Does a man need to take folic acid tablets before preparing for pregnancy?

Patient's question:

No

Doctor's answer:

Not necessary. Women of childbearing age should start taking 400 micrograms of folic acid daily three months before pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects in the fetus. Taking folic acid can prevent 80% of neural tube defect births. It is especially important for those with a history of neural tube defects to take it. Folic acid can be stopped after the third month of pregnancy. Of course, if there is no history of neural tube defects and the diet is not unbalanced, it is not necessary to take it. Those with a balanced diet can also skip it. Calcium supplementation should begin after the fourth month of pregnancy.