If the body cannot store folic acid...

[two4one]

why are we advised to take it for three months before ttc? What's the point? Assuming you are using other forms of contraception and there is no chance of a pregnancy... surely it is only necessary from the moment of conception? Am I right?

You can have vitamin B anemia, so the three months advice is to ensure you have good levels of folic acid to start with. Folic acid is water soluble (unlike vit A which is fat soluble), so you can't store excess folic acid but you need healthy levels in the first place before the body starts flushing away the additional stuff.

I think that you need to have the right level in the body whilst the ovum matures too, and that 3 months is the rule of thumb as you're likely to have a good level after a couple of months supplementation even if you start from a low level.

But as you get it through a normal diet too, this is belt and braces stuff - many women become pregnant unexpectedly and don't realise straightaway and everything is fine.

I have only ever taken it once I found out I was pregnant. 2dcs were contraception failures so wasn't actively ttc!

I think you should be able to get what you need through your diet previous to conception.

It is because some of the important neural tube formation stuff happens before you know that you are pregnant, especially in the days before ultra early tests were invented. If you are taking it during ttc, you will definitely be covered during those very early days of pregnancy.