If you are pregnant, you are likely worried about the foods, drinks, supplements and medications you take. Certain substances and foods can have a negative impact on your pregnancy, and some of these can even contribute to an elevated risk of miscarriage. Vitex, more commonly known as chasteberry, is one substance you should learn more about, because it may pose a danger to your pregnancy.
Uses
Vitex is an herbal substance and works by regulating hormone production from the pituitary gland, which is located in your brain. The most common uses of vitex are to aid women having menstrual cycle irregularities, premenstrual syndrome and breast pain. The New York University Langone Medical Center notes that vitex is sometimes used to help treat infertility by altering hormone production, but this has not been proven effective through clinical research.
Miscarriage
Miscarriage is a common pregnancy worry and is defined as the spontaneous loss of a baby before 20 weeks gestation. Approximately 15 percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports. The most common cause of miscarriage is abnormal fetal development, but using certain substances may increase your risk of pregnancy loss as well. Bleeding, passage of tissue, abdominal pain, cramping and dizziness are symptoms of miscarriage. If you experience these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.
Pregnancy
Because vitex alters hormone production and release, you should not take it while pregnant. Vitex works by suppressing the production of a specific hormone, called prolactin. Your prolactin levels rise when you are pregnant to help stimulate breast milk production. By suppressing prolatin, you may inhibit your body's ability to produce sufficient amounts of milk to nurture your baby after birth. Speak with a doctor before using vitex as an infertility treatment because you may become pregnant before you realize it. Seek alternate infertility treatments that do not pose a potential danger to an unborn baby.
Cautions
While there is little evidence to suggest a link between vitex and miscarriage, the safety of this herbal product is largely unknown when used during pregnancy. There are no studies that prove the safety of vitex in general, so it is recommended that pregnant and nursing women avoid use altogether to avoid potentially harmful side effects, including miscarriage. Vitex may also interfere with the function of other medications and supplements you take, which can also pose a danger to your pregnancy.
References
- Drugs.com: Vitex Extract
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Miscarriage; June 2010
- "Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology"; Safety and Efficacy of Chastetree (Vitex Agnus-Castus) During Pregnancy and Lactation; J.J. Dugoua, et al.; January 2008
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Chasteberry; July 2010
- New York University Langone Medical Center: Chasteberry
