If you are talking about birth control, we do not recommend taking any products that may affect hormones with any medications for fertility.

Dalene

You plan looks good, including the dosages. Be sure you are only taking EPO prior to ovulation. 1000-2000mg is the general suggested dosage for royal jelly. Follow the suggested guideline for dosage on your spirulina product.

The best ways to get protein when you are a vegetarian could be raw organic dairy, nuts, hemp, quinoa for example. Flax seeds do not contain the same amounts of phytoestrogens that soy does. Because of the way soy products are produced, marketed and sold, we feel that soy products in the diet contain concentrated forms of phytoestrogens, which may lead to estrogen dominance. Flax is not produced in the same way as soy foods are. If you feel confused about estrogens, including phytoestrogens, you may enjoy reading our Estrogen Fertility Guide. Phytoestrogens bind weakly to estrogen receptor sites. You can learn more about soy products here: http://natural-fertility-info.com/video-soy-and-fertility.html

To learn the best ways to increase progesterone, and sustain healthy pregnancy with progesterone supplementation, please read our Progesterone Fertility Guide.

Best Wishes,

Dalene

Thanks!

Jenny

Also, how many mg of Royal Jelly should I take? How much Spirulina? Do my dosages look ok? Is there anything that should be taken on an empty stomach? I am a vegetarian, I read that I should stay away from soys like soy milk, tofu, soy burger products? If so what is the best way to get my protein?

I have another question! In the above post it was said, “Foods like processed soy have shown to have adverse effects on the developing fetus as well as the mothers hormonal balance due to phyto-estrogens.” My question is this, flax seed contains these phytoestrogens because of the lignans. Is it not safe to take when pregnant? I have hormonal imbalances and low progesterone (miscarried 2 x), I just started taking ground flax seed (2 tbs a day), flax seed helps with this. I have also read, “The flax seed estrogen binds to the estrogen receptor, but does not stimulate it. The flax seed phytoestrogen competes with other estrogens that would otherwise stimulate the estrogen receptor.” I have read so many benefits regarding flax seed. I am TTC and need the higher progesterone. I am also taking maca and many other things I mentioned in my above posts. Should I just be eating the flax seed only until Cd1-14, and stop after ovulation in case I get pregnant? Or can I still take it so that it helps my progesterone? I am also a vegetarian and eat soy, maybe I should stop eating soy? Is it safe to eat Cd1-14 and stop after ovulation or will it all still be in my system? Same with flax seed? I am just really confused because I have read about all the great benefits of flax seed for pregnancy but then I hear about the phytoestrogen in them which I hear is not good.

Thank you so much for all your help!!!

Jenny

It sounds like you are on the right path! I must say though, that 20 years of consistent use of Depo Provera is a long time and it may take a long time for your body to function on its own again. You can learn other ways to balance hormones after birth control by reading our article at this link: http://natural-fertility-info.com/birth-control-fertility.html

Best Wishes,

Dalene

Fertility super foods like maca and royal jelly are fine to continue during your period. Vitex is best stopped during menstruation. Maca and Royal jelly are the exception because they are first and foremost super foods.

Best Wishes,

Dalene

Is it best to stop all supplements during your period? Like vitex, maca and royal jelly? But keep taking the vitamins? ALthough I just read that you can keep taking maca throughout… now I’m a little confused.

Thanks
Kadie

Maca may aid PCOS is nourishing the endocrine system, which is responsible for hormonal control. Vitex and maca have been shown safe for combination. They work differently in the body. Maca supports healthy stress response and supports hormonal balance by nourishing the entire endocrine system. Vitex is more specific for regulating the menstrual cycle, balancing hormones, and improving timing of ovulation. With PCOS diet and exercise are key factors. Have you read our PCOS page? If not I highly recommend it. This page is full of information on the best natural remedies for reducing the effects of PCOS, you can read it here: http://natural-fertility-info.com/pcos-fertility-diet

Vitex is best taken all month long, except during the female bleeding time. If you find out you are pregnant and you are using Vitex, you would want to wean off of it over a 2 week period, using a lower and lower dosage each day, until you stop taking it. Be sure to see your doctor right away if you become pregnant and have your progesterone levels tested. If you find you have low progesterone, you would want to talk to your doctor about natural progesterone supplementation.

We also have great information on blocked fallopian tubes and natural remedies for that condition at this link: http://natural-fertility-info.com/blocked-fallopian-tubes

Best Wishes,

Dalene

I have never heard of maca affecting pregnancy test outcome. Pregnancy tests detect human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), if you are pregnant these would be present and should show up on the pregnancy tests. You did not mention if your cycles are usually irregular. If they are it could be that you are still experiencing this. Because I don’t know what brand of maca you are taking, it is hard to know if you are exceeding dosage.

Here is a piece I did on maca in the past that may help you to determine if continuing maca into pregnancy is right for you………

Q: Is Maca safe to take during pregnancy? Does it have toxic effects on my baby?

A: Most nutritional supplements as well as herbal supplements are not suggested for use during pregnancy. Many herbs and supplements should not be used in pregnancy, but this is not true for all of them. This caution statement protects manufacturers from liability in case something adverse happens to the mother or baby during pregnancy while using the product. This caution also alerts the user to the potential for adverse effects. In some cases this caution is a generalization and the risk is relatively low. Manufacturers can not know the potential risks for each individual consumer, so putting a caution on the product makes it safer for consumers in general, minimizing risk to the mother and baby by having them not use the product at all.

Maca has been used for thousands of years by the peoples of Peru, and they eat it daily; even during pregnancy. Acute toxicity and cytotoxicity studies have shown no potential toxicity for Maca. Hundreds of thousands of people have used maca with no reported side effects. Foods like processed soy have shown to have adverse effects on the developing fetus as well as the mothers hormonal balance due to phyto-estrogens. Maca does not contain hormone like substances like soy or other plants containing phyto-estrogens.

We really have to think about other foods we consume daily like soda with aspartame, preservatives or food dye, all of these effect our bodies adversely, but they are deemed “safe” for regular use. Maca is a superior food as far as nutritional value goes, so why would this plant be a poor choice for pregnancy? Most maca is also organic. Because it is considered a nutritional supplement and herbal supplement it is still advised that you get permission or talk to your health care provider about using Maca into pregnancy. It is always best to be on the safe side and let your healthcare provider know all herbs and supplements you are taking, especially if you are pregnant.

If you are not wanting to continue on with it, you could wean off of it by taking a lower and lower dosage over 2 weeks time.

May you be at peace whatever the outcome!

Blessings,

Dalene

I am sorry to hear you are so stressed out. Honestly if a product is stressing you out, it may be best to stop taking it, as the stress is counteracting the benefits of healing. Maca is first and foremost a food. Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a root-like vegetable shaped like a turnip. It grows at 12,000 feet above sea level and is only found in the high Andes of Peru and Ecuador. For more than two millennia, native Peruvians have used maca root as food and medicine to promote fertility, endurance, energy, vitality, and sexual virility. I think the safety of using it really depends on where you are purchasing it from and what type of Maca you are consuming. The golden variety is what you are looking for. There are other varieties of maca that have a variety of other colors; red, purple and black. The darker varieties red, purple and black do contain higher amounts of iodine, which may not be good for some thyroid problems; this has not been linked to the golden variety that we use in our Fertilica Maca.

Maca aids the body in healthy stress response, which may be helpful for people who experience high stress lives, anxiety, depression, and fatigue.

A while back I did a question and answer article on common questions we get about the safety of Maca. It may answer many of your questions regarding maca, you can read it here: http://natural-fertility-info.com/maca-fertility-qa.html

I did the Maca Q&A because I wanted to know the truth about Maca as well. In all the research I have done on this plant, honestly I cannot find evidence of it having any negative long-term health impact. We suggest it only be used for 3-6 months as needed. Maca has been used for thousands of years by the peoples of Peru, and they eat it daily; even during pregnancy. Acute toxicity and cytotoxicity studies have shown no potential toxicity for Maca. Hundreds of thousands of people have used maca with no reported side effects.

I am not sure this will help you as the internet searches can be mind boggling and confusing.

Best wishes,

Dalene

I assume by tussin you mean Robitussin? Some women do take this to increase cervical mucous. We feel that using natural remedies and not medications is best for the body. If you think you may not be ovulating, or having disordered ovulation there are two herbs you may want to learn more about: Vitex and Tribulus.

Vitex may help to improve timing of ovulation and the entire menstrual cycle. Tribulus may actually stimulate ovulation.

You can join our 10 Day Fertility Smoothie Challenge to receive a new Fertility Smoothie recipe each day, or you can purchase the Fertility Smoothies eBook for a variety of smoothie recipes. Fertility Smoothies are find to drink daily!

Best Wishes,

Dalene