When before conception should a woman start taking folic acid supplements?

Now!: If you are trying to conceive, you should start taking prenatal vitamins (containing folic acid) now. Folic acid prevents an abnormality in the fetus that can occur before a woman even knows she is pregnant, so it is a good idea to start the vitamins early. Neural tube defect risks escalate greatly with folate deficiency, and result in serious illness to the child. Start now!

3 months : Most recommend taking Folic Acid at least three months before pregnancy. This has shown to reduce the risk of certain birth abnormalities called neural tube defects. A regular multivitamin or a prenatal vitamin will have more than enough folic acid.