may increase the absorption and make it more effective.
Alisa
I’m coming off the pill in 2 weeks, finishing up this last pack. Been on it 3 1/2 years and developed some anxiety recently. I was put on it to stop my bleeding, I was bleeding for about 8 months. I want to try vitex to help balance my hormones also maybe help with the pcos they diagnosed me with prior to the pill. I’m currently exercising 30mins every other day, watching my carb intake, lean meats, hurts and seeds, lots of water etc just overall a healthier lifestyle. My question is, since I’ll be done in 2 weeks, that following week I’ll be getting my “period”, how soon should I start taking vitex after stopping the pill? Also do I take it everyday including on my period or do I stop when I should expect my period, if the 2nd option, when do i continue the vitex again?
Hi there.
If i take Vitex for 6-8 months, then break for 3, then begin the cycle again, would i stop when menopause actually hits? I am taking it to keep things balanced now during perimenopauseand it seems to be working.
thanks
g.
Thanks for the info.
Also advise if this can help a 46 year old lady conceive?
Hi,I started taking vitex about a month and 2weeks now,1200mg. Used it for abnormal breastmilk discharge, I think its working because the discharge has reduced but my period is 3days late and I’m not pregnant because I have taken a test,is it normal for vitex to delay period?I’m 36 and ttc for 4months now
Hi Alisa,
Thank you so much for all your hard work. I am currently reading “In the Flo”, and it is helping me with so much, so thank you!
I have just started taking Vitex, and I have found it to be incredibly strong for me. My doctor told me to take it in the evening after ovulating and until my period starts. I was a little worried about taking vitex because I was on the pill for a long time, and I am so worried about anything shifting the way my hormones in any way, and it seems that some women are very negatively affected by Vitex. But I did start taking it, and I took it four times before my period started. I find that if I take it in the evening, I cannot sleep. Does that happen to a lot of women? So I stopped taking it for two days, and then I decided to give it another go and took half a tablet in the morning. After 2 days, it seemed to really improved my mood and energy levels.
I have heard that you should take a break from Vitex during your period for roughly 5 days. Is this necessary?
Thank you!
Rose
Hi Rose, Yes, give your body a break during your period! I am happy that you are feeling better : )
Alisa
Helo alis
I am 49 years old woman who 2 times had ivf .now i lost my period for 2 years still i want baby can vitex help me?
I am ovulating between 3 to 4 months due to pcod. Now I am thinking to take vitex and maca root powder. So, how much mg of vitex should i try in starting. Is 100 mg is enough to got my periods within months.
Hi Alisa,
I started taking Vitex and experienced really bad mood swing and depression during my period after taking it for a month. I’ve always have mood issue during period so it seems like taking Vitex did worsen it.
I took Vitex because of brown spotting before period and during period, my blood is dark and with lots of big clots. And in your book, you recommended Vitex and Dong quai for that situation. I wonder if there are other supplements or herbs would be good for my situation?
Many thanks!
Gwyneth
Hi Gwyneth, Vitax can worsen moods in some women. Really, the best thing to do is to support yourself through your diet. Supplements cannot always do the work of diet and lifestyle changes. Re-read the section in my WomanCode book about supporting the liver – this will help re-balance estrogen and reduce these symptoms!
Alisa
I’ve been on Vitex going on 2 months now and I LOVE it. Yes I admit it makes me a little bit more anxious & nervous like BUT the good out weigh the bad any day. I usually have cyst, I don’t have a cyst and I ovulated as normal this past month for the first time in forever and didn’t have horrible PMS symptoms.. also cleared up my skin. My question Alisa, what do you do if you accidentally skip a day of taking Vitex? Do you double up the next day or just simply skip that day. I take 2 supplements every evening. Also, has anyone heard of a Vegan diet helping women hormonally? Curious! Thanks
Horrible, Sorry to say and there are not many negative posts about it and if you dig deep enough you will find the bad posts about it. This is a painful tablet meaning it causes severe cramps. i barely even took and wow the cramps were in my stomach itself not in uterus and after taking it the cramps took months to go away even after i stopped the vitex. I do not recommend, oh and did nothing for my fertility but I think made it worse!
I started taking Vitex this month to help with irregular cycles (mine range from about 28-35 days), and because I’ve been TTC for about 9 months with no luck. I have been taking only half the recommended dose from the bottle (400mg) because I thought, “hey, I’ll just take a little and see what happens!”. For background, I have had my hormones tested and everything comes back in “normal range”, including a 7DPO progesterone test. Well, after tracking my LH with OPK strips since July, I had been showing ovulation around day 14-16, and then started BBT tracking last month and the rise was in line with those O days. However, this month, I didn’t detect any LH surge until yesterday (CD20), so I’m thinking I may be ovulating today, which is way late, but I’ll hopefully confirm with BBT in the next couple days. Either my cycle is going longer this time, which kind of tracks with my irregular cycles, or the vitex somehow shortened my luteal phase. Now that I’m freaked out, I’m reading way more on the Vitex (I know I should’ve done better research up front or consulted my OBGYN…), and I’m worried that because my numbers were “normal” before I may have screwed up my hormones by taking the Vitex, in particular a low dose (apparently that’s sometimes more harmful??). I want to throw out the entire bottle but I’ve also now read you can’t stop cold turkey. What are the potential implications for stopping during/post ovulation, before my next period comes?
Bonjour ,
Je prenais une pilule 100%progestative qui avait bcp d’effets secondaires , j’ai du L’arrêter mais ça m’a provoqué une grosse acné .
J’ai pris vitex pendant 8 mois pour soigner mon acne et ça a très bien marché mais quand j’ai arrêté ça a recommencé comme avant . Du coup j’ai repris le vitex mais je me demande comment l‘Arrêter .
Merci d’avance .
So my prolactin level for a non pregnant woman showed a slight increase
of 28.5. No biggie I was told as it may not even be elevated since I tested last, I’m 47 yrs old and premenopause and accept that my fertility is slowly declining. I was told all my other hormones were in check and that elevated prolactin level could be the main cause for no menstrual cycle. So I’ve been doing my research and came across Vitex. Please let me know as to how Vitex can help me with my fertility.
Sincerely
Linda Torrey
I am over 50, have not seen my period over a year. I am still hoping to have children. Other than IVF, please any herbal/ holistic remedy for fertility and natural pregnancy…
Started taking Vitex (for the 3rd time). I only tried one pill and I keep getting a massive headache, about 3 days into taking it.
I have low estrogen, one ovary/fallopian tube (from ovarian torsion/cyst?). Trying to get pregnant, trying to trust that my body and sending my womb love. I’ve been on a meat/fat heavy diet and it has helped to regulate my cycles. Thought this would help with ovulation and fertility. Headaches are too much for me. Read this could be a side effybut haven’t seen anyone comment on headaches.
Hi Ashely,
With low estrogen, Vitex is not the supplement for you. Try an herbal tea like clover and add some flax seed to your daily diet.
Alisa
Hello!
I’ve been diagnosed with HA about a year ago. Before that, two years after I stopped taking the pill which I did for 10 years, starting when I was just 15 years old.
Now, still no period and blood work tells my LH is really really low. The other hormones are just in the low side, but not dramatic.
Would VITEX be a help for me? Or will it maybe cause some imbalance?
Thank you so much.
Hi Constance,
Vitex is not the supplement for this issue. You want to focus on high quality, whole foods, good fats, gut health and exploring adrenal health.
XO, Christina – FLO Coach
I started taking this a month ago. It made my ovulation go from the usual 22 days to 26, which seemed promising. However, my period is now lasting longer than usual. Normally it’s never more than 5 days. This month I’m on day 8 which never happened to me before in my life. It is only light spotting, but still it’s there! I have been taking vitex during my period (I didn’t know it was recommended to stop). Could that be causing the issue?
Hi Katy,
If you feel that Vitex is creating some side effects then we recommend coming off of it. It may not be the supplement for you!
XO, Christina – FLO Coach
I was using Vitex for couple of years with breaks. Then stopped. After that 1 year later was diagnosed with Hyperthyroidism and GRAVES DISEASE. WHEN I WAS ON VITEX I DIDN’T HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS FROM DISEASE. NO SWEATING, HAND TREMOR….. AFTER STOPPING VITEX I STARTED HAVING THIS SYMPTOMS. PLUS
HORMONAL MIGRAINES, PMS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND HIGH HEART RATE. I’M WONDERING IF I SHOULD START VITEX AGAIN TO TREAT HYPERTHYROIDISM? THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
I am 27 and for 5 years now I have had regular 2 week long periods, then 2 weeks off. The first week of bleeding is light bleeding lasting 7 days post ovulation, then becomes heavy in the second week.
I miss the perfect regular 6 day periods every 4 weeks I had before 2016.
Ruled out PCOS, thyroid, prolactin. Biopsy was normal after D and C last month. Tried various diets, keep stress under control and tried BC rings, pills and IUDs a couple years but the bleeding always came back so I quit.
Gyno is frustrated, thinks I probably have low progesterone, but it’s too hard to catch on blood tests since it fluctuates.
Question is, could vitex (or other herbs) help me produce more progesterone so I don’t bleed the whole last half of my cycle? If yes, how much/how often? Thank you
Hi Mari, Vitex may help. You can give it a try and pay close attention to any possible side effect. Stop if you feel it is not working for you. Keep an eye on your iron levels and make sure to supplement if necessary – you are bleeding a lot. Also, make sure Vit D is where it should be.
XO, Christina – FLO Coach
Wow, have never take vitex before but hearing all this make me so eager to take I have high lever of prolactin I hope it really works for me too .how many pill should I take daily? Thanks
I’ve been using Vitex for a couple of years on for 8 months then break for 3 months. I’m in phase 2 of perimenopause.
How long should I use vitex? Until I am fully menopaused?
It has made a huge difference!
Thanks
I’m 42 and noticed 3 years ago changes with my cycle. I was one of those women with a regular 28 day cycle since I began having periods, so it was very concerning for me.
I found out about Vitex early this year and began taking a low dose and not every day. I didn’t see much of a difference until I learned to up the dose and stop taking during my period. Since I made the change with dosage in late May (now September) I have had nearly perfect 24-26 day cycles and the periods are not heavy. I initially had some acne on my face & chest and heavy periods which cleared up by July. No out of the ordinary low moods to report as of yet.
I did have inordinate breast swelling in July which I attributed to using a Trader Joe’s facial moisturizer with a chemical sunscreen. I have discontinued its use and found little to no swelling in August.
I am hopeful that this herb will remain useful to help regulate hormones.
My integrative NP had me start vitex when I had suspected estrogen dominance. It started with breast tenderness and cysts and then turned into extreme breast swelling and intense pain for two weeks during my luteal phase. From there I started having horrible insomnia and my cycles went from 27-28 days to anywhere from 34-30. I took 2 vitex capsules a day for a month and my insomnia improved, my cycle seemed to normalize and my breast pain went down along with taking 800 ius of vitamin e. That said, my depression and anxiety worsened (I don’t take antidepressants) and I had an extreme pelvic pain episode at the start of my cycle which hadn’t happened in almost 2 years. It has always happened the same way, 4 times total but 45 minutes after I start bleeding and taking naproxen, I get incomprehensible pain in my uterus that leads to vomiting, diarrhea and cold sweats. It feels like someone is taking a knife to my uterus and it’s pretty traumatic to experience. No pain medication helps. My doctor told me that I could stop taking vitex if I wanted to since it can impact the lining of the uterus. I wasn’t thrilled with her lack of direction. My pain episode may be unrelated to vitex, but it’s the only thing that has changed for me and I was so hopeful to be past that after 2 years without an episode. Now I’m back to square 1 looking into endometriosis, even though I don’t have other symptoms. Just the 4 pain episodes at the start of my period, spread out between months / years. I’ve been gluten dairy and egg free for 5 years. I will stop vitex and see what happens with everything else. Herbs are powerful and not to messed with unless you’re under the guidance of a medical professional. Just because we have access to them doesn’t mean we should self administer. Our bodies are unique and each one of us will respond differently. I’m curious to hear if anyone else has worsening endo symptoms with vitex. I took it for a very short term but my body is also very sensitive.
Hi there! I’m wondering how much you recommend taking. I ordered the gaia brand and it says to take 2 pills, but that’s 1000mg. I have taken it for a few days, but I it made me so sleepy. What’s a proper dose for this?
Thank you!
What supplements are good for low estrogen? I am on my third bottle of Gaia herbs vitex 1000mg, taking 2 capsules every morning. Switched to natural progesterone for a thick uterine lining. Should you take a break with vitex on period?
Hi Hads,
Vitex is not helpful for low estrogen. In order for the uterine lining to get thicker you need more estrogen, not progesterone. I would consult with an Flo coach in a session or an herbalist if you are looking for more support in this area.
XO, Christina – FLO Coach
Hi. I’ve started taking chasteberry tea a month ago to help with hormonal imbalance and irregular periods during perimenopause. I’ve been drinking this tea first thing every morning daily and even though I’m feeling better overall in many ways my period is delayed. Is this common for this to happen after only taking it for a month?
Hi Christina,
Delayed and irregular periods do become more frequent in perimenopause. Keep an eye on how you are feeling and make changes to your Chasteberry intake if you feel it is effecting your period.
XO, Christina – FLO Coach
Hello there.
Your post is soo helpful. I started Vitex about four weeks ago because of breast tenderness and ovulation pain and my anxiety worsened so bad! Also 3 days after starting Vitex I started to have dull, constant pelvic pain and cramping for the last weeks that I have been taking it. I was wondering if someone experienced similar side effects. I stopped the Vitex last night and feel like the cramping got better. Do you think it’s related?
Hi Amy, Vitex is not meant for all cycle symptoms. If it felt worse being on it then definitely don’t get back on it. I would focus on liver support and reducing inflammation in the body. Evening Primrose oil is great for reducing pain, for example.
XO, Christina – FLO Coach