MTHFR and Folate

What MTHFR is.

MTHFR is a gene that produces an enzyme called methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase. This enzyme converts synthetic folic acid (the form used in standard supplements and fortified foods) into 5-MTHF. The active form of folate that your body actually uses.

Up to 40% of women carry a variant in the MTHFR gene that reduces how efficiently this conversion happens. For some, the reduction is mild. For others, it is significant.

Why this matters for fertility

Folate plays a key role in:

• Maternal tissue growth during pregnancy
• Cell division
• DNA synthesis
• Homocysteine metabolism

If you have an MTHFR variant and you are taking synthetic folic acid, your body may not be converting it efficiently into the form it needs. This is why some preconception practitioners now recommend 5-MTHF directly. No conversion required.

What BioMirco does

We never use synthetic folic acid. Every BioMirco fertility formula uses 5-MTHF calcium. The already-active, bioavailable form. Fertility Advance contains 800µg per daily serving. Fertility Focus contains 533µg.

This means our formulas work for 100% of women regardless of MTHFR status.

Should you test for MTHFR?

You do not necessarily need to. Many practitioners recommend simply using 5-MTHF from the start as the safer default. If you have had recurrent miscarriages, NTD risk concerns, or unexplained TTC challenges, your GP may suggest MTHFR genetic testing as part of a broader workup.

Shop Fertility Advance (with 5-MTHF) →