Yes, both men and women preparing for pregnancy should take folic acid supplements. Folic acid is a B vitamin that plays a very important role in the development of the fetal cerebrospinal tube. Adequate folic acid supplementation before a woman becomes pregnant and during early pregnancy can reduce the risk of congenital neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and meningocele. For men, folic acid intake can also improve sperm quality and quantity, thereby increasing the chance of pregnancy. Therefore, both men and women preparing for pregnancy should start supplementing with folic acid during pregnancy preparation.
Do men and women preparing for pregnancy need to supplement folic acid?
Men preparing for pregnancy do not need to supplement folic acid, because folic acid is mainly recommended for pregnant women to prevent fetal neural tube defects. However, women preparing for pregnancy may consider supplementing with folic acid, as folic acid is very important for fetal neural tube development in the first trimester. It is recommended that women preparing for pregnancy start taking folic acid supplements one month before they plan to become pregnant to ensure sufficient folic acid reserves.
