# Your preconception checklist

> Folic acid, jabs, smear and meds – the boring-but-brilliant prep.

Category: Fertility & TTC · 5 min read · Written by the Splash team · Sources checked October 2026
URL: https://splash.care/learn/fertility-ttc/preconception-checklist

## Quick answer

- Take 400 mcg folic acid daily from before trying until 12 weeks pregnant.
- Add vitamin D, check MMR, smear and STI status.
- Review medicines with a GP – don’t stop them on your own.
- Some people need a higher 5mg dose on prescription.

Getting ready for [pregnancy](https://splash.care/learn/fertility-ttc/early-pregnancy-signs) is a bit like packing for a big trip – a few small things now make everything smoother later. Here’s the NHS-backed list.

## 1. Start folic acid now

Take a **400 microgram [[folic-acid]] supplement every day** while trying, and keep going until you’re 12 weeks pregnant. It helps protect against [neural tube defects](https://splash.care/learn/glossary/neural-tube) like spina bifida, and it needs to be in your system before you conceive – so start before you stop [contraception](https://splash.care/learn/contraception/methods-overview) if you can.

**400 mcg** Daily folic acid recommended from before pregnancy until 12 weeks

> Some people need a higher 5mg dose on prescription – for example if you have diabetes, take certain epilepsy medicines, have sickle cell disease or thalassaemia, or have a family history of neural tube defects. Ask your GP.

## 2. The rest of the list

- Vitamin D supplement (the NHS recommends it when trying and in pregnancy)
- Check you’ve had the MMR vaccine – ask [your GP](https://splash.care/learn/conditions/talk-to-your-doctor) if unsure
- Book your cervical screening if it’s due
- Get an [STI](https://splash.care/learn/glossary/sti) test if there’s any chance you or your partner have one
- Review medicines (including herbal ones) with a GP – but don’t stop prescribed meds without advice
- On a weight-loss or diabetes injection (a GLP-1 medicine)? The MHRA says to stop semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) at least 2 months, and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) at least 1 month, before trying to conceive. Talk to your prescriber first.
- Stop smoking and avoid [alcohol](https://splash.care/learn/nutrition/caffeine-alcohol) and recreational drugs
- Aim for a healthy weight – too low or too high can make conceiving harder
- Talk to your GP if you have a condition like diabetes, epilepsy or [thyroid](https://splash.care/learn/conditions/thyroid) issues

> **Splash says:** pop your folic acid next to your toothbrush. Habit stacking = never forgetting!

**Myth:** A balanced diet gives you all the folate you need.

**Fact:** Leafy greens help, but it’s hard to get enough from food alone – that’s why a supplement is recommended.

### When to see a doctor

See a GP before trying if you live with a long-term condition, take regular medication, have had cancer treatment, or have a known fertility issue like endometriosis or low sperm count.

**Quick quiz:** When should you start folic acid?

1. Once you get a positive test
2. Before you start trying
3. At your 12-week scan

Answer: Before you start trying. Folic acid works best when started before conception and continued to 12 weeks.

## Sources

1. [NHS – Trying to get pregnant](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/trying-for-a-baby/planning-your-pregnancy/)
2. [NHS – B vitamins and folic acid](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b/)
3. [Tommy’s – Planning a pregnancy](https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/planning-a-pregnancy)
4. [MHRA – GLP-1 medicines for weight loss and diabetes: what you need to know](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/glp-1-medicines-for-weight-loss-and-diabetes-what-you-need-to-know/glp-1-medicines-for-weight-loss-and-diabetes-what-you-need-to-know)

This is general information, not medical advice. Splash can’t diagnose. If you’re worried, talk to a GP, pharmacist or sexual health clinic. In an emergency call 999 (UK) or 911 (US).