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You've probably been told to "just start a prenatal," as if choosing one were as simple as grabbing whatever's on the pharmacy shelf. Then you see how many there are, every bottle claims to be the best, and part of you wonders whether a vitamin can really help you get pregnant at all.
I know that feeling well. When my husband and I were trying to conceive, I spent my days caring for women welcoming their babies while I struggled to conceive my own. It was inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time. One of the first things I did when we started trying was get serious about what I was putting into my body, and that meant reading past the front of the label to what was actually in my prenatal. Our son arrived after a long wait, and I still remember standing in that vitamin aisle feeling completely lost.
So here is what I wish someone had handed me: what the research says about prenatal vitamins and fertility, which ingredients matter, where the marketing gets ahead of the evidence, when to start, and the prenatals I'd point a friend toward.
The short answer
Taking prenatal vitamins to get pregnant won't make you more fertile, but they do two useful things: they fill common nutrient gaps, and, most importantly, they get folic acid into your body before your baby's neural tube forms, which happens before most people know they're pregnant. Start at least one month before trying. Look for 400 to 800 mcg of folic acid, about 150 mcg of iodine, iron, and DHA, and know that almost no prenatal covers choline on its own. For most people, a simple folic acid prenatal like Nature Made Prenatal + DHA is all you need.
Our top picks
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Best overall for most people
Nature Made Prenatal + DHA at Amazon
Jump to review -
Best for choline
One A Day Prenatal Advanced at Amazon
Jump to review -
Best all-in-one if you're over 35
TheraNatal OvaVite at Amazon
Jump to review -
Best vegan DHA in one capsule
Pink Stork Total Prenatal + DHA at Amazon
Jump to review -
Best CoQ10 add-on
Needed CoQ10 Ubiquinol at Amazon
Jump to review -
Best DHA add-on
Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA at Amazon
Jump to review
Do prenatal vitamins help you get pregnant?
Let's be honest about this first: prenatal vitamins are not fertility treatment. They won't fix a hormonal condition, open a blocked tube, or guarantee a positive test.
There is some interesting evidence, though. In the Nurses' Health Study II, which followed more than 18,000 women trying to get pregnant, those who took a multivitamin six or more times a week had about 40% lower risk of infertility caused by ovulation problems than women who didn't take one. That was an observational study, so it shows an association, not proof that the vitamin caused the difference. Women who take vitamins regularly may differ in other ways too.
The bigger reason to start now has nothing to do with getting pregnant faster. Your baby's neural tube, which becomes the brain and spinal cord, closes within about four weeks of conception. That's often before a test turns positive. Folic acid taken before and during that window lowers the risk of neural tube defects like spina bifida, and that benefit is one of the best-proven in all of prenatal care.
If you're wondering what "normal" looks like once you start trying, our guide to how long it really takes to get pregnant walks through realistic timelines.
Folic acid vs. methylfolate: what the CDC actually says
This is the most confusing part of choosing a prenatal, and I want to correct something we used to say on this page.
You've probably read that many women carry a variant in the MTHFR gene, that it stops them from using folic acid, and that they need methylfolate (sometimes labeled 5-MTHF, L-methylfolate or Quatrefolic) instead. That idea is everywhere, and we repeated a version of it here. Here's the CDC's position:
- People with common MTHFR variants can process folic acid, and it raises their folate levels.
- Folic acid is the only form of folate shown to prevent neural tube defects. The large studies behind that protection used folic acid.
- The CDC does not recommend MTHFR testing or switching to methylfolate in place of folic acid.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force agrees. Its top-grade recommendation is 0.4 to 0.8 mg (400 to 800 mcg) of folic acid a day, starting at least one month before conception and continuing through the first two to three months of pregnancy.
Methylfolate is still a real form of folate, and plenty of good prenatals use it. It just hasn't been tested the same way for neural tube defect prevention. If a methylfolate-only prenatal is the one you like, that's a conversation worth having with your provider rather than a reason to panic. And if you've had a pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect, or you take certain seizure medications, your provider may recommend a higher prescription dose, so check before you buy.
Reading the folate line on a label
Labels list folate in mcg DFE (dietary folate equivalents). Folic acid is absorbed better than food folate, so 400 mcg of folic acid shows up as about 667 mcg DFE. A bigger number on the label isn't necessarily a bigger dose. Look for the words "folic acid" in parentheses next to it.
What to look for in a prenatal when you're trying
Folic acid comes first. After that, these are the nutrients worth checking on the back of the bottle.
Iodine
Iodine supports your thyroid and your baby's brain development, and needs rise to 220 mcg a day in pregnancy. Experts recommend a supplement with about 150 mcg for anyone planning a pregnancy. Here's the surprising part: when researchers checked 59 of the best-selling prenatal vitamins in the U.S., only 34 contained any iodine at all. If yours doesn't list it, that's a reason to switch.
Choline
Choline works alongside folate in your baby's developing brain and spinal cord. The recommended intake in pregnancy is 450 mg a day, yet 90 to 95% of pregnant women fall short, and most prenatals contain little or none. No pill on this list gets you all the way there, so food matters: eggs are the easiest source, with meat, fish, soybeans and beans helping too.
Iron
Your blood volume expands a lot in pregnancy, and the recommended intake rises to 27 mg a day. Most prenatals contain somewhere between 18 and 27 mg. If you have heavy periods or eat a plant-based diet, ask your provider about checking your iron stores before you conceive. Iron is also the ingredient most likely to upset your stomach, so taking your prenatal with food or at bedtime can help.
DHA
DHA, an omega-3 fat, is important for your baby's brain and eyes. Many prenatals include about 200 mg, often in a separate softgel. If yours doesn't, two servings a week of low-mercury fish or a standalone DHA supplement can fill the gap.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D supports bones and immune function, and low levels are common. Prenatals range widely, from 400 IU to 2,000 IU or more. If you think you might be low, ask your provider whether testing makes sense for you rather than adding extra on your own.
Third-party testing
Supplements aren't approved by the FDA before they're sold. A USP Verified or NSF Certified seal means an independent lab checked that the bottle contains what the label says. It's not the only sign of quality, but it's the easiest one to check.
The best prenatal vitamins to get pregnant: our picks
We compared ingredient panels against the guidance above, then looked at form, how many pills you'll take each day, and what thousands of reviewers say about tolerating them. Every card includes what we'd want a friend to know before buying.
Best overall for most people
1. Nature Made Prenatal with Folic Acid + DHA
The one I'd hand most friends who are just starting to try. It's a single softgel a day with folic acid (the form the CDC and USPSTF recommend), 200 mg of DHA, iron and iodine. It's USP Verified, so an independent lab has checked what's inside, and it has one of the largest and most positive review bases of any prenatal on Amazon. Nothing flashy, and that's the point.
Good to know: There's no choline in it, so lean on eggs and other choline-rich foods, or ask your provider whether a separate choline supplement makes sense. The DHA comes from fish oil, which a few people notice as an aftertaste.
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Best for choline
2. One A Day Women's Prenatal Advanced
A rare prenatal that takes choline seriously. Each day you take a softgel with folic acid, 200 mg of DHA, iron and iodine, plus a separate choline tablet. That second pill is the reason it's here: most prenatals skip choline entirely. It's widely available and well reviewed. You can read more on our One A Day Prenatal Advanced page.
Good to know: It's two pills a day instead of one, and the choline tablet still covers only part of the 450 mg you need in pregnancy, so food still matters.
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Best all-in-one if you're over 35
3. TheraNatal OvaVite Preconception Vitamin
Made specifically for the months before pregnancy, with CoQ10 built in. OvaVite includes 400 mcg of folic acid alongside methylfolate, 250 mg of CoQ10, 2,000 IU of vitamin D, 100 mg of choline, 18 mg of iron and 150 mcg of iodine. It's NSF certified. If your provider has suggested CoQ10, this saves you a separate bottle. More details are on our TheraNatal OvaVite page.
Good to know: There's no DHA, so you'll want to add it separately (see the Nordic Naturals pick below). It's several pills a day, it's designed for before pregnancy, so plan to switch to a regular prenatal once you're pregnant, and it has far fewer reviews than the other picks. Because it already contains CoQ10, don't add another CoQ10 supplement on top without asking your provider.
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Best vegan DHA in one capsule
4. Pink Stork Total Prenatal + DHA
A good fit if you want plant-based DHA and a gentle iron. Each serving combines 200 mg of algae-based DHA, 27 mg of iron as ferrous bisglycinate (a form many people find easier on the stomach), choline, iodine and B vitamins in berry-scented capsules, with no fishy aftertaste. It's popular, with thousands of reviews, and it's from a women-owned company.
Good to know: Its folate is methylfolate only, with no folic acid. Since folic acid is the only form proven to prevent neural tube defects, talk with your provider before choosing this one. If you'd rather follow CDC guidance exactly, one of the folic acid picks above is the simpler choice. The label doesn't promise that the choline amount covers your daily need, so count on food for most of it.
Shop on AmazonWorth adding for some people: CoQ10 and DHA
A good prenatal covers the foundation. Beyond that, more isn't better. Adding supplements you don't need can double up on nutrients and cost you money for nothing. These two are the add-ons I get asked about most.
CoQ10: promising, mainly for low ovarian reserve
Coenzyme Q10 helps cells make energy, and eggs use a lot of it. Most of the research is in women with diminished ovarian reserve going through IVF. In a 2018 randomized trial of 169 women under 35 with low reserve, those who took CoQ10 for 60 days before IVF had more eggs retrieved and more high-quality embryos. Pregnancy and live birth rates leaned higher too, but the difference wasn't statistically significant. A 2024 meta-analysis of six trials with 1,529 women with low reserve found higher clinical pregnancy rates with CoQ10, while noting the trials were small and not always well described.
That's encouraging, but it's not a recommendation for everyone who's trying. If you're over 35, have been told your reserve is low, or are preparing for treatment, it's worth asking your provider about. Our guides on how to prepare for IUI and how to prepare for IVF cover what many clinics suggest. You can also read more on our Needed CoQ10 page.
DHA, if your prenatal doesn't include it
If your prenatal skips DHA (OvaVite does, for example) and you don't eat fish a couple of times a week, a standalone DHA supplement fills the gap. Choose one that's tested for purity, and skip it if your prenatal already has DHA unless your provider suggests more.
What about inositol?
If you have PCOS, your provider may suggest myo-inositol, which has been studied for supporting ovulation in PCOS specifically. It isn't a general fertility supplement. If that's you, see our page on Ovasitol myo-inositol and bring it up at your next appointment.
Best CoQ10 add-on
5. Needed CoQ10 (200 mg Ubiquinol)
A clean, single-ingredient CoQ10 made for preconception. Each softgel has 200 mg of Kaneka ubiquinol, one of the most studied forms of CoQ10, so one a day gets you to the low end of the doses used in fertility research. It's labeled for both partners, which is handy if your provider suggests CoQ10 for him too.
Good to know: CoQ10 isn't routinely recommended for everyone trying to conceive, so check with your provider first, especially if you're on blood thinners. Don't stack it with OvaVite, which already contains CoQ10. It has a much smaller review base than the other picks.
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Best DHA add-on
6. Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA
The DHA supplement to pair with a prenatal that doesn't have it. Two softgels give you 830 mg of omega-3s, most of it DHA, plus 400 IU of vitamin D3. It's unflavored, purity tested, and one of the most highly rated omega-3s on Amazon.
Good to know: It's fish oil, so it isn't vegetarian. It's two softgels a day, and the extra vitamin D adds to whatever your prenatal already contains. If your prenatal already includes DHA, you probably don't need this.
Shop on AmazonWhen to start prenatal vitamins before trying
This is the question I hear most, and the answer is simple: start now, ideally at least one month before you begin trying. That's the minimum the USPSTF recommends for folic acid. Many providers suggest starting two or three months ahead, which also gives you time to find a prenatal your stomach tolerates before it really counts.
Then keep taking it. Folic acid matters most in the first two to three months of pregnancy, and most providers recommend continuing a prenatal throughout pregnancy and while you're breastfeeding.
And if you're already pregnant and haven't started? Start today. Please don't spend energy on guilt about the timing. Starting now is always the right next step.
Curious what happens in your body in those first days after conception? Our guide to when implantation occurs and what it feels like walks through the timeline. And if you're timing things, our comparison of the best fertility trackers can help you find your fertile days.
A small ritual for a big season
Something shifts when you start taking a prenatal on purpose. It stops being just a pill and becomes a small daily way of showing up for yourself and the baby you're hoping for.
That's why we made our fertility affirmation candles. They aren't medicine, and they won't change your hormones or your egg quality. But lighting one while you take your prenatal, and letting yourself sit for a minute with "I'm doing this," can be a grounding part of the wait. You'll find them here: the Believe candle and the Open candle.
The bottom line
You don't need the most expensive prenatal or a counter full of bottles. You need folic acid, started before you conceive and taken every day, plus iodine, iron and DHA, with eggs or other foods covering choline. Add CoQ10 or anything else only when you and your provider have a reason to.
You're not behind if you haven't started yet, and you haven't failed if your current prenatal doesn't check every box. The fact that you're reading this tells me you're already taking care of the next step.
Prenatal vitamins to get pregnant: FAQ
Do prenatal vitamins help you get pregnant faster?
There's no strong proof that they shorten the time it takes. A large observational study found women who took a multivitamin most days had about 40% lower risk of ovulation-related infertility, but that shows an association, not cause and effect. The proven reason to take one before conceiving is that folic acid lowers the risk of neural tube defects.
Is it OK to take prenatal vitamins when you're not pregnant yet?
Yes, it's recommended. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advises 400 to 800 mcg of folic acid daily starting at least one month before conception, and a prenatal is an easy way to get it. Just don't double up with another multivitamin.
When should I start taking prenatal vitamins before trying to conceive?
At least one month before you start trying, and two to three months if you can. If you're already trying or pregnant and haven't started, start today.
Should I take methylfolate or folic acid if I have an MTHFR variant?
According to the CDC, people with common MTHFR variants can process folic acid, and folic acid is the only form of folate shown to prevent neural tube defects. The CDC doesn't recommend switching to methylfolate instead. If you've been told otherwise or have a specific medical history, talk it through with your provider.
Is it normal to feel nauseous from prenatal vitamins?
Yes, and iron is usually the cause. Taking your prenatal with food or at bedtime often helps, and some people tolerate gentler iron forms or smaller, split doses better. If it keeps happening, ask your provider about switching brands rather than stopping altogether.
Can I take CoQ10 with my prenatal vitamin?
Usually, yes, but check with your provider first, especially if you take blood thinners. Look at your prenatal's label before adding it: some preconception formulas, like TheraNatal OvaVite, already contain CoQ10.
References
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Folic acid supplementation to prevent neural tube defects: preventive medication. JAMA. 2023. uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. MTHFR gene variants and folic acid. cdc.gov
- Chavarro JE, Rich-Edwards JW, Rosner BA, Willett WC. Use of multivitamins, intake of B vitamins, and risk of ovulatory infertility. Fertility and Sterility. 2008;89(3):668-676. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Choline: fact sheet for health professionals. ods.od.nih.gov
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Iodine: fact sheet for health professionals. ods.od.nih.gov
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary supplements and life stages: pregnancy. ods.od.nih.gov
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Good health before pregnancy: prepregnancy care. acog.org
- Xu Y, et al. Pretreatment with coenzyme Q10 improves ovarian response and embryo quality in low-prognosis young women with decreased ovarian reserve: a randomized controlled trial. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology. 2018;16:29. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Clinical evidence of coenzyme Q10 pretreatment for women with diminished ovarian reserve undergoing IVF/ICSI: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of Medicine. 2024. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The content on Awaiting the Stork™ is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified physician or healthcare professional to address your unique health needs and circumstances.
