posted 04-04-2003 05:30 PM            

Where did you get the Vitex and/or where did you get the information about it? I am on Clomid right now and I am not sure if it is okay to mix herbs and traditional meds together. But vitex sounds interesting

Jody

posted 04-09-2003 12:44 AM            

I have to agree with you. I am very skeptical about treatments that have not been tested. I was all ready to try an herbalist and talked to my doc about it and she said that there are numerous proven birth defects that have shown up by taking herbal meds during pregnancy and while trying to conceive. I am sure she is a little biased for the more traditional meds but still it makes ya wonder.

The traditional meds haven't worked for me either so who knows whats right and what is wrong. Best of luck to all of you though no matter what form of fertility treatments you chose and undergo.

posted 06-18-2003 03:58 PM            

0603David - have you considered taking Royal Jelly as well? It's not an herb, it's a whole food, but it is sold at GNC as well. It helps to improve egg quality.

LOTS of luck to you!

posted 06-20-2003 06:20 AM            

As for the baby aspirin, I've been told that it helps reduce blood clots, which could lead to a m/c. My doctor right now has told me that it does more, but it's a long story. So I just take it. She's a high risk OB, so I trust her.

Good Luck! Hang in there, we ttc for 12 years and it finally happened. All of the RE's told me that there was nothing wrong. It just wasn't happening

posted 06-20-2003 09:20 AM            

The Vitex and Clomid mixed together could be dangerous together.

posted 06-20-2003 10:07 AM            

As for L-Arginine for your husband, that is good for increasing sperm count, and overall virility. Does dh have a low count or low motility?

posted 06-20-2003 10:58 AM            

I did get the Vitex from GNC...its a black or dark gray lable I think...say Vitex in big letters and there could be a leaf or two on it as well...I can't remember!!! LOL

I take EVERYTHING (two calcium + D tablets, one multi-vitamin (w/folic acid + iron), one folic acid tablet, one acidophilus tablet, and one Vitex, and two teaspoons of the Royal Jelly (I get it in the honey form) in the a.m. Plus I down it with a glass of iced green tea.

I'm on CD 18, ovulated on CD 15 I believe, but bd'd only on CD 14 (just couldn't get DH up in the a.m. on CD 15, though not for lack of trying...in fact I was so sore from trying in the a.m. that there was no way in the evening! AF should be 7 to 10 days away and so far, no spotting! Which means maybe the Vitex is kicking in? Boobs have been killing me for TWO WEEKS though...must be the caffeine in the green tea.

posted 06-20-2003 11:22 AM            

Do you like the green tea? I tried that for a while (without sugar or any other sweetener) and could stomach maybe one glass a day. I tossed that stuff to the side. It's VERY GOOD for you and for cm, but Ughh, I couldn't stomach it! LOL

Yep, been in for several ultrasounds. The doctor is very good and has told me that if I get nervous or scared to just give her a call and she'll fit me in. I've only done that once though. Each ultrasound has turned out fine. In fact, we went just yesterday too. I'm now 10 weeks. SO.....I've never made it this far and am feeling pretty good but still kind of nervous.

Here's to sending you TONS of baby dust! Let's hope that this kicks in and you'll be in the same place VERY SOON!

posted 06-20-2003 11:37 AM            

Haven't noticed any changes, really, yet, other than possibly I am usually spotting by now and am not yet this month. I'll have to go back and look at my charts and see when I started spotting before. I quit charting because I pretty much know when I ovulate and the charts really didn't tell me much more than that and then only in hindsight.

posted 06-20-2003 10:10 PM            

In the "don't" section, it says "Females should avoid any herbs or herbal remedies. They're the equivalent of untested, unregulated medicines."

In the section on urology, it says "You could help improve semen by taking antioxidants and nutritional supplements containing amino acids."

posted 06-21-2003 08:58 AM            

Snoozin, I'm not sure that you could take the Royal Jelly with Clomid. I know that Royal Jelly is a "whole food" even though it's in a gel capsule. I'd check with your doctor first.

That's interesting Mindoo. I do have to say that when I first started taking herbs that I was skeptical, but at that time, after ttc for 11 years, I figured what could it hurt? There were many times that I would read that such and such would help others and not really do the research and ended up taking things that actually didn't help the cycle at all.

posted 06-21-2003 11:16 AM            

However, my doctor says infertitliy is 50% luck. If luck is that big of a factor, it makes me think that there is a lot science doesn't know about the condition. My sister conceived after 6 months in a row with clomid (which after than amount of time is supposed to act like bcp) and estorgen. My RE just told me that he has studied estorgen most of his career, and there is no proof that it helps. Several women on this board have conceived with the help of herbs, but there is no proof those help either.

In many ways we (the people on this board) have similar problems, but each of us is slightly different too. Mabye herbs helps a subset of us - those people with a certain specific set of problems. It would be interesting to find out the similarites of the people a particular herb helped. Maybe the herbs are helpful for that subset. I don't know the answers.

Late this summer, my dh is going to have surgery (not fertiltiy related). We will have to abstain for 2-3 weeks, and then we are going to take a 3-4 month break to let him fully recover. I think I'm going to try some herbs after we are allowed to bd again. After the break is over, and if I'm stil not PG -- then we will try IVF. Probably at beginning of next year. I hope I can prove the AIA wrong, and the herbs help!

posted 06-21-2003 12:48 PM            

Here's to LOTS OF LUCK for everyone going through infertility, the treatments, herbs, and the like!

If you find out more, I'd love to hear it!