Everyone loves a quiz so here is a quick one:
Vitex is:
a) Kitchen Blender
b) Organic Shampoo
c) Herb for Female Health
If you picked ‘c’ you get the red star sticker!
What is vitex?
This herb, also known as Chaste Tree Berry
, is one of the best female health herbs available and happens to be a Western herb, native to Greece and Italy. It is known to to regulate the menstrual cycle and reduce premenstrual symptoms, making it a popular choice for many women, but an added benefit is that for those desiring to conceive, it also boosts fertility. It has been proven to help during pregnancy when there is a history of miscarriages, and it can be helpful in stimulating milk production after birth.
How vitex works
This gentle, nourishing and harmonizing herb has a regulating effect on the pituitary gland. It impacts what is known as the “hormonal feedback loop,” or the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, as it helps to bring the system into balance gently. How it works is fascinating: by increasing secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and mildly inhibiting follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), it indirectly boosts the production of progesterone, helping the chances of achieving and maintaining pregnancy. This lengthens the luteal phase is which promotes ovulation to occur. By increasing progesterone, vitex helps to alleviate many common PMS symptoms that arise from low progesterone and promotes fertility by balancing the menstrual cycle allowing for ovulation to occur at its optimal time.
Vitex works best when taken long term and to receive the full benefits it can take up to six months. It’s most effective when healthy habits are already in place. I encourage patients to take vitex after getting off birth control to help normalize the cycle and find your natural rhythm. It’s important not to take vitex while on birth control pills or any other hormones as it can disrupt the cycle further due to its effect on progesterone.
Vitex in pregnancy
Vitex is safe to take through the first trimester of pregnancy and even into the second, however, stopping vitex ‘cold turkey’ when pregnant may cause hormonal changes and is not advised. Often women are encouraged to wean off over time or 1 to 2 weeks. This is particular to each individual and you should always consult your OB or midwife for what is best for you. The general consensus of the literature is that taking vitex in the third trimester is thought to promote lactation too early.
Vitex for fertility
For fertility patients using methods to conceive such as IVF or other technology-assisted reproductive methods, vitex is not for you, as it does impact hormones. But if you are trying to conceive naturally, vitex can help. I believe it is best to have your hormones tested at your doctor’s office to help determine if indeed you are low in progesterone. Additionally, once you are pregnant, taking vitex can help to maintain a healthy pregnancy through the first trimester.
Below I have listed many more benefits that vitex can have on female reproductive health.
- Reduces advancement of mild endometriosis
- May help to prevent miscarriage if due to low progesterone
- Relieves premenstrual tension
- Helps amenorrhea
- Balances hormones to regulate the menstrual cycle
- Helps prevent uterine cysts which are often due to low progesterone or
excess estrogen - Helps to stabilize menses after stopping birth control
- Promotes fertility
- Helps to stimulate milk production when used after birth for 10 days or
greater - Helps clear up skin from hormone related break outs