Agnus Castus — How chaste tree can help with your fertility
The shrub known as monk’s pepper or chaste lamb (lit. translation agnus castus — Latin ‘agnus’ = lamb, and ‘castus’ = chaste) was already used as a medicinal plant in ancient times. In the Middle Ages, the fruits of the monk’s pepper were mainly taken by monks because they wanted to reduce sexual desire and thus remain faithful to the vow of chastity. [1]
Chaste tree and fertility: effect, intake, side effects
Nowadays, monk’s pepper is a popular remedy that is often used by women to fulfill their own desire to have children.
What does monk’s pepper do?
Monk’s pepper, like Bryophyllum for example, is a herbal medicine. Monk’s pepper is often recommended for irregular menstrual cycles or severe menstrual pain. Many women who struggle with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and the accompanying symptoms can be helped with the medicinal plant. Vitex Agnus Castus extract helps with high prolactin levels and lowers them. Prolactin is a hormone that stimulates breast milk production in the female breast. If your doctor diagnosis that your prolactin levels are too high, this can be the cause of a shortened cycle and irregular ovulation. Monk’s pepper can stop this overproduction when taken regularly and over a longer period of time and have a positive effect on the length of the cycle. [2]
Monk’s pepper can also help women with too little luteal hormone (progesterone), a female sex hormone. The luteal hormone is produced immediately after ovulation and is supposed to help prepare the lining of the uterus for a possible pregnancy. If there is not enough of it, the fertilised egg cannot implant in the uterus. As a result, the affected woman does not become pregnant. If the prolactin level drops due to the intake of monk’s pepper, the progesterone level increases and the balance between oestrogen and progesterone is restored, which is imperative for pregnancy. [3]
Women who are planning to have children and are affected by the symptoms above should contact an experts of their choice for detailed and individual advice. In case of severe menstrual pain, you should always consult your doctor to rule out a disease such as endometriosis.
How is monk’s pepper taken?
As with many homeopathic remedies, monk’s pepper should already have been taken for two to three months so that the plant can show its effect. The hormonal balance should adjust and regulate. The active ingredient of Agnus Castus can be bought in tablet form, as tea or as drops to take.
Does monk’s pepper have side effects?
If you want to take monk’s pepper, you should consult your doctor beforehand. He or she should check in advance whether there is a disease behind the cycle disorder. He or she can also find out whether you have an elevated prolactin level. With professional advice, you can also find out whether monk’s pepper could be a suitable method for you. If the issue is specifically related to your desire to have chirldren, you can tell your doctor about it or contact a suitable fertility clinic.
Side effects that may occur include skin rash or diarrhoea. You should also consider interactions with other medicines. [4]
In addition to a balanced diet, the additional intake of monk’s pepper in the appropriate dosage can have a high effect on cycle problems and thus have a positive effect on your desire to have children.
About Fertilly
At Fertilly, we have made it our mission to accompany couples (homosexual and heterosexual) and singles on the way to fulfilling their child wish. In doing so, it is important to us to create transparency in the area of fertility services, to provide information and knowledge on the topics of pregnancy and fertility and to help you to find the most suitable Fertility Center. Through cooperation with first-class Fertility Centres and clinics in Europe, enquiries about Fertilly are given preferential treatment. This means that our patients avoid the usually long waiting times and get appointments more quickly.
If you would like more information about Fertility Centers, success rates and prices, please contact us using this questionnaire. We will advise you free of charge and without any obligation.
-
![]()
Answer the first questions in the online form in order to book an appointment. This way we can better address your needs during the conversation.
-
![]()
We will find the best contact person for your individual needs. Schedule 20 minutes for the consultation.
-
![]()
We will introduce you to the right fertility clinic from our network, make an appointment and accompany you until your wish for a child is fulfilled.
Sources:
1. Stange, Rainer; Kraft, Karin (2009): Lehrbuch Naturheilverfahren, GeorgThieme Verlag, S. 605
2. Mönchspfeffer.info – Unanbhäniger Ratgeber rund um Mönchspfeffer (Vitex Agnus Castus) (2018): Kinderwunsch & Schwangerschaft mit Mönchspfeffer: Es funktioniert. https://www.moenchspfeffer.info/kinderwunsch-schwangerschaft.html
3. MedUni (2019): Kinderwunsch? Warum es nicht immer auf Anhieb klappt! https://www.meduni.com/kinderwunsch-warum-es-nicht-immer-auf-anhieb-klappt/
4. Norbert M. Borengässer: Agnus castus – Ein Kraut für alle Fälle. In: F. S. Chartulae, W. Speyer(Hrsg.): JbAC. Erg.-Band 28. Münster1998, S. 4–13 (mit Lit.).