Many women consider taking prenatal vitamins while they’re not pregnant. You might be thinking about using them because you have heard that they can help you grow long nails and beautiful, shiny hair. Or maybe you’re thinking about taking them because you’re trying to get pregnant, and you’ve heard that they can help you conceive quicker. Is it safe to use prenatal vitamins when you’re not pregnant? Here are some things that all women should know.
If You’re Not Trying to Get Pregnant
Prenatal vitamins are not recommended for women who aren’t pregnant or trying to become pregnant, according to the Mayo Clinic. The reason is because healthy adult women who aren’t pregnant do not require the same amount of certain vitamins as women who are pregnant. In fact, non-pregnant women can actually experience adverse reactions to certain vitamins which prenatal vitamins contain higher or lower levels of.
Prenatal vitamins do not contain enough calcium to satisfy the requirements for non-pregnant women. They also contain higher levels of folic acid, which can hide the symptoms of vitamin B 12 deficiencies, as well as levels of iron which can be toxic to non-pregnant women and can cause constipation, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and death, according to the Mayo Clinic.
If You Are Trying to Get Pregnant
The idea that prenatal vitamins can help you conceive quicker is a common misconception. That said, women who are trying to conceive are recommended to begin taking prenatal vitamins because it is believed that they can offer protection against certain birth defects. The amount of folic acid that is found in prenatal vitamins (600 mg), for example, helps to reduce the risk of neural tube defects, according to the Mayo Clinic.
New research also shows that beginning your prenatal vitamins prior to conception can help reduce the risk of autism. A study found that children were less likely to develop autism if their mother began taking prenatal vitamins three months prior to conception and throughout the first month of pregnancy, according to WebMD. This is just another reason for women to begin taking their vitamins a few months before they are planning to conceive.
While it is ideal for women who are planning to become pregnant to begin taking their prenatal vitamins, women who have no intentions of conceiving in the near future should avoid taking them. If you have any questions about what your vitamin requirements are, be sure to talk to your doctor.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational purposes only. If you are concerned about your health, consult with a licensed healthcare professional.
Sources:
Mayo Clinic
WebMD