Can I take folic acid tablets during my period

Folic acid is necessary for the body to utilize sugar and amino acids, and is essential for the growth and reproduction of the body's cells. As people's demand for quality of life increases, taking folic acid before pregnancy has also become a concern for most women, but it may not be clear whether menstruating women can take folic acid.

Can you take folic acid tablets during menstruation?

Folic acid tablets can be taken during menstruation. Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin composed of chitin, p-aminobenzoic acid and glutamic acid residues, also known as vitamin BC or vitamin M. It is essential for the growth and reproduction of cells in the body, especially for pregnant women who are about to get pregnant, and adequate folic acid is good for the development of pregnant women and fetuses, so it can be taken even during menstruation.

Effects of taking folic acid

Regular folic acid supplementation for pregnant women can prevent low birth weight, premature birth and congenital malformations such as cleft palate (harelip) in babies. That is why women of childbearing age should take a daily folic acid supplement of 0.4 mg starting 3 months before pregnancy, which can also continue throughout pregnancy.

Can folic acid tablets cause delayed menstruation

From the composition of folic acid, folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that does not affect menstruation. Menstruation in women is regulated by the thalamus-pituitary-ovarian gonadal axis. Factors such as mental factors, mood swings, environmental changes, pregnancy, age, illness, medications, and nutritional status can cause abnormal function of this gonadal axis and abnormal menstruation can occur.

What happens if you are deficient in folic acid

Effects of folic acid deficiency on pregnant women

The important nutritional role of folic acid in the human body has long been recognized, and deficiencies in humans (or other animals) can cause megaloblastic anemia and leukopenia, as well as physical weakness, irritability, loss of appetite, and psychiatric symptoms. Folic acid is especially important for pregnant women.

Effects of folic acid deficiency on the fetus

Early pregnancy (1 to 3 months) is a critical period for the differentiation of fetal organ systems and the formation of the placenta, when cell growth and division are very vigorous. If folic acid is deficient, it may lead to fetal malformations, defects in fetal neural tube development, thus increasing the incidence of conditions including anencephaly, spina bifida, and even early spontaneous abortion.

How to take folic acid

Folic acid is a medicine to prevent fetal neural tube abnormalities and is usually taken from 3 months before pregnancy to 12 weeks after pregnancy. Folic acid tablets for pregnant women are available in small doses of 400 micrograms a tablet, one tablet a day. Adverse effects of folic acid are relatively rare, with occasional gastrointestinal discomfort such as nausea, and generally have no effect on menstruation.