Will Vitex Restore My Cycle?

by LSAL
(M'lysia)

Hi there,

I was diagnosed with PCOS about 3 years ago. Started pumping extra lbs. Now I have lost nearly 35lbs and looking into fertility.

My main concern is to regulate my period. Through this webpage I have found that vitex is essential for regulating menses.

Please advise on how to take this supplement. Some webpages mentions to wait until the period comes and stop for TTC. Then continue again if TTC is negative. When is also the right time to take this medication? Morning, night? Please help.

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Editor's comments: First of all, congratulations on losing that much weight! Keep exercising so that you can keep that weight off.

Restoration of a normal cycle is complex and involves many factors.

For example, it is very unlikely that you will ovulate if your vitamin D level is too low. So get a vitamin D blood test from your doctor. This is a first step.

Also get your thyroid function checked. Many women with PCOS have thyroid problems. You won't ovulate if your thyroid hormones are not adequate.

The next thing to do to improve chances of ovulation is to improve your diet, such as the diet described in the PCOS diet e-book.

Once you have these issues sorted out, and you're eating a much healthier diet and exercising and continuing to lose weight, you can turn to nutritional supplements.

Vitex is not a medication and does not act like one. Vitex is not a hormone. Since it is not a medication and not a hormone, the effect is usually not immediate. So I don't think it makes much difference when you take it. Other people will have a different opinion. There is a lot of variation among individuals in how long it needs to be taken before an effect is noticed. You might see an effect in a month or two, or it may take some number of months.

According to medical research studies of women with PCOS, there are also other nutrients that may be helpful for normalizing your cycle. Two examples that come to mind are NAC and inositol.