Common fertility, pregnancy, and prenatal vitamin questions answered by our nutrition team

If you’ve ever searched questions like “Can men take prenatal vitamins?” or “When should I start taking a prenatal?” you’re not alone.

Every week, our nutrition team at WeNatal receives hundreds of questions from people who are trying to conceive, currently pregnant, recovering postpartum, or simply wanting to support their reproductive health.

Fertility nutrition can feel confusing. There is a lot of information online, and sometimes it’s difficult to know what actually matters. That’s why our team of functional medicine registered dietitians and fertility nutrition experts put together this quick guide answering some of the most common questions we hear about prenatals, pregnancy nutrients, and sperm health.

Think of this as a simple starting point. This series is designed to give you clear, evidence-informed guidance so you can better support your body whether you're preparing for pregnancy, navigating pregnancy itself, or focusing on recovery and long-term health afterward.

RELATED: The ultimate preconception guide: What to do when you’re ready to get pregnant 

Can you take prenatal vitamins without being pregnant?

Yes, you can absolutely take a prenatal vitamin even if you are not currently pregnant.

Prenatal vitamins are not only designed for pregnancy. They are formulated to support women throughout their reproductive years, including preconception, postpartum recovery, and overall hormone health.

Many providers recommend that women in their reproductive years consider taking a comprehensive prenatal vitamin in a similar way they might take a high-quality multivitamin. This helps maintain optimal nutrient stores and supports the body if pregnancy occurs, especially since nearly half of pregnancies are unplanned.

Because early fetal development begins very soon after conception, having adequate levels of key nutrients like folate, iodine, iron, and choline already in place can be beneficial long before a pregnancy test turns positive.

Can you take magnesium while pregnant?

Magnesium is commonly used during pregnancy, but dosage matters. There are times when additional magnesium can be beneficial to support relaxation and sleep, as well as consistent bowel movements when constipation might occur during pregnancy. 

The tolerable upper intake level (UL) for supplemental magnesium during pregnancy is 350 mg per day, not including magnesium obtained from food sources. Because magnesium is often included in prenatal vitamins, sleep formulas, and electrolyte powders, it is important to check supplement labels carefully to avoid exceeding recommended supplemental amounts.

Magnesium plays several important roles during pregnancy. It supports muscle relaxation, sleep quality, blood sugar balance, and healthy nervous system function, all of which can become increasingly important during pregnancy. Many people can obtain meaningful amounts of magnesium through foods such as leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and legumes, while a prenatal provides an additional baseline level of support.

RELATED: Can you take magnesium while pregnant?

Can men take prenatal vitamins?

Yes, men can benefit from taking prenatal vitamins, but they should choose one formulated specifically for male fertility. Sperm development takes approximately 64-74 days, which means nutritional support ideally begins at least two to three months before conception. Male factor infertility contributes to about 40–50% of infertility cases in couples, yet men are often left out of the fertility conversation.

A men’s prenatal typically contains a different nutrient profile than a women’s prenatal. These formulas often emphasize nutrients that support sperm health, including antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, CoQ10, and methylated B vitamins.

These nutrients help support important aspects of sperm health including count, motility, morphology, and DNA integrity, all of which play a role in healthy conception. 

RELATED: Can men take prenatal vitamins?

When should you start taking prenatal vitamins?

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), women should begin taking a prenatal vitamin before trying to conceive. Our team of clinical nutritionists typically recommend starting a prenatal three to six months before pregnancy. This window supports optimal egg quality, hormone levels, and nutrient stores leading into conception.

In some situations, beginning even earlier can be helpful, sometimes six to twelve months before trying to conceive, particularly for women who are transitioning off hormonal birth control, experiencing irregular cycles, or actively working on improving fertility.

However, it is important to remember that it is never too late to start.

Certain nutrients, such as methylated folate, play a critical role in early fetal development, especially during the earliest weeks of pregnancy when many women do not yet know they are pregnant. Having these nutrients available in the body ahead of time can help support healthy development from the very beginning.

What are prenatal vitamins?

Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated multivitamins designed to support your body before, during, and after pregnancy. They contain key nutrients that help nourish both mom and baby, often in higher or more bioavailable forms than a standard daily multivitamin.

While a nutrient-dense diet is the foundation of reproductive health, pregnancy significantly increases your need for certain nutrients. Important nutrients commonly included in prenatal vitamins include:

• Folate

• Iron

• Iodine

• Choline

• Vitamin D

• B vitamins

A high-quality prenatal helps fill potential nutritional gaps and ensures your body has what it needs to support hormone health, egg quality, early fetal development, and a healthy pregnancy. Many experts recommend starting a prenatal at least three to six months before trying to conceive, since some of the most critical stages of fetal development occur during the earliest weeks, often before you even know you are pregnant.

RELATED: How to choose a prenatal vitamin

What do prenatal vitamins do?

Prenatal vitamins help build and maintain healthy nutrient stores that support fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum recovery. They provide essential nutrients that support hormone levels, egg quality, and early fetal development.

For example:

• Folate supports healthy neural tube development

• Choline supports brain development

• Iron supports healthy blood volume

• Vitamin D plays a role in immune function and bone health

Even with a balanced diet, consistently meeting these increased nutrient needs through food alone can be challenging. A prenatal vitamin helps fill those gaps so the body is supported from the earliest stages of pregnancy.

Can you take vitamin C while pregnant?

Yes, vitamin C is generally safe to take during pregnancy and plays an important role in both maternal and fetal health. Vitamin C functions as an antioxidant and supports immune function, collagen production, and healthy bone development during pregnancy. Some research also suggests it may help reduce the risk of pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and anemia.

Most prenatal vitamins already contain an appropriate amount of vitamin C, and it is also easy to obtain from foods such as citrus fruits, bell peppers, kiwi, and broccoli. As a general guideline, it is best to rely on the amount included in your prenatal vitamin and obtain additional vitamin C primarily through whole foods.

A note from WeNatal on fertility nutrition, prenatal vitamins, and preparing your body for pregnancy

Fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum health are deeply interconnected. Nutrient status before conception can influence egg and sperm quality, early pregnancy development, and even long-term health outcomes for both parents and baby. Yet many couples begin preparing for pregnancy without realizing that both partners play a role in preconception health.

Our mission is to support families by focusing on the often-overlooked window of preconception care for both women and men. Our prenatal formulas were developed by a team of fertility experts to provide targeted nutrients that support reproductive health, egg and sperm quality, and healthy pregnancies.

If you are planning for pregnancy, currently expecting, or supporting your recovery postpartum, choosing a high-quality prenatal designed specifically for your needs can help ensure your body has the nutritional foundation it needs.

You can explore WeNatal for Her and WeNatal for Him, along with our educational resources on fertility nutrition and preconception health, to learn more about how to support your reproductive journey from the very beginning.

References

Schlegel PN, Sigman M, Collura B, et al. Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility in Men: AUA/ASRM Guideline Part I. J Urol. 2021;205(1):36-43. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000001521