When should advanced-age pregnant women stop taking folic acid?

Folic acid refers to folic acid tablets. Generally, advanced maternal age women should take folic acid tablets starting three months before pregnancy and continue until three months after conception. The specific analysis is as follows:

Folic acid tablets are anti-anemia medication primarily used to treat folate deficiency caused by various factors and megaloblastic anemia resulting from such deficiency. They are also used prophylactically in pregnant and lactating women, as well as in cases of folate deficiency due to chronic hemolytic anemia. Advanced maternal age refers to women aged 35 years or older. Due to increased age, these women may face certain pregnancy-related risks, such as a higher likelihood of fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Folic acid is particularly important during the early stages of fetal neural tube development, helping prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida. To reduce these risks, it is generally recommended that women of advanced maternal age begin supplementing with folic acid three months before conception and continue for three months afterward. This ensures adequate folic acid levels during the critical periods of conception and early fetal development. Therefore, women of advanced maternal age should consistently take folic acid tablets from three months before pregnancy through three months after becoming pregnant.

It should be noted that folic acid tablets are a medication and must be taken under the guidance of a physician. Self-administration without medical advice should be avoided to prevent potential adverse effects.