I have been doing some research on Soy lately as I have been contemplating trying it to see if I see any changes.
Up until now I have avoided soy as I had heard it may impact fertility, but interestingly I'm now finding a lot of conflicting reports and some that say that soy is actually HELPING women fall pregnant.
I found this interesting article (reprinted from TwoWeekWait) which had this to say about Soy Isoflavones.
"TTC Trend Watch ~ Oh Joy! Another Soy BFP!
If you've been surfing TTC boards online recently, you've probably run across several posts from women proclaiming the mighty power of "Soy Isoflavones." If not, you are probably thinking "Soy Isowhat?" Yes, my TTC friends, the underpriviledged step sister to the infamous Clomid pill has made her big stage debut... and she's garnering some impressive reviews. But before you stop reading the rest of this article and burn rubber to the nearest vitamin store, let me encourage you to research it for yourself before trying any new supplement regimen. (And as always, you should consult your doctor trying anything new.) But I digress...
"Soy Isoflavones" is a natural plant derived phytoestrogen (phyto means plant), which is an anti-estrogen, just like Clomid. Both are known as SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators). It works by fooling your brain into thinking its estrogen levels are low. This causes your body to reslease more FSH & LH which helps stimulate follicle production (same as Clomid). You take Soy Isoflavones, like Clomid, on CD 1-5 or 2-6, or 3-7 or 5-9. It is not thought to cause infertility if it is only taken for 5 days a month. There is not much published information available on it regarding TTC, because it is "natural", not patented by the pharmaceutical companies, and not FDA approved. Most doctors will also not recommend it for this reason.
Recently, many women on FertilityFriend.com have been taking 150-160mg a day for 5 days at the beginning of the menstrual cycle (on days previously mentioned). Side effects reported are similar to Clomid. These vary from increased number of headaches to hot flashes. It has been suggested that taking the dosage before bedtime lessens the side effects.
I was doing some research on FertilityFriend.com to uncover just how many girls have recently conceived while on Soy Isoflavones and what days they took the supplement. I found a girl who took it on CD 1-5, 200mg Soy Isoflavones, and she got a strong BFP at 15dpo that cycle. Her chart can be viewed here. Her HCG levels at 15dpo were 443 and at 18dpo HCG 1,347. Impressive. I found a survey on FF that was interesting as well:
What was interesting is that 75% of the women who tried Soy Isoflavones got a BFP in their FIRST cycle trying. I checked the survey more recently and the number has jumped to 77% since I took the screenshot.
While Soy Isoflavones can help bring on an earlier or stronger Ovulation for these women, I must note that in some women it did not help at all. Just like Clomid doesn't always work for everyone. Right now there are a lot more women trying Soy Isoflavones so I will continue to monitor their progress and report back any news I find.
written by Elle (Founder of TwoWeekWAIT.com)"
Interesting huh! I might try it next cycle to see what happens!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Soy Isoflavones - The Natural Clomid?
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65 comments:
Are you having ovulation issues as well as a short luteal phase? Clomid (and soy) are used to stimulate ovulation, I wouldn't have thought they would have an effect on the luteal phase? That's a really interesting article, it will be interesting to see how these women taking it go in the future.
I thought it was interesting too! As for me, I do ovulate but ov late, and re-reading Infertility Cure again it is possible that the reason for my short luteal phase is that I don't have enough of BOTH hormones (not enough estrogen to produce enough progesterone to sustain luteal phase).
Not really sure, but I guess it can't hurt to give it a try one month to see what happens.
I did my research on this product when I was trying to conceive. After TTC for awhile, I got pregnant on my first cycle using soy isoflavones. I got pregnant again with my second child on the first month I used the soy isoflavones. Both my kids were full-term, healthy babies, and I didn't have any side effects. My cycles returned to normal after having baby #2. I will use it again when we are ready for baby #3! It's less than $6.00 at Walmart, all-natural... I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.
Thank you so much for compiling this information. I have recently been seeing posts about "soy iso" and in looking it up I stumbled onto your blog. I've been ttc for 13 months now with no success. This definitely is something I will look into.
I also tried soy after ttc for 18mths, i'm 40 years old, i took 200mg of soy on days 3-7 and got pregnant first month trying it.My baby is now 8 weeks old.
I took soy isolflavones and the first month trying i got a bfp! Unfortunately it ended in a miscarriage. So I am trying again.
I used it. I took it from day 5-day 10. On day 5, I took one pill. I upped it one pill every day until I reached day 10. I got pregnant the first month.
I am the person who posted above. I forgot to mention I am 41 years old. It worked great for me!
I took soy isoflavens this past month (december) and BAM pregnant! SHould be interesting to see how many are in there?!??!?!
Hi im a Mum 40 wanting to conceive have lost two in lst two years at 9 weeks pregnant. Looks like the majority of you agree this works. I have accidentally fallen pregnant with clomid fast but its expensive here in nz .Love to hear anyones thoughts. Pamela
I took soy iso's on days 3-8 this cycle. Yesterday was day 14 of my cycle and I started bleeding. I went to the docs who said it could be implantation bleeding as it was light. Overnight however it's got really heavy, just like a period, anyone got any advice/experience with this.
Don't know whether to count it as a period and start the soy iso's again tomorrow or what!? Please help!!
Thanks
Kat
I used clomid before and was looking for something else natural n cheaper. Im so impressed with the results most have had.Im excited to try the soy iso n hope it works. Good Luck to all!
How does one determine which five days to take the soy isoflavones? For example, who should take it on days 1-5 and who should take it on days 3-8, etc?
After two infertile years, I used soy isoflavones and conceived the first month. It does work! Sadly, I lost Angel Noel on New Year's Day 2011 at 11 weeks. I am trying it again this month. Prayers for a healthy baby appreciated.
to anonymous dated march 25th at 4am
okay so ive tons of reserach and it is best to only take 180-200 milgrams for only 5 days the best results have come from days
1-5, 3-7, 5-10
it is best to take the soy isos later in the night because u can get headaches, I did so itook them right at bed time with a few crackers and lots of h2o thru out the whole day when u drink lots if water u will notice more cervical mucus therefore ur more fertile. i hope this helps but please post if you have more questions
Hi Mina, I am Anonymous at 4am. I just found this study on Clomid Days 1-5, says it is superior to days 5-9 and at 100 mg dose (equivalent to 200 mg soy isoflavones).
http://www.fertilityties.com/post/show/a-study-done-for-clomid-cd1-5
After TTC for three months, my cycle started on the 24th and I have been taking 220 mg. soy at night, CD 1-5. I am getting headaches during the day.
xoDana
Headaches stopped after two days. Had regular period for CD1-CD3 and then spotting CD4 and today (CD5). CM was dry and sticky yesterday and clear and wet today. Unusual for me so soon after my period.
HI Dana, so using soy isos hopefully worked for both us!!!! Keep me posted as I will keep you posted as well so if you period was on the 24 th then hopefully u ovul around april 4-6 I ovul early on day 12 my first try this time I ovul day 14 but I used the clearblue easy opk the one for 30 days it totally works I think ;0)
The headaches are common so take them b4 bed with lots of water
im gonna take a pg test april 8th pray its positive :0)))) ill let u know
Best wishes to u guys !!!!! ~mina xoxo
Hi I'm new to this site and I am 21 yrs old me and my boyfriend have been trying 2 concieve since our miscarriage last june. The rest of the year we have been trying 2 concieve but no luck and for the past 2days I've been doing research on soy iso and think I'm gonna give it a try but I need a little advice my period is very irregular and there is no telling when I'm ovulating so how do I take it and oh on top of that my cm is very thick at all times sum plz help.
Iv been thinking about these for a wile now but never been brave enough to take them. But after 15 cycles, two MC and 4 chemicals, i thinks it's time to give them a bash, I have everything crossed xxxx
I have a question. I just started using Soy Power vitamin with ingridient:sem glycine 25mg, radix paeoniae alba extractum 100mg, ganoderma 50mg, soy isoflavones 25mg and it is to be taken 1 capsule twice per day. Will it help me ovulate? Is this vitamin different from the one you are talking about?
Please help, i want to conceive.
I just bought some soy iso today. I am on cd 5 and af is almost gone. just a tiny spotting. Is it ok to take it now cd 5-9? I usually o on cd 15 and have a 28 day cycle.
I just bought the pills at walmart I want to know is if you need to take two tabs to get 80 mgs. SO does that mean i need to take 5 pills can some one help me. I want to start tommorow thanks.
Hi I want to know if i need to take 5 40 mg pills to make 200 mg requirement. That sounds like too much but each is 40 mg they are from Walmart Spring Valley.Thanks to anyone that can help.
I have read that you do take as many tablets to make up the 200mg. I am in Aust. and the only soy I could find is 500mg and I started yesterday being days 3-7 so I hope it is not to much per day.
Mel
I took clomid previously and decided to go the natural route with soy. I took it for the first time last month 40mg 5 pills for 5 days and now even with my pcos im late but been having upset stomach and tiredness. Took a blood test today and results on friday, im so nervous and anxious. Will report back then. Praying it worked if not will keep trying.
I got BFP first cycle too! My dd is now 6 mo!!!
i am on another ttc forum for women who have had tubal reversals... I like many others on that forum took Soy Iso. and got a BFP right away, only to have it end in miscarriage. Is their any link between soy and miscarriages? Does anyone know if it makes your progesterone drop once you do get pregnant???
I'm menopausal and ttc. My periods had stopped for a year. The hot flushes were driving me crazy and unbearable. I didn't want to risk taking HRT because of breast cancer in the family. After research I found Soy isoflavones and have been taking them now for about 4 months. Although advised to take 2 a day for max effect I only took the 1. The hot flushes stopped immediately. I feel so much better in myself. Also the past 2 months my periods have naturally started again which might mean I don't need to take birth pill to start cycles for my next round of IVF. So I'm a happy bunny :o)
This is my 3rd month ttc. I am trying soy isoflavones for the first time this cycle. I took it cd3-7. Cd 3-4, i took 160mg, cd5, I took 200mg, cd6-7 I took 240. I had some headaches. I did get some hot flashes and sweating a bit. I felt more tingling in my boobs than i usually do during my fertile window, very lubricated (very) and BD is about 50x better for some reason!!! So I think the soy is definitely doing something over here. I am so praying that I get to tell him Im pregnant. Im praying that we all get our soy bfps! i am currently on cd 16 so I am still BD'ing for the next couple days before hubby goes out of town to work.
I was wondering does it matter if you cycle only last five days? I started day 4 of my cycle? I read I could do a 4-9? I will try next month 1-5 I guess next month as I think I did it wrong =/ any advice would be appreciated. Thank you ladies.
ok ladies! i have just brought this... im in australia and the mg is 500 so im gathering that im going to have to cut the pill to get the 200mg dosage???
such great results! fingers crossed that it happens for everyone!!!
does it matter that i dont have a regular period? also, does it matter what days (1-5, 5-9) that i take it?
AND: do i take 200mg PER DAY for the period above?
if this works - im going to fall off my chair!
We are currently only on our 2nd cycle of trying. The first cycle, I ovulated on day 28. We had good timing but it didn't work out. I'm now on day 26, still waiting to ovulate. It's too late for me to try this cycle but if it doesn't work out again this time, I am going to pick some up and see if it helps. I just hate waiting so long to ovulate. I would love to see this work!
to anyone that comes back to this blog as i dont get messages to say there is a new post - let me know how it works out for you as i am really looking forward to this once it arrives in the mail :) fingers crossed for everyone wanted to use this...
zannyanny_72@hotmail.com
I started using this for the time this month. I did CD 3-7 for mine and started out at a low dose and moved up to 200mg by the 5th day. I had horrible headaches with it! We start BD every other day as soon as my cycle stopped. I finally got a + on my ovulation test on my 16cd but the last time we did BD was 14cd. Since I work 24hr shifts we were not able to have BD when I got the + ovulation. I am still praying that just maybe it worked! I am now at cd22 (which would be implantation day if anything is there). So lots of prayers that it worked! I am just curious though from the ladies that it has worked with...have any of you not been able to get pregnant because of your husband having issues and not you but Soy worked for you? LG
Clomid is inexpensive and is usually the first in a line of treatments that will be offered to the patient and its works most of the time
Hello ladies, I need major help. I am going to buy th Iso tonight but I am a little confused. I have PCOS and maybe have a period every 4-5 months. How do I determine when to take the Iso? My doc has given me provera to bring on a period. Wha do I do. I am very excited for the day I can tell my hubby the great news...we have been trying for 5 years. Please help.
TTC28, After you finish the provera and start your period you want to count the first day of full flow as cycle day 1. Then you'll want to take the pills on the recommended cycle days. I have PCOS as well and don't ovulate on my own. You will probably want to check your temps or use OPKs to make sure you actually do ovulate.
Thanks so much...I am definately gonna give it a try and report to you guys. Thanks again.
hey i have been ttc for about 4 years and i finally got pregnant in march but i lost the baby and i have been trying again since and nothing happened i ran a cross the blog so im really gonna try this but i only get a period for 3days so can somebody plz tell me how i gotta take the soy iso i want a baby so bad im willing to try and thing
Your Soy Iso bottle may say 500, but you have to know what % is actually soy iso mg. it's easier to just get the $6 ones from Walmart.com because it's not written confusingly. 40mg right on the front of the bottle. I brought a 200 bottle from GNC but when I looked closer on the back, it's only 34mg of soy iso for real. #readlabelscarefully
I had ovarian drilling in Sept and just started my first period after it. This will be my first month of Soy Iso, Today is CD1 and I am taking 160 mg. I am going to go buy a ovulation kit tomorrow. Praying this is our month
I researched all our options after doctors had told us I dont ovulate and wouldnt conceive on our own. I figured id gift soy iso a try before spending tons trying to get pregnant...after 3 months of taking them day 3-5 im now 5 weeks pregnant!!!
Hi my husband and i have been trying to have a baby for 2 years now and the doc told us i have pcos i ran across this blog and i am going to try the soy iso tonight i started spotting two days ago so i think this will be cd 3 for me please pray and keep us in your hearts im preying it works if it does i will give you all an update keeping all my fingers and toes crossed.
Hi Ladies;
Me and my husband have been TTC ever since we had our first miscarriage back in 2009. I've have always had irregular cycles but after i had my first my cycle became regular like clock work. Then in when I had my miscarriage it became irregular and been since then with no change. A friend of mines told me about soy isoflavones because she used it and became pregnant within the first month. So I'm wondering could soy isoflavones help regulate my cycle but taking it for the 5days that my cycle is suppose to be on?
I had a miscarriage in Sept. 2010 and have been TTC since. I'm thinking my age (41) is a major factor. I purchased Soy Isoflavones today and am hoping to be able to report some good news soon. I've enjoyed reading the passed posts, nice to know I'm not the only one :)
I'm wondering why it is that all of the documentation that I've been reading recommends taking the soy on CD 3-7 or CD 5-9, but many on this site are going cd1-5???
Day 1-5 increases the chances of multiples
Day 5-10 produces a stronger egg
And all days in between have the medium results
79%get their Bfp on the first cycle and 53% of the remainder get pregnant the second month.
I have done a lot of research and statistics working out how helpful these are in the past 3 years ttc (didn't want to take something unless I was sure it was worth it) I will now be trying them this cycle :)
Good luck everyone
How long after you stop birth control should you wait before you start taking Isoflavins? I have one child and a secondthat ended in a miscarriage that ended one day before my 16th week. It also took awhile before becoming pregnant the second time around.
And just curious...ive heard that soy iso usually results in a boy baby... what gender baby are you all having or did you have on soy iso?
These are a bit dated, curious.. who now has a baby due to Soy?
I was wonder if the soy iso would help regulate my periods if taken every day? I am a 25 years old and I was diagnoses with POF 3 years ago. I do not have a menstrual cycle without taking bc....if anyone has any info please let me know!
Wow. I am definitely going to try this stuff next month. I'm already on cd 10 so its a little late this month. I really hope I get positive results. We have been wanting a baby for our whole marriage. We will celebrate 10 years in March. I was only on bc for 1 year that whole time.
Well good luck and baby dust to all!
Can u take soy isoflavos if you get your period regularly every month ??
Also wat do all these abbreviations mean :-/ ..??
My periods are very regular and I took them this month. I just want to have a more intense Ovulation and catch that egg! I will let you all know what happens. I hope all the others get on here and let us know if they are indeed pregnant.
Good Luck everyone!
Hi. I am 43 and I have had 2 cycles of IVF because we have been TTC for a while with no result. My first child was conceived first go. So we are trying Soy for a couple of months as a last ditch effort. AF started today so I am going to start taking Soy on day three. The only concern I have is the dose. I know I should take 200mg but my bottle says that I should take 5 tables and doesn't really say what each tablet contains. I am using the brand Natrol. Has anyone used them? Should I just take the 5 tablets as suggested?
Hi i want to try these out but dont know how to take them... help please...
thanks
My husband and I are ttc our second baby and I am excited to start the soy this month!! My friend actually found out on Valentines day she was pregnant and took soy for one cycle! Amazing! I'm praying this works for us :)
Rachael- how do i take soy if i dont have a period?
please help me was on the depo 9 years and need help the docs wont help me xx
I am now 8dpo, I did Femara this cycle (cd3-7), & had +OPK on CD15 which was a few days earlier than expected. I have PCOS & Hypothyroidism. I take 2000mg of Metformin & am now up to 50 of Synthroid. I had 3 children & 1 previous miscarriage, but have been TTC now for over a year w/my fiance (not the bio father of my previous pregnancies). We are not sure if he is ok (fertility wise) since he has no children & I obviously have some issues, but am trying to take care of that. I don't have insurance for fertility treatments or anything like that, so it's been just a lot of personal research & prayer. If this cycle doesn't work than next cycle I am going to take the last of the Femara I have & I think I am going to get the Soy Isoflavones (maybe I will take them together to see what happens) too. I am 32 & will also be going on some other herbs as well as my favorite whole food multi-vitamin/mineral Alive. I'm praying we all have amazing stories to tell very soon!!
Hi, I am currently TTC my 4th child. My first was conceived unplanned but after he was born I was diagnosed with PCOS. I rarely get a period on my own without being on BC pills & rarely ovulate on my own. When I was TTC my 2nd I tried for 18m but never ovulated so my doctor put me on clomid, 50mg on CD1-5 & I conceived first round. Then when we wanted to TTC our 3rd my doctor just gave us clomid again right away, 50mg on CD1-5 again, worked right away but after I found out I was pregnant I started bleeding & found out I had severely low progesterone (6.5) so my dr put me on progesterone & bed rest and my daughter was fine.
So now TTC our 4th I am trying to go a more natural route for a few months at least, so if I am not pregnant this cycle then we will be trying soy isoflavones next cycle :)
CONGRATS to all you who have had luck so far!!! ***baby dust to all***
Tried the $9 bottle for 1 cycle & got pregnant! I just found out today & I'm 2 weeks along. Only side effect was night sweats. I'm 31, 5'4 & 120 lbs. tried for a year & had 1 miscarriage. Best wishes!
Natrol soy isoflavones is what I have. They are 50 mg and I take the recommended 5 for 5 days. This is my first cycle and I'm coming off birth control so I don't know the results yet. I am wondering for those who have taken these, have any of you used any methods for gender selection? Also, what gender child did you conceive? Lastly, has anyone conceived multiples with this using no other form of help?
The Natol brand has 50 mg and I took the recommended five for five days. This is my first time so I do not know the results yet. I am coming off birth control and some people, including those who do not know I am taking it, say that I will get pregnant right away.
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