endometriosis and vitex

This is an old post, but someone might stumble upon it as I did and wish that someone would have answered. I have suffered with endometriosis for 20 years. It was ridiculous how bad it was. I was having extremely heavy periods. For the first 3-4 days I would be racked with terrible cramps, that were usually located around one or both ovaries, radiating across my abdomen. It was often so bad that the pain would even extend into my thighs. The next 3 days usually the pain subsided a little, (enough that U wasn't curled in a foetal position)but wouldn't go away until the last day. I would have irregular periods, sometimes skipping them for 3 to 6 months and once even went 9 months without them. But this usually meant when they came back, they would be worse than ever, sometimes lasting 2 or 3 weeks, other times it was the pain and bleeding that increased. I could barely leave the house for the first few days as, even when I could walk through the pain, I bled so heavily that within a half hour to an hour I was flooding. I had to use super tampons and those maternity pads at the same time, but it was terribly expensive, as for the first half I could easily go through 20 odd tampons a day. Sleep was ruined as I would need to wake up to shower 2-4 times a night, but I was weak and exhausted the whole time. Even when (on rare occasions) I ovulated I could tell by the cramping coming back for a few days. I saw many doctors over the years for help, they would take a lot of blood tests and when it came back saying all my levels were normal, they acted as if nothing was wrong. In my late 20's I was told my only option was a hysterectomy, but there was no way I wanted to take that extreme choice.

Then one day I stumbled upon Vitex. All I can say is wow! I couldn't live without it! The short (laymans) version of how Vitex, in low recommended doses, works is by balancing the amount of oestrogen produced, which in endometriosis is often on the high side, and that oestrogen inflames the randomly placed cells that cause the pain. Since taking it, (I use gel capsule form) I haven't had a single period cramp, every period has been regular almost to the day and they have all been exceptionally light. I can't possibly express how much I love this herb. I wish any of my doctors had suggested trying it years ago, it would have saved me so much grief and heartache.

As always, though, my symptoms are not going to be the same as everyone with the condition, and my results might be a little different too. But with so few side effects, (I have had none, which I hear is quite typical, but can range from dry mouth to possible diarrhoea for the first few days starting it) I can't see the harm in trying it. Experimenting with the dosage I have found I can even skip a day or two here and there with the same results. On one occasion I tried without for a month to see if I would still get light periods and the old style came back with a vengeance.

I hope this can help anyone who wonders about this herb and its use with endometriosis.

Thank you for the information!

Hi, I’m 20 years old and was diagnosed with endometriosis a few years ago and prescribed birth control to treat it, but have decided I want to get off of birth control and find a more natural alternative and am considering taking vitex. I’ve read different recommended dosages and am wondering what dosage you take?