SBA's Recurrence Prevention efforts sensitively educate women affected by neural tube defects (NTDs) and health care providers about the relationship between folic acid and NTDs, specifically Spina Bifida. The overall goal is to increase folic acid consumption among all women; specifically those affected by Spina Bifida, and increase the number of health care professionals who appropriately counsel women about folic acid.

All women who could become pregnant are at risk for having a pregnancy affected by Spina Bifida. Women who have:

• a child with Spina Bifida
  
  
• Spina Bifida themselves
  
  
• already had a pregnancy affected by any neural tube defect

are at greater risk of having a child affected by Spina Bifida or another neural tube defect. These women have an increased risk of having a future affected pregnancy or recurrence.

General Recommendation:

• All women of childbearing age need a daily dose of 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) of synthetic folic acid.
  
  
• This amount is available through a multivitamin, available in stores, in addition to a healthy diet.

History of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) Recommendation:

• A higher prescription dose of 4000 micrograms (4.0 mg) beginning one to three months before pregnancy and in the first trimester of pregnancy, reduces the risk of having another affected pregnancy by up to 70 percent.
  
  
• This amount is available through prescription of four 1.0 mg tablets daily.