Can Vitex make you O very early or is my CBEFM wrong?

[TTCmama]

Hi ladies,

I normally O between days 18 - 23 in my cycle (and have a short LP, usually 9 or 10 days).  This cycle I took Vitex (hoping to lengthen LP) and my CBEFM has given me an O fertility sign yesterday and today (CD 10 and 11).  CD 9 was low fertility so it just popped out of nowhere.

This is only my second time with Vitex - I took it in the Fall and didn't have a CBEFM then.  I never had EWCM so I never started testing with OPKs.  So I am clueless if I O'd early or not.  I had creamy CM throughout that cycle (I always have EWCM during O, so this was not normal for me and I assumed it was the Vitex).  I decided to try Vitex again this cycle and have yet to have EWCM but apparently have O'd (creamy CM these past few days).

Anyway, this is only my second month with the CBEFM so I am wondering if this could possibly be a poor reading (two days in a row)?  Or if the Vitex could really make me O more than a week early and so soon after starting it.

Any thoughts appreciated.  I realize this just may be a wait and see kind of thing but maybe someone has BTDT.

TIA!

[TTCmama]

Just bumping, hoping for a reply.

This morning I had a high fertility reading which is expected after 2 O readings. 

[Jaimee]

I didn't answer earlier b/c I don't have any direct experience, but I can say from hanging around these boards a lot I've seen varying results with vitex.  I would say most women I've read about take months- usually 6- to see results, but I've also seen a few women post about getting nearly immediate results- like the next cycle.  So you could be one of those!  My understanding of vitex is that it balances your hormones- increasing what needs increasing and decreasing what needs decreasing.  So yes it can absolutely make you O sooner.  And from my limited reading about the CBEFM I haven't seen anyone say they thought the monitor didn't work for them or was unreliable.  So based on what you're saying it sounds like you're at least gearing up to O early, but whether you do or not remains to be seen.  Are you temping as well?  OPK's and the fertility monitor can't confirm ovulation- just that your body is trying to O.  Temping will confirm ovulation for you, which could be really helpful to see how it lines up with the monitor. Just a thought. 

[ice88]

i have not taken vitex yet... but i will take it after my AF finish .. now i'am on CD3

i have long follicular phase.. last cycle i O'd on CD58..!! i hope i can get normal cycle / O earlier next month...

[TTCmama]

Originally Posted by Jaimee 

 Are you temping as well?  OPK's and the fertility monitor can't confirm ovulation- just that your body is trying to O.  Temping will confirm ovulation for you, which could be really helpful to see how it lines up with the monitor. Just a thought. 

Unfortunately, no.  My sleep just isn't regular enough plus I wake up at different times depending on the day.  I've tried a few times but just cannot be consistent (I temped when TTC DD).

Well, my CBEFM is still having me test and all days have been low.  So it looks like I O'd early (well, at least had a surge).  It will be interesting if my LP lengthens because of it (I hope!).

[Jaimee]

It's true, some women are definitely sensitive to different wake times and irregular sleep, but many are not too sensitive to get a biphasic pattern.  If it were me, I would go ahead and try temping again and just see what you get.  You could try temping vaginally and see if the temps are more consistent. 

[TTCmama]

Really?  I thought you had to have at least 3 straight hours in a row of sleep, etc...  If not, then I will go ahead and temp for my next cycle if I don't get a BFP for this one.

[Jaimee]

Well, 3 hours in a row prior to taking your temp is the recommended amount, but I temped for over a year after I got my period back postpartum and rarely got more than 2 hours in a row all through the night (dd was a frequent night waker/nurser).  I still got biphasic patterns.  It didn't work well for CTA b/c my CF was a bit wonky and O was hard to predict, but for TTC it would have worked just fine- allowing me to see when O occurred and tracking my LP.  Of course not every woman is the same, but I definitely think it's worth trying... if you don't get a BFP this cycle!