Q: Morning doctor, please can a fibroid patient that wants to get pregnant take folic acid?

A: World Health Organization recommends that pregnant women receive folic acid and iron tablets daily. Folic acid prevents neural tube defects which may occur during the first 28days of pregnancy. This is usually the period when quite a number of women do not even know they are pregnant. Thus, women who plan on getting pregnant should start on folic acid supplements at least 3 months before their planned date to safeguard against neural tube defects. If you haven’t started this earlier and realize you’re pregnant, start taking them as soon as possible.

Fibroids do not feed on folic acid…they feed on hormones which is the reason why they may become bigger in pregnancy and tend to shrink during menopause. Please ensure that you take your folic acid so as to ensure your baby has…