Natural Remedies

Amerbutt81 · December 2013

Ok.. don't scoff at me if this is a silly question-- I'm a newb at all this, remember.

So a friend of mine with PCOS used Inositol pills and progesterone cream before she did Clomid and she says it worked. What's the over/under on this method?

pettycrocker · December 2013

Well progesterone is only necessary if you have a luteal phase issue, otherwise your body makes enough of it, just fine.

I tried the Inositol for several months, and macca root, and a bunch of other herbal "natural" supplements.. None of them worked for me, so I say, beans.

Here's the thing.. I don't think I'd say "go for it" in your case, because you're not getting a cycle on your own right now, that means there is something going on, you know? You don't want to just go taking a bunch of supplements when something is already kind of off, because who knows if it'd just make the issue worse. I've heard of people going on hormonal B/C for a couple cycles to "reset" things, would you consider this (or something similar) option?

I mean obviously you're going to do what you feel is best, so I would just say do a lot of research, and try to find a path you feel comfortable with.

Amerbutt81 · December 2013

Mrs Castillo said:

I've heard of people going on hormonal B/C for a couple cycles to "reset" things, would you consider this (or something similar) option?

I mean obviously you're going to do what you feel is best, so I would just say do a lot of research, and try to find a path you feel comfortable with.

I've never been on birth control, so I really don't know anything about it, or how I would be on it. I guess something that could be order via Amazon just seemed 'safer' to me.

I am googling all these options, but for me, a big part of research is asking people. I like to have a first-hand account

CheesyPeas · December 2013

I'm inclined to agree with @MrsCastillo. I personally have tried herbal remedies for my short LP (nothing has worked yet) but I'm ovulating regularly right around CD 14-16, so I feel like I have a more narrow issue I'm attempting fix on my own. With not having a cycle, I don't think I would mess around with herbal stuff if were in your shoes. I would go the western medicine route. If you have an acupunturist and herbalist in your area that specializes or works heavily with fertility issues, you could give that a try for a few months too. I just don't think I would self-medicate myself with natural remedies.

pettycrocker · December 2013

What about acupuncture? Would you consider trying that? It can fix all types of shit, I bet it could make you ovulate.

I did 4 sessions when I went through my IVF cycle. So I did not get pregnant, BUT it helped me relax a whole lot, and I felt like it had a lasting relaxing affect. A lot of ladies on the board rave about acupuncture for IF- @KC1212 got a BFP not to long ago with acupuncture and herbs, so she can give you some info on this if you're interested.

KC1212 · December 2013

Op and @mrscastillo yes!

Let me give credit to @mjc1116 (a grad of this board) for turning me on to acupuncture - she credits it to eventually (with time) giving her text book 28 day cycles with O on day 14.

Notice my siggy - it took FOUR YEARS to conceive my son and this time around we got pregnant after 5 months. Hubby and I are both on herbs and I do weekly acupuncture. It is the only thing I did different this time around (sadly it was a CP)

Don't get me wrong I will combine with western medicine if need be but for now this is what we're doing.

My acupuncturist will just treat with herbs if you wanna skip the needles. But I think if you're going to go natural it's the way to go. For instance - she said someone might take saint johns wart for depression but really herbs are like a group of friends that work better together...anyway I've noticed small gradual changes.

I chart, take herbs, a prenatal, and we use pre-seed

but so far that's it.

GraceyandTroy · December 2013

I ovulated for the first time w/o meds in a year only two weeks after starting acupuncture! I had been dx w/ PCOS and tried clomid which made my lining too thin, then the Dr's wanted to to skip IUI for fear of over responding, so they wanted to talk about IVF.

I wasn't ready for that (financially or emotionally), so I met with another RE who actually encouraged me to peruse a holistic route. He said with PCOS, my hormones are all off. I can override my cycle and force myself to become pregnant, but the issues would still be there and would increase potential for mc or other complications. He said treat the root cause and let my body get pg when it's ready.

That was really hard to hear because I'd already been trying for almost two years at that point. But, it did make sense and DH and I decided to go holistic for a while while we saved up. I started with acupuncture and started ovulating right away, even though it was late in my cycle. Then, after a couple months, I started drinking Red Clover and Nettles infusions as well as taking a Vitex supplement and saw a another change right away. I started o'ing earlier and earlier, and eventually conceived my son in a cycle where I o'ed on cd25.

I was also taking metformin and was eating a more PCOS friendly diet. After all my experience and research, I believe that natural remedies were the best option for me and I encourage other women with similar circumstances to pursue the same. At least explore that option as it's going to be less invasive and less expensive. But, it will more than likely take longer to get your body cycling on it's own and some women don't want to wait (for a multitude of reasons!). I also encourage you to work with a pro, whether it be an acupuncturist or a midwife. They have such a broad knowledge base that they will be able to see and address things that you may not be noticing.

You can see my current regiment in my siggy. I am a huge proponent of using natural remedies, even if it is in congruence with western medicine. Acupuncture was wonderful and I look forward to start going back (we're waiting till after the holidays since $ is tight right now). That's one thing that even WEstern dr.'s will often encourage!

GL!

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