Preconception Check-Up: A Practical Guide Before You Start Trying

TL;DR: A preconception check-up covers the essentials before you start trying. Starting 400 micrograms of folic acid (or 5mg if you're at higher risk). Checking your rubella immunity. Reviewing any medications. Getting a clear answer on anything and everything you need to do to improve your chances of conceiving and carrying to term.

Deciding to start trying for a baby is exciting. But it can also make you very aware of everything you don't know yet. Should you already be taking supplements? Is there anything health-related you need to check? 

It's easy to feel behind before you've even started.

A preconception check-up at Women’s Health Clinic isn't assuming something's wrong. It's about feeling ready and getting the basics in place before you need them. Most people under 40 who have regular sex without contraception get pregnant within a year. 

We offer healthy pregnancy planning, not a fertility workup.

The Basics to Sort Out Early

A few small things can make the biggest difference, and none of them are complicated.

• Folic acid. Start taking the standard 400 microgram dose as soon as you're thinking about trying, and continue until you're 12 weeks pregnant. It's cheap, available over the counter, and reduces the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

• Vitamin D. 10 micrograms daily is recommended, particularly between October and March when sunlight alone isn't enough. If you have darker skin or spend most of your time indoors, take it all year, not just in winter.

• Vaccinations. Check your rubella immunity through the MMR vaccine if you're not already covered. Catching this lapse before you conceive is critical, since MMR can't be given during pregnancy itself.

• Medication review. If you take anything regularly, prescribed or over the counter, don't stop taking it without speaking to us first. Some medications need adjusting before you conceive, others are perfectly safe to continue, and guessing either way isn't worth the risk.

If you have a partner, some of these recommendations apply to them too. STI testing, chronic conditions such as diabetes, and any regular medications are things to check on both sides. Fertility and pregnancy outcomes depend on more than one person's health.

Do You Need a Higher Folic Acid Dose?

Most people only need the standard 400 microgram dose. A smaller number of women need a higher, 5mg dose instead, which is prescribed rather than bought over the counter. That applies if you or your partner have a personal or family history of neural tube defects or if you take certain medications, such as anti-epileptic or anti-retroviral drugs.

This situation isn't something to work out and worry about on your own. If any of that applies to you, raise it with us instead of guessing at the pharmacy shelf. Getting the dose right from the start matters more than getting started a week earlier.

Speak to Us About Your Conception 

What Our Preconception Check-Up Includes

When we meet to discuss your fertility preparation and how to get ready for trying to conceive, Dr Jocelyne Tedajo Tsambou reviews your health holistically. She considers any long-term conditions such as diabetes or epilepsy, current medications, vaccination history, and your cycle and general health. 

If anything needs adjusting before you conceive, that conversation happens now, while there's time to act on it calmly, rather than after a positive test.

She'll also discuss lifestyle factors, weight, smoking, and alcohol intake. These factors genuinely affect how straightforward conception and early pregnancy tend to be. We approach all our appointments without pressure or judgement. It’s a discussion about your health, not a lecture.

You're welcome to bring your partner, as many of these factors apply to both of you, not just the person who'll be pregnant.

To make our appointments as accessible as possible, we generally hold them online, unless you need a physical. However, if you (and your partner) would prefer a face-to-face appointment, just let us know when you book your appointment. We also offer after-hours visits, if that works better for your timetable. 

If You Want to Go Further: Fertility Testing

For most women, the basics above are all that's needed before trying. If you're specifically curious about your ovarian reserve or want to understand your fertility before you start, AMH and other fertility blood tests are a separate, more targeted step.

We can arrange private fertility screening, including AMH and other fertility blood tests, alongside broader women's health screening, if that's useful to you.

Start Preparing, Not Panicking

Booking a preconception check-up means covering the basics properly, once, rather than piecing advice together from different places. We'll go through what applies to you specifically and skip what doesn't.

Book Your Check-Up

Common Questions About a Preconception Check-Up

How Long Before Trying to Conceive Should I Start Taking Folic Acid?

As soon as you start thinking seriously about trying, ideally before you conceive. Folic acid needs time to build up, and the protection it offers matters most in the earliest weeks of pregnancy, often before a test would even show positive.

What Vaccinations Should I Check Before Pregnancy?

The main one is MMR, since rubella caught during pregnancy can seriously affect a developing baby. You can’t be vaccinated for MRR once you're pregnant. If you're not sure you're covered, we can check and arrange it. You'll need to avoid conceiving for one month afterwards, so it's best sorted early.

How Long Does It Typically Take to Conceive?

For most people under 40, having regular, unprotected sex, pregnancy happens within a year. NICE's guidance suggests coming in after six months instead if you're 36 or older, rather than waiting the full year, since investigating sooner tends to matter more as age increases.

How Much Does a Preconception Check-Up Cost at Women’s Health Clinic in London?

A preconception check-up is billed as our standard initial consultation, £225 for a 45-minute virtual appointment. During the consultation we’ll discuss any tests that you might need. 

However, if there is anything specific you’d like to discuss or test, let us know beforehand so that we can have the results ready for your visit. 

We’ll also ask you to complete a health check form before you come in. If anything in your answers indicates that you need a test, we’ll let you know ahead of time and schedule an in-person appointment.

Start Your Conversation

You don't need to have everything figured out before you book. That's what the appointment is for. Come with your questions, history, and whatever's on your mind. We'll work through it together.

Book Your Preconception Appointment

Disclaimer: We share these insights to help educate and empower you on your health journey. However, this information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Because your body is unique, we encourage you to book a consultation with us so we can create a personalised plan tailored perfectly to your needs.