Low-dose aspirin for pre-eclampsia prevention works best when started before 16 weeks and taken nightly. Many trials used evening dosing, and adherence falls off after the first trimester. Stopping at 36 weeks limits bleeding concerns at delivery without losing the benefit.
- Start between 12 and 16 weeks; later starts are less effective.
- Take at night, with food.
- Stop at 36 weeks or at diagnosis of pre-eclampsia.
- Ask about missed doses at every visit, not just whether it was prescribed.
Why it matters
An aspirin prescription is only as good as the proportion of nights it is taken.
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