HealthJuly 18, 2026
preconception
PREE-kuh-nsep-shun
Definition
The period of time before a person is conceived; in a medical or scientific context, referring to events, exposures, or health conditions that occur prior to the start of a pregnancy.
Etymology
The word is formed from the prefix 'pre-' meaning 'before' and 'conception,' which comes from the Latin 'conceptio,' meaning a taking in or becoming pregnant.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe trauma experienced by parents before they conceived their children, exploring how such past experiences can influence the long-term mental health of offspring.
Children of Holocaust survivors face higher schizophrenia risk, Israeli study finds
Read the full article ↗The Jerusalem Post