does taking folic acid increase pregnancy

hi im 22 years old and im trying to get pregnant these past 2 months havent works i have heard that while planing to conceive is good to take folic acid. is that true and how much should i take and is it prescribed? is there any side effects?

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
Momma2be is exactly correct.  If you were my patient, I would advise you to take folic acid, but it is to reduce the risk of birth defects, spina bifida in particular.  Two months is not nearly long enough for you to be worried yet.  In fact, most doctors won't even start a work up for someone your age until you have been trying for over a year. The statistic is that 85% of healthy couples will conceive within one year, and some take even longer, but are still healthy and fertile.  Don't worry yet, and don't try so hard that you forget to enjoy yourself!
Good luck!
Dr B

[Momma2be2013]

Taking a prenatal vitamin will contain the extra amount of folic acid that you need. If you are not taking a prenatal vitamin, an extra 400 mcg of Folic Acid is recommended. The purpose of folic acid is to help prevent neural tube defects in babies such as spina bifida. It's very important to start taking folic acid/prenatal vitamins prior to conception because in the rare incidences of neural tube defects, the damage can occur prior to you even knowing your pregnant. It doesn't mean that every woman that doesn't take folic acid will have a child with neural tube defects, but the deficiency does increase the chance of the birth defect.
Good luck!