Preparing for pregnancy: a preconception guide

Preconception care is the health preparation you do in the three to six months before trying to conceive. It covers a pre-pregnancy check with your GP, folate and iodine, immunisation and screening status, cycle awareness, and review of existing conditions and medicines.

Most pregnancy advice arrives after the positive test. The months before are quieter — and that is where small, unglamorous decisions make the most difference. 

When should you start preparing? 

Around three months before you begin trying. That window allows supplements to reach steady levels, vaccinations to be given, chronic conditions to be reviewed, and medicines to be checked or changed safely.

If you are already trying, start now rather than waiting for a tidier moment. 

What does a pre-pregnancy health check involve? 

A structured conversation plus a small number of tests. Expect your clinician to cover: 

• Medical history — thyroid, diabetes, blood pressure, epilepsy, autoimmune conditions, mental health, previous pregnancy or loss 

• Medicines and supplements — including over-the-counter and herbal products, reviewed for pregnancy safety 

• Cycle history — regularity, pain, bleeding, endometriosis or PCOS, previous contraception 

• Immunisation and screening — rubella and varicella immunity, whooping cough, cervical and sexual health screening 

• Blood tests — iron studies, thyroid function and blood group where indicated 

• Genetic carrier screening — discussed so you can make an informed choice 

• Lifestyle — nutrition, movement, alcohol, smoking, vaping, sleep and work exposures

What supplements matter before pregnancy? 

• Folate, taken before conception and through early pregnancy, reduces the risk of neural tube defects

• Iodine supports fetal brain development and Australian diets are often low in it

• Iron & vitamin D are checked rather than assumed

Some circumstances call for a different folate dose: a conversation with your clinician, not a decision in a pharmacy aisle. 

How do you know when you are ovulating? 

Ovulation generally occurs 12 to 16 days before your next period starts, not automatically on day 14. Useful signals: cervical mucus becoming clearer and stretchier, mild one-sided discomfort, and a small temperature rise afterwards.

Sex every one to two days across the fertile window is more effective than trying to hit a single day. 

If your cycles are irregular, very long, very short or absent, that deserves investigation in its own right: it is one of the most common reasons a preconception visit produces a useful diagnosis. 

What about alcohol, smoking and weight? 

There is no known safe level of alcohol in pregnancy, so the safest approach when trying is not to drink. Stopping smoking and vaping improves outcomes for both partners, and support is available.

Weight is discussed in terms of what helps, not blame: reaching a healthier weight can improve cycle regularity, and Elysian's dietitian can build a plan around what your life allows. 

Does your partner need to prepare too? 

Yes. Sperm health responds to alcohol, smoking, heat, medicines, weight and chronic illness, and around a third of difficulty conceiving relates to a male factor.

A partner check-up before you start avoids months of assuming the issue sits with one person. 

When should you seek a fertility assessment? 

After 12 months of trying, or 6 months if you are over 35.

Come sooner if:

• your periods are irregular or absent

• you have known endometriosis or PMOS

• you have had pelvic surgery or infection

• you have had two or more miscarriages;

• you simply want to understand your position early

Frequently asked questions

• How do I prepare for pregnancy?

  Start about three months before trying. Book a pre-pregnancy check, begin folate and iodine, confirm immunisations and cervical screening are current, review medicines and chronic conditions, stop alcohol and smoking, and track your cycle. Book an appointment now at elysianwomenshealth.com.au

• How long does it usually take to conceive?

  Most couples having regular unprotected sex conceive within a year, and many within six months. Timelines vary with age and health. If a year has passed — or six months if you are over 35 — a fertility assessment is the appropriate next step. 

• Can I see a doctor about pregnancy planning without a referral?

  Yes. No referral is needed for an initial preconception assessment at Elysian Women's Health. Book directly with a women's health GP, who will coordinate any tests, dietitian input or specialist review your plan requires. 

Book an appointment now 

elysianwomenshealth.com.au
1300 124 333
No referral needed for an initial assessment