31 Dec 2024 - Opening Hours of FPA Birth Control Clinics from January to December, 2025
14 Nov 2024 - The Association is NOT the service provider of FREE HPV Vaccination Catch-up Programme launched by The Department of Health for eligible female Hong Kong residents born between 2004 and 2008.
22 Mar 2023 - Suspension of "Men’s Health Service"
Periconceptional Folic Acid Supplementation
What is folic acid?
Folic acid is the man-made version of the vitamin folate (also known as vitamin B9).
Why folic acid is important during pregnancy?
Clinical studies show that taking folic acid during pregnancy helps the development of the baby's central nervous system and reduces the chance of neural tube defects (birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord).
Dosage
The World Health Organization recommends all women, from the moment they begin trying to conceive until 12 weeks of gestation, should take a folic acid supplement (400 μg folic acid daily) to reduce neural tube defect in offspring.
For women with higher risk of having babies with neural tube defects, doctors may recommend a higher dose.
Folic acid is also needed to produce red blood cells, and people who have thalassemia may need extra folic acid.
How and When to Take it
Folic acid is generally very safe if recommended dosages are followed. Side effects are uncommon, but some people may feel sick, lose their appetite, get wind or feel bloated. These side effects are usually mild and do not last long.
You can take folic acid with or without food once a day. Swallow the tablets whole with a drink but do not drink alcohol or take indigestion remedies (antacids containing aluminium or magnesium) 2 hours before and after as they may stop folic acid being properly absorbed.
Missing 1 or 2 doses of folic acid does not matter.
