Need some advice

[SavvyMama]

Well, I'm new here, I have been using vitex for almost a month now, noticed it helped my cycle to where it brought it to a 28 day cycle. I decided to start Dong Quai, and as soon as I started it, not realizing not to take it during a period, my period was only a 2 day cycle, has anyone else had this kind of problem? Even though many think it wasn't a short cycle, that it was implantation bleeding.

[Jaimee]

Hi SavvyMama, welcome to MDC!! 

Do you chart your basal body temperature and cervical fluid?  If not, it's hard to say what exactly is happening with your cycle.  The vitex may have moved your average ovulation day or it may have elongated your luteal phase, or both.  Charting would take the mystery out of this as well as clue you in to when you are fertile, when you ovulate each cycle, how long your luteal phase is on average, when to test, when to expect your period, if you're pregnant, and if there is anything of concern going on with your cycle.

Period heaviness and duration can absolutely vary cycle to cycle, especially if you're dealing with hormonal imbalance.  You may have even experienced an annovulatory cycle and the bleeding was breakthrough bleeding instead of a true period.  Implantation bleeding is really not common and would likely be just a bit of spotting somewhere between 6 and 12 days after you ovulate, though most likely between 8 and 10 days after you ovulate.  Bleeding around the time of expected AF when pregnant is not uncommon, but this is not implantation bleeding, but most likely caused by hormonal fluctuations.  If you suspect that you might be pregnant a home pregnancy test should be accurate at this point.  Get one that only requires an hCG level of 25, has pink dye, and is not the +/- kind.  First Response Early Response is generally a safe choice.

If it's negative then it is very unlikely that you are pregnant and you could start charting this next cycle to see what is happening with your cycles.  I personally would not take several different herbs when I wasn't sure what was going on with my cycles exactly.  You might have issues with ovulating and not your luteal phase or vice versa and some herbs/supplements are better for these things than others.  If you're interested in learning more about charting, pick up a copy of Taking Charge of Your Fertility and post for tips and suggestions about getting started.  Good luck!