Ahhh, seed cycling. One of the many random things I’ve tried to get pregnant. But, this is one that I actually happened to be doing when I got pregnant with my second miracle. Did it help? Maybe!
And as someone trying to overcome over a half dozen infertility diagnoses (High FSH, Low AMH, Low Antral Follicle Count, Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Endometriosis, Recurrent Miscarriage, & MTHFR Mutation), I tend to do ALL THE THINGS that might possibly help me get pregnant.
(Seriously, I did 79 things to get pregnant the first time!)
One of the things I love about seed cycling, is that even though it isn’t terribly evidence based (although there is some science, which I will share), there’s very little (if any) risk. It’s just eating fertility-friendly food timed with your menstrual cycle!
Seed Cycling to Boost Fertility
The basic idea is that during the first half of your cycle (pre-ovulation) you provide estrogen support by eating seeds that boost your body’s natural production of estrogen and that assist your body in processing it appropriately (flax and pumpkin). This means they boost the right kind of estrogen and block excess inappropriate estrogen. You need the right amounts of the right kinds of estrogen to grow beautiful, healthy eggs.
Then, during the second half of your cycle (post-ovulation, or your “luteal phase”) you eat seeds that provide progesterone support to help the successful implantation of a healthy embryo (sesame and sunflower). (For more ideas on boosting implantation success read my blog on the two week wait here!)
Seed Cycling to Regulate your Cycle
Now, women who aren’t trying to conceive, but who are trying to regulate wacky periods might use seed cycling to try and gently get their cycles on track. For them, they take the flax and pumpkin seeds from Cycle Day 1- Cycle Day 14, and the sesame and sunflower seeds from Day 15-Day 28.
Seed Cycling if you aren’t tracking Ovulation
If you are trying to conceive, and aren’t tracking your ovulation, you might do the same – take the flax and pumpkin seeds from Cycle Day 1- Cycle Day 14, and the sesame and sunflower seeds from Day 15-Day 28- as you would assume you would ovulate around Day 14.
Seed Cycling if you ARE tracking ovulation and are NOT trying to adjust cycle
If you ARE tracking ovulation, then you would want to switch seeds after ovulation, even if that wasn’t on Cycle Day 14. This is what I did, because while trying for my second miracle I was using the Ava bracelet to track my ovulation.
Seed Cycling with the Moon to stabilize your Menstrual Cycle
If your cycle is TOTALLY wild and unpredictable, then you can seed cycle with the moon to try to gently encourage your body to move towards a natural cycle of bleeding with the new moon and ovulating with the full moon (what most women in the world do).
If you’re doing this, take pumpkin and flax seeds on the new moon, and then do sesame and sunflower starting on the full moon (most women ovulate with the full moon and its thought to be the most fertility-enhancing moon-cycle) (Really. This is a thing. Check out this article here!).
Clear as mud? I’ll clear it up by explaining exactly what I did
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How I seed-cycled to help get pregnant during Infertility
Before I started seed cycling I listened to podcasts, read naturopathic websites, and consulted some fertility books. I have to tell you- although there are a ton of websites on this, there isn’t super great information on the WHY behind seed cycling out there. And there isn’t great information on tailoring this for trying to conceive versus regulating your cycle.
I remember listening to an hour long podcast on seed cycling for fertility and they never explained exactly how to do it. So frustrating!
So, I decided that if I was going to try it with what limited guidance was available, I would do it with a spirit of mindfulness.
Mindfulness and Seed Cycling
That means that before ovulation as I consumed ground flax and pumpkin seeds, I purposefully imagined the seeds giving the perfect moderated estrogenic boost of perfect energy to my beautifully growing eggs.
After ovulation I would imagine the ground sesame and sunflower seeds perfectly supporting my natural ideal progesterone so that a healthy embryo could snuggle into my lush and receptive uterine lining.
Sound crazy? Well I do a lot of visualization and affirmation work both for fertility and for life!
Okay, let’s get down to the nitty gritty of what I did, and then I’ll end the post with the few scientific articles we have that make this a semi-evidence based practice.
So, without further adieu, here are the seeds:
Pre-Ovulation Estrogen boosting/moderating Seeds:
Flax Seeds– High in calcium and Omega 3 fatty acid, and has been shown to reduce anovulatory cycles, and help lengthen luteal phases.
Pumpkin Seeds– High in minerals needed for hormone balance, such as manganese, magnesium, and zinc. They are high in isoflavones and have been shown to boost healthy estradiol levels and moderating estrogen receptors to protect the body from bad estrogens.
Post Ovulation Progesterone-Supporting Seeds:
Sesame Seeds– High in fertility-boosting vitamins such as calcium, Omega 6 fatty acid which supports progesterone production, and zinc.
Sunflower Seeds– High in magnesium and B6.
Materials note: You need to make sure you are buying ORGANIC seeds so you don’t have any harmful pesticide residue. And you need to make sure you are freshly GRINDING your seeds.
Directions: Ideally you freshly grind your seeds every couple days and then add a tablespoon of each every day to your fertility smoothie.
I was too lazy to do that so I used my NutriBullet!
Basically I loaded up my fertility smoothie with ingredients and at the very top (where the blades that can grind seeds would hit) layered by 1 tablespoon of each seed for the day. You can use the milling blade that comes with the Nutribullet to grind the seeds first if you prefer.
So, without further adieu, here is the seed cycling protocol I used:
CD1- CD14 or Ovulation (Menstrual & Follicular Phase)
- 1 Tbsp organic flax seeds, freshly ground in my smoothie
- 1 Tbsp organic pumpkin seeds (hulled), freshly ground in my smoothie
CD15 or Ovulation- end of cycle, i.e., my period came (Luteal Phase)
- 1 Tbsp organic sesame seeds, freshly ground in my smoothie
- 1 Tbsp organic sunflower seeds, freshly ground in my smoothie
I did this for about two months before I became pregnant. You can read my whole story of my second miracle pregnancy here!
Of course there are other ways to eat ground seeds- this is just how I did it! Have you tried seed cycling? Did you like it? Are you going to try? Leave a comment below!!
—>>>IF TRYING TO CONCEIVE CONTINUE WITH LUTEAL SEEDS UNTIL YOU GET A PERIOD OR CONFIRM PREGNANCY.<<—
This is important because you want to keep providing that gentle progesterone support.
Seed Cycling in Pregnancy
I’ve had many readers get pregnant (YAY!!) and they ask me what seeds to use IN pregnancy. Again, we don’t have any great evidence-based suggestions here.
But, seeds a great, nutritious food in and out of pregnancy. So, let’s keep eating seeds. Plus, they are in the cabinet anyway, huh? 🙂
In early pregnancy, it is kind of like an extension of the luteal phase. Your natural progesterone is (hopefully) going up smoothly and will continue to be on the rise throughout your whole pregnancy.
What you do with your seeds might be determined by your situation. If you are young and healthy with no infertility issues, you might just do ALL the seeds for nutrition, like this amount per day:
- 1 tbsp sunflower
- 1 tbsp sesame
- 1 tbsp flax
- 1 tbsp pumpkin
If, however you’ve struggled with recurrent loss or have a reason to believe you might have lower progesterone, then you might boost up your progesterone supporting seeds like this:
- 2 tbsp sunflower
- 2 tbsp sesame
- 1 tbsp flax
- 1 tbsp pumpkin seeds
This is what I did with the second pregnancy, the later of the two. I kept doing this until I ran out of seeds, but you could keep doing it the whole pregnancy!
Hi Anna, firstly congratulations on your second baby! 🙂 The seed cycling looks very interesting though I couldn’t see the scientific articles you mentioned you were going to reference. Can you please post? Thanks! Anna
Thanks for this reminder!! I only found scientific articles for the flax and pumpkin. There were some for the sunflower and sesame, but they were not convincing! They are linked above and can be found at :
https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article-abstract/77/5/1215/2649961?redirectedFrom=fulltext
and
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23859042
I still don’t think this is the most evidence-based fertility practice ever, but like I said in my notes above, at least it can’t hurt!
Mam how i take these seeds means with water or milk n please also tell the time for consuming empty stomach or at a bed time
I’ve been trying this for a cycle now and i ground them,store in the freezer and add them to my breakfast pancakes… but the ones for thr first part of the cycle I just eat one every other day because too much flaxseeds make me breakout 🙁
Yikes! Yeah flaxseeds are pretty powerful stuff. I wonder if maybe you need them at all if the extra boost of estrogen makes you break out? Always important to listen to our bodies and tailor to our personal needs!
Great information! I see a naturapath and she prescribed this exact seed cycle but added chia seeds as an option for days 1-14. I enjoy chia or pumpkin seeds in my yogurt, sunflower seeds with my peanut butter and banana toast, even flax seed in my pancakes! I do kernels for sunflower and papitas for pumpkin because there is no need to eat the shells! Thanks for sharing and it has been 2 months of this among other things, so wish me luck!
Lovely ideas for mixing it up!! Best wishes and baby dust!!
Anna do you stop seed cycling once you find out you are pregnant? Thanks
Hello Anna, Thank you for the nice article. I’ve tried seed cycling and also got pregnant after 2 months (probably helped). I was wondering did you stop as soon as you found out you are pregnant?
Can not find any information about it, if we should stop or how should we continue with the seed cycling after pregnancy. I am so much afraid if I stop then progesterone will decrease and will lead to miscarriage..
Mine 4 iuis n 2 IVF failed,we have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility,we r too much stressed dear,tell me is it possible we get pregnant through seed cycling
Hey Anna,
Is it harmful to continue all the seeds every day irrespective of ovulation/luteal phase?
Thanks,
Peggy
Hi Peggy! I feel like this is something you’d have to listen to your body about. Most of the seeds are so gentle I can’t imagine that eating them at the “wrong” times would be harmful. In fact, you probably got from my post that I really believe for them to work you have to be super intentional about it. But there are probably naturopaths out there who would be adamant about only using them during the proper time of your cycle. Your regular RE/OB doctor would look at you like you were crazy and tell you to eat whatever you want. My personal opinion is we don’t need to be crazy strict about seeds, except for maybe flax seeds which seem to be a bit stronger than the others. When I was first ttc I avoided flax altogether because it was so strong, but ate the others whenever I wanted. Second time I seed cycled (with intention). Clear as mud? 🙂 BABY DUST!
Hi Anna,
Do the seeds have to be ground or can I eat them as is or sprinkle on a salad? Thank you! Trying to make my personal fertility diet right now!
I have the same question, do we have to grind them up?
Thanks a lot for the information. I have a query. Firstly my cycles are not regular and I am trying to conceive. I recently took medicines to get my periods, as it was around 2.5 months & i didn’t had my cycle. From the day 3 of my cycle to Day 7, my doctor has prescribed me Letrozole 2.5mg for ovulation. So, my query is can I take the medication as well as Seed cycling at the same time?
Thanks again in advance
I eat the sunflower and pumpkin seed whole. Is it the same as grounded?
Not the same. The idea is that you need it ground for your body to fully absorb it!
Can i take flax seeds everyday with the seedcycling technique. Does it harm?
Personally, I’d skip the flax seeds after ovulation!
Hi Anna,
Thanks so much for the Article. I have started Seed cycling with this cycle. We are trying to conceive for almost 5 years. Can you please clarify me whether I should continue the seed cycling after this cycle even if I dont get my periods?
i.e Jul 18 to Jul 31 I will be taking Flax+Pumpkin Seeds, Starting Aug 1 to Aug 14, i will be taking the Sunflowe+Sesame seeds. Now, What I should do on Aug 15. Should i wait for few days take pregnancy test or continue with Flax and pumpkin on Aug 15?
Mostly my cycle is on average 28 to 30 days.
Thanks
Viji from India
Viji, Sorry for the late reply!! I would continue with sunflower and sesame until you bleed if you are trying to conceive!
Thanks so much Anna, May God bless you 🙂
Is there any other seed one can use in place of sesame . Cos I couldn’t get it here
If you can’t get one seed, you can just double up on the other!
but if we dind get our periods then what next?
Hi!! I just updated the post to include this! Basically, keep with luteal seeds until you get your period or are pregnant!
Do you stop seed cycling if you end up conceiving
I did, but if you google you will find some sites providing a transition to pregnancy with seed cycling!
Hi Anna, this is my cycle 2 with seed cycling. Today day 5. But I am experiencing heavy bleeding for last four days. I used to have heavy bleeding for only two days and it stops gradually. But this time it doesn’t show any symptoms of stopping.
Should I stop eating seeds for few days. Please suggest
Viji from India
Viji,
I doubt that seed cycling has anything to do with it- maybe check in with your doctor? Could it be a miscarriage? Sending you hugs!
Thanks so much
Viji
Can I use seasame oil and sunflower oil instead of seed cos I don’t see d seed. Thanks
Hi Ummu! No, the oils don’t work the same! You really want to find the seeds and grind them up!
Hi Anna, thanks for all useful information. Im currently on my 2nd ivf, at the stage of preparing uterine lining for frozen embryo transfer. Can I use seed cycling technique?
Thanks
Shin,
Seeds are so gentle that many women use them during stimulated cycles as a gentle boost. But compared to the drugs you are taking, they are like drops in the pond. If you decide to do it, do it mindfully, with visualization of success!
Anna
I currently don’t ovulate and my cycles are anything from 19 to 42 days long. I want to start seed cycling but not sure how to do it. Do I still do the 1 to 14 and the 15 to 28 and then restart even if I haven’t started my period?
I’d seed cycle with the moon if I were you, to help regulate your period. Do a google and you should find some naturopaths giving guidance on how to do this!
Hi, not sure if you’ll read this as I’ve only just read your article. My husband question, is did you continue to use seeds after you found out you were pregnant? If so, is there any guidance on quantities? Thank you! Sarah
Hi Sarah!! I kept using all the seeds, but not in the same way. There is one website that has a pregnancy protocol, check it out : http://dramyneuzil.com/seed-cycling-and-pregnancy-before-during-and-after/
Hello, thank you. I will have a read. Sarah
Hi, Anna! Is it possible to use CIA instead if flax? I have fibroids and don’t want things that are too estrogenic. Also, for grinding them… I make my fertility shake in a Vitamix. Is this enough or should I grind the seeds in a coffee grinder first?
Chia, not CIA!
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Hi Anna,
I have been eating chia and flax seeds in my smoothies during my follicular phase. I have also been eating 1 TBSP of raw shelled pumpkin seeds in salads or on toast, however, I have not ground them up. I have sesame and sunflower seeds ready to go in my pantry for my luteal phase which is approaching soon. You had mentioned that you put them in your smoothie and that grinded them up, however, I have read that I should not be drinking smoothies (because they say no cold, raw foods during luteal phase). So, I am wondering if you have any suggestions. I am not sure how to grind the seeds up without drinking a smoothie. You think it’s ok to drink smoothies during luteal phase? Thank you.
Hai.i have ovulation problem.its not done properly.is seed cycling is use for regular ovulation plsss let me know
Hey,
I’ve been trying too conceive for 4 years still nothing happened I came across this seed cycling But can u help me exactly how to take? my period started on 3rd of may
Hai anna,
Hope ur doing good.. Could u pls clarify this doubt for me. Am trying to conceive and i am following seed cycling too, i heard that sesame seeds causes so much heat in the body which leads to menstruation. Pls share your views..
Hi M clomid pills so can I start seeds?
Hi
I am Bushra from Delhi, India.
I have married before years, after 7 months of marriage, I conceived but it was miscarriage due to heartbeat was not there.
I take one cycle of IVF but it failed.
Can seed cycling help me in getting pregnant.
Please reply.