****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Let me start by saying that I've NEVER had a normal cycle...I first started taking BC in high school because I'd only have a period every 3-4 months and it would be super heavy and painful. The BC worked for a while, then in college my hormones changed and I started spotting the week before my period--so 2 out of 4 weeks every month of dealing with PMS and the associated migraines was not fun. After I decided that I didn't need the birth-control portion of the pill, I decided to quit taking it and see what happened. I'd also tried this in college once with the same result--no period for months. This time I went over 6 months before finally going to the doctor to get a rx (provera) to induce my period.After taking the provera every other month, my body still wasn't adjusting to being on its own and wasn't having anything close to a normal cycle; in fact I'd even started spotting some while taking the provera too. I had read about Maca months before and had ordered some but stuck it on a shelf and never really took it consistently. It had interested me not only because of the reproductive benefits, but also because of the energy and mood boost claims. I finally researched how much I should take to be effective and took it consistently for a few months. I ended up taking six pills (3000mg) per day. I don't mind taking pills, so this wasn't a big deal and it was convenient to carry. After I took it for a few days at that dosage, I could definitely feel a slight energy boost. I'd been sluggish and just unmotivated at work, and this definitely helped me become more focused. I did notice the first few times I took it that soon after, I would need to go to the bathroom. No terrible stomach pain like some reviews claim, but just a need to go #2; which I didn't mind the extra help, since I don't always eat enough fiber anyways.I first started taking it a few weeks after one of my provera-induced periods; so in the middle of my induced "cycle". The day I should have gotten my period (using a standard 28 days after last period), I could have sworn I had some slight spotting, but then didn't have any bleeding the next day. So I kept taking the Maca for the energy benefits, and induced another period the next month, and made sure to take the Maca almost every day after that induced period. I had glanced at a calendar and knew when day 28 was coming, but I was completely shocked when I actually started spotting that day....and even continued bleeding the next few days. I am absolutely convinced that the Maca was the cause, and would definitely recommend it!!!!! If you're like me, and have suffered for years from hormonal issues (including really bad hormonal migraines several times a month while on and off the pill), Maca is definitely worth a try. The only thing it didn't really help me with was libido; mine is still as low as it's always been. Maybe if I continue to take it, that will get better as well. Just make sure you take at least 3000 mg.
