Women must take folic acid during the preparation period for pregnancy, as many people know, and it is also necessary to actively supplement folic acid in the first three months of pregnancy. Many people know that supplementing folic acid is beneficial for the healthy growth of the fetus, but they are not very clear about how long it needs to be supplemented. So how long is it better to take folic acid for pregnancy preparation?
How long should folic acid be taken for pregnancy preparation
Folic acid supplementation should be continued throughout the entire pregnancy. If folic acid is not supplemented before pregnancy, there is no need to worry excessively. Supplementing folic acid from the time of pregnancy can still reduce the risk of fetal developmental abnormalities. In the first three months of pregnancy, which is a critical period for the development of the fetal neural tube, supplementing sufficient folic acid can significantly reduce neural tube abnormalities, greatly reducing the incidence of anencephaly and congenital spina bifida in fetuses.
Pregnant women with conditions can persist in taking it throughout pregnancy and lactation to promote maternal health, fetal and neonatal growth and development. Generally, folic acid intake can be stopped at 3 months after pregnancy depending on the situation.
Will eating folic acid affect the menstrual cycle
Folic acid tablets have little effect on the menstrual cycle. If menstruation is delayed after taking folic acid tablets, pregnancy should be considered. After ruling out the possibility of pregnancy, menstrual disorders and other symptoms should be considered. Psychological factors, environmental changes, medication, and nutritional status can all cause menstrual abnormalities.
Folic acid tablets do not affect menstruation, as women's menstruation is regulated by the hypothalamic pituitary ovarian gonadal axis. Psychological factors, emotional fluctuations, changes in the environment, pregnancy, age, illness, medication, and nutritional status can all cause abnormalities in the function of this gonadal axis, leading to menstrual abnormalities.
Menstruation is delayed, first you need to use a test strip to check if you are pregnant.
After ruling out the possibility of pregnancy, menstrual irregularities should be considered. There are many reasons that can cause menstrual irregularities, such as hormonal imbalances, nutritional factors, emotional fluctuations, environmental factors, medication use, etc.
If the menstrual cycle is delayed for a long time, it is recommended to go to a regular hospital's obstetrics and gynecology department for relevant examinations and treatment, undergo six hormone tests, and consider choosing progesterone and other menstrual regulation treatments.
In addition, ovulation cannot be calculated when menstruation is irregular, and ovulation test strips should be used for monitoring.
This article provides a detailed introduction on how long to take folic acid for pregnancy preparation, and also discusses whether taking folic acid will affect menstrual flow. As a woman who is actively preparing for pregnancy, it is best to supplement sufficient amounts of folic acid in a timely manner. In fact, supplementing with folic acid can play a very important role in women's fertility and will not affect menstruation.
