Preconception health is a woman's health before she becomes pregnant. It means knowing how health conditions and risk factors could affect a woman or her unborn baby if she becomes pregnant. For example, some foods, habits, and medicines can harm your baby — even before he or she is conceived.

What does preconception mean in pregnancy?

Preconception health refers to the health of women and men during their reproductive years, which are the years they can have a child. It focuses on taking steps now to protect the health of a baby they might have sometime in the future.

What happens during preconception?

A preconception checkup is a medical checkup you get before pregnancy to help make sure you're healthy when you get pregnant. At your preconception checkup, your provider looks for health conditions that may affect your pregnancy and the health of your baby.