If you are trying for a baby, "fertility vitamins" is the common name for the vitamins and minerals that help prepare your body for pregnancy, filling the gaps that are hard to cover through diet alone. You will also see them called preconception or conception vitamins, or simply vitamins to take when trying to get pregnant. Here is the honest headline: in the UK, only two are recommended for everyone trying to conceive, folic acid and vitamin D. A wider group of nutrients, including zinc, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, iron and iodine, each have their own role in normal body functions around this time, but fertility vitamins support normal reproductive processes rather than guaranteeing conception.
This guide follows routine NHS preconception advice and the 2026 NICE fertility guideline (NG257), and uses only the authorised wording from the GB Nutrition and Health Claims Register. It is information, not medical advice: your GP or midwife comes first.
- The NHS recommends two supplements for everyone trying to conceive: 400 micrograms of folic acid a day and 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day. These are the only universally recommended steps.1
- Folic acid is the single most important one. The NHS advises taking it from before you conceive until you are 12 weeks pregnant, because it helps prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida.1
- Other nutrients play a supporting role. Zinc contributes to normal fertility and reproduction, vitamin B6 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity, and iron contributes to the normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin. These describe normal body functions, not a promise of pregnancy.3
- Start about three months before you begin trying, so your nutrient levels are already where they need to be by the time you conceive.1
- Diet comes first, supplements fill the gaps. A healthy, varied diet does most of the work, but folic acid and, in winter, vitamin D are difficult to get from food alone.1
- Do not take supplements containing vitamin A (retinol) or cod liver oil when trying to conceive or pregnant, as too much vitamin A can harm a developing baby.1
- This is general information, not medical advice. Speak to your GP or pharmacist before starting any supplement, particularly if you take medicines or have a health condition.
Which vitamins should you take when trying to conceive?
Start with the two the NHS recommends for everyone, folic acid and vitamin D, then add the supporting nutrients that a good preconception diet or supplement should cover. Folic acid and vitamin D are the foundation. The rest, zinc, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, iron, vitamin C, vitamin E and iodine, are nutrients your reproductive system and hormones rely on to work normally, which is why they appear in most preconception formulas.
It helps to separate two things that often get blurred: what a nutrient is authorised to claim about normal body function, and why it matters in the months before conception. The table below keeps them apart, using the exact wording permitted in Great Britain.
| Nutrient | Authorised GB claim (normal body function) | Why it matters when trying to conceive |
|---|---|---|
| Folic acid / folate | "Contributes to maternal tissue growth during pregnancy" | The one nutrient recommended for everyone. NHS advises 400 micrograms daily from before conception to 12 weeks, to help prevent neural tube defects. Higher-risk groups are advised 5 milligrams on their GP's advice.1 |
| Vitamin D | "Has a role in the process of cell division" | NHS advises 10 micrograms daily, especially from October to March. Adequate vitamin D is part of general preconception health.1 |
| Zinc | "Contributes to normal fertility and reproduction"; "normal DNA synthesis" | A core preconception mineral for both partners, included for its role in normal reproduction.3 |
| Vitamin B6 | "Contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity" | Part of the normal hormonal activity the body relies on around conception.3 |
| Vitamin B12 | "Contributes to normal red blood cell formation" | Works alongside folate, and is harder to obtain on a vegetarian or vegan diet.1,3 |
| Iron | "Contributes to normal formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin" | Relevant mainly if your levels are low. Take on clinical advice rather than routinely.1 |
| Vitamin C | "Contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress"; "increases iron absorption" | An antioxidant that also helps the body absorb iron from food.3 |
| Vitamin E | "Contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress" | An antioxidant nutrient included in many preconception formulas.3 |
| Iodine | "Contributes to normal thyroid function" | Normal thyroid function is part of healthy preconception nutrition.3 |
A note on the ingredients that get the most attention online. CoQ10 and myo-inositol have no authorised health claim in Great Britain, so no supplement is permitted to make fertility or egg-quality claims about them, and their evidence around conception is limited and not established. They appear in some formulas as general nutritional ingredients, and we cover the research honestly in our guide to what CoQ10 does for fertility rather than overstating it.
Folic acid and vitamin D: the two everyone needs
If you take nothing else from this guide, take these two. They are the only supplements the NHS recommends for everyone who is trying for a baby, and the evidence behind them is settled rather than promising.
Folic acid. The NHS advises 400 micrograms of folic acid every day, from before you are pregnant until you are 12 weeks pregnant. Folic acid helps prevent birth defects known as neural tube defects, including spina bifida. It is difficult to get the recommended amount of folate from food alone, which is exactly why a daily supplement is advised. If you did not start before conceiving, begin as soon as you know you are pregnant.1
Some people are advised to take a higher dose of 5 milligrams a day, on a GP's prescription. This applies if you or the baby's biological father have a neural tube defect or a family history of one, if you have had a previous pregnancy affected by one, if you have diabetes, if you have a blood disorder such as sickle cell anaemia or thalassaemia, or if you take anti-epilepsy or anti-retroviral (HIV) medicines. If any of these apply to you, speak to your GP, who can prescribe the higher dose.1
Vitamin D. The NHS advises 10 micrograms of vitamin D a day, particularly between October and March, when the body cannot make enough from sunlight. Vitamin D has a role in the process of cell division, and it helps regulate the calcium and phosphate your body needs for healthy bones, teeth and muscles. If you have darker skin or usually keep your skin covered, you may need a supplement all year. Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) a day.1,3
One important caution. Do not take supplements that contain vitamin A (retinol), or cod liver oil, when you are trying to conceive or pregnant. Too much vitamin A can harm a developing baby, so always check the label of any multivitamin.1
For a closer look at the evidence, see our guides to whether folic acid helps fertility and how to support egg quality naturally.
Do fertility vitamins really help you get pregnant?
Here is the honest answer. A good range of vitamins and minerals helps your body work normally, and several nutrients specifically contribute to normal fertility, reproduction and hormonal activity. What that does not mean is that a supplement can guarantee conception, or work faster than your body allows. Fertility vitamins support normal reproductive processes, they are not a fertility treatment.
The most consistent evidence is not for any single pill. It is for the basics that surround it: a balanced, varied diet, a healthy weight, not smoking, and keeping alcohol and caffeine modest. Some observational research in women has linked regular multivitamin and micronutrient use with more favourable reproductive outcomes, though the strongest, clearest step remains the simple one the NHS already recommends, getting enough folate before and around conception.4,5
Think of supplements as insurance against the gaps, not as an accelerator. Folate is genuinely hard to get from food in the amount recommended, and vitamin D is hard to make in a British winter, so covering those two makes clear sense. Beyond them, a preconception supplement is a sensible way to keep the supporting nutrients topped up during a busy, often stressful time, provided you keep your expectations realistic about what any capsule can and cannot do.
When should you start taking them?
About three months before you start trying is the sensible window. There are two reasons. First, folate needs to be at a healthy level in your body before conception, not after, because a neural tube forms in the earliest weeks of pregnancy, often before you know you are pregnant.1 Second, the follicles that release an egg each cycle mature over the preceding few months, so starting early means the supporting nutrients are in place while that happens.
In practice, this means beginning your folic acid and vitamin D, and any preconception supplement, around three months ahead. If you are already trying, or find out you are pregnant, do not worry, simply start straight away. The NHS is clear that beginning folic acid as soon as possible is what matters.1
Do you need a fertility supplement, or will a prenatal do?
Both can work, and the honest answer depends on the label rather than the name on the front. What matters is that whatever you take covers the NHS-recommended amounts: 400 micrograms of folic acid and 10 micrograms of vitamin D, with no vitamin A (retinol). Many general prenatal or "conception" multivitamins do exactly that, and a good one can be a simple, single-tablet way to cover your bases.
A dedicated preconception supplement is designed specifically for the months of trying, bringing folic acid, vitamin D and the supporting nutrients in this guide together in one daily dose, formulated for the trying-to-conceive window rather than for later pregnancy. If you prefer a formula built around this stage, that is where a product like Conceive for Women fits.
If your question is less "which nutrients" and more "which product should I buy", we compare the options two ways. Our guide to the best fertility supplements for women ranks and explains the choices, and our advanced fertility supplements versus prenatal vitamins guide explains the difference in detail. To see the full range, browse our fertility supplements.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best fertility vitamins to take when trying to get pregnant?
The single most important fertility vitamin is folic acid. The NHS recommends 400 micrograms a day for everyone trying to conceive, from before pregnancy until 12 weeks, because it helps prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida. It is the one supplement with settled evidence behind it, and the hardest to get in the recommended amount from food alone.1
Can you take too many vitamins when trying to conceive?
Yes. More is not better. Avoid any supplement containing vitamin A (retinol) or cod liver oil, as too much vitamin A can harm a developing baby. Do not exceed 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day, and avoid doubling up by taking a multivitamin plus separate single supplements without checking the totals. If in doubt, ask a pharmacist.1
Do you still need supplements if you eat a healthy diet?
For folic acid, yes, regardless of your diet, because the recommended amount is very hard to reach through food alone. Vitamin D is also difficult to get from food and sunlight in the UK winter. A healthy, varied diet covers most of the other nutrients, so the supplement is there to close the two gaps that diet realistically cannot.1
How long before trying for a baby should you start taking vitamins?
About three months before you start trying is ideal, so your folate level and supporting nutrients are already established by the time you conceive. If you are already trying or have just found out you are pregnant, start straight away rather than waiting.1
Should my partner take vitamins too?
It is worth considering. Preconception nutrition matters for both partners, and nutrients such as zinc, which contributes to normal fertility and reproduction, and selenium, which contributes to normal spermatogenesis, are part of male reproductive health. Our fertility supplements range includes a formula for men.
Are conception vitamins and prenatal vitamins the same thing?
They overlap but are not identical. Conception or preconception formulas are designed for the trying-to-conceive stage, while prenatal vitamins are aimed at pregnancy. Both should contain the NHS-recommended folic acid and vitamin D. The practical test is the label, not the name, so check the amounts and that there is no vitamin A.1
Conceive for Women brings folic acid, vitamin D, zinc and other nutrients that contribute to normal fertility and reproduction together in one daily supplement, formulated for the preconception window. A food supplement is not a substitute for a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. Conceive for Women contains chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus), which is traditionally used in women's health; do not take it if you are already pregnant or breastfeeding, and speak to your GP first if you take any medicines.
View Conceive for WomenRelated reading
- Does folic acid help fertility?
- How to improve egg quality naturally
- What does CoQ10 do for fertility?
- Omega-3 and fertility
- Advanced fertility supplements versus prenatal vitamins
- The best fertility supplements for women
Marina Carter
Fertility Health Writer at FertilitySmart
Marina Carter is a specialist health writer with nearly a decade of experience in reproductive health, fertility nutrition, and evidence-based conception support. She has authored over 30 in-depth articles for FertilitySmart, translating peer-reviewed research into clear, practical guidance for individuals and couples on their fertility journey. Read full bio
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. It does not replace guidance from your GP, midwife or pharmacist. Food supplements are intended to support a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, not to replace them. If you are trying to conceive, are pregnant, take any medicines, or have a health condition, speak to your GP before starting a new supplement.
References
- NHS. Vitamins, supplements and nutrition in pregnancy. nhs.uk. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/vitamins-supplements-and-nutrition/
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Fertility problems: assessment and treatment. NICE guideline NG257. 2026.
- Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register. Department of Health and Social Care. gov.uk. Authorised claim wording fetched 12 July 2026.
- 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.
- Gaskins AJ, Chiu YH, Williams PL, et al. Association between serum folate and vitamin B-12 and outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2015;102(4):943-950.