I recommend that folic acid is started a month before conception happens and it has to be continued for the first 3 months because it is requited for the formation of the fetus. After 3 months we generally stop folic acid and add iron tablet for the patient and most iron preparations has folic acid in them so it is not necessary for the patient to take iron tablet and folic acid after the 3rd month. So basically folic acid is recommended 1 month before conception to the first 3 months of pregnancy.