Preconception Counseling

Preconception counseling is an informative discussion with a healthcare professional held by an individual interested in a future pregnancy. Its goal is to educate individuals and couples on the importance of health optimization before pregnancy to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications and promote a healthy intrauterine environment for normal fetal growth and development. It generally includes a preconception risk assessment for identification of potential complications of pregnancy and intervention to minimize risk factors, such as increasing folic acid intake to reduce the risk of neural tube defects and counseling individuals on smoking cessation, alcohol reduction, and medications that may compromise fetal development.