Can I Take Collagen While Pregnant?

Collagen is a protein made up of amino acids, the same building blocks found in any high-protein food. In principle, a hydrolysed marine collagen supplement is not inherently unsafe during pregnancy. But pregnancy is a time to be cautious about anything new you introduce to your body, and the honest answer is that robust clinical trials specifically studying collagen supplementation in pregnant women are limited. The same caution applies if you are trying to conceive. Here is what you need to know before making any decision, for both stages.

What is collagen and is it safe in principle?

Marine collagen supplements are hydrolysed proteins, essentially broken-down fish protein. The core ingredients are amino acids: glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and others that the body uses to build its own collagen structure. These amino acids are also found in bone broth, fish, meat and other dietary proteins that are routinely consumed during pregnancy.

Hydrolysed marine collagen at standard doses is simply a protein source. A 10,000mg collagen sachet contributes roughly 9g of protein towards your daily intake. From a purely nutritional standpoint, that is a modest and unremarkable contribution.

Why pregnant women ask about collagen

Pregnancy places significant demands on the body's collagen systems. The skin stretches to accommodate a growing bump, and collagen is the primary structural protein determining skin elasticity and resilience. Many women hope that supplementing collagen during pregnancy may reduce stretch marks or support skin recovery afterwards.

Additionally, joints become more lax during pregnancy due to the hormone relaxin, which loosens connective tissue. Some women experience joint discomfort as a result. The amino acids in collagen support connective tissue throughout the body, including the joints and ligaments affected by these hormonal changes.

Does collagen prevent stretch marks in pregnancy?

The honest answer: there is no robust clinical evidence that taking collagen prevents stretch marks during pregnancy. Stretch marks form when the dermis is stretched faster than its collagen and elastin fibres can adapt, and the strongest predictors are genetics, skin type, age and the rate of bump growth, not nutrient intake. Collagen makes up roughly 75% of the skin's dry weight, and during pregnancy the skin over the bump stretches considerably in a matter of months, faster than the dermal scaffolding can fully adapt to. Where it gives, you get a stretch mark.

Marine collagen peptides do supply the amino acids the body uses to build and maintain skin (glycine, proline, hydroxyproline), and as part of a protein-adequate diet may support skin through periods of rapid stretch. But it has not been studied as a stretch-mark intervention, and no supplement is a proven preventative. Genetics are the biggest driver, stretch marks are normal and common, and being realistic beats any confident claim here.

Are there any specific concerns?

Heavy metals and contaminants

The main concern with marine collagen during pregnancy is the quality and purity of the source. Fish can accumulate heavy metals including mercury, and while marine collagen is derived from fish skin and scales rather than the fatty flesh where mercury concentrates, the quality of manufacture matters enormously. Choose a collagen supplement that is independently tested: Informed Choice certification means every batch is tested for over 250 prohibited and potentially harmful substances.

High vitamin A content

Some supplements containing added vitamin A should be avoided in pregnancy, as high doses of vitamin A are associated with birth defects. Kollo Premium Liquid Marine Collagen does not contain vitamin A. It contains B vitamins including B12, plus vitamin C and l-lysine. Bring the full ingredient list to your midwife or GP appointment so they can advise on your specific situation.

Fish allergies

Marine collagen is derived from fish and is not suitable for anyone with a fish allergy. This applies equally during pregnancy and when trying to conceive.

Collagen when trying to conceive: is it safe?

When you are trying to conceive, every supplement choice gets a second look, and that is exactly the right instinct. Marine collagen peptides have a strong general safety profile in healthy adults, but there are no clinical studies linking collagen supplementation to either fertility benefits or fertility harms. Hydrolysed collagen peptides are simply small protein fragments your body breaks down into amino acids and uses across many tissues.

Three things matter most during the TTC phase. First, speak to your GP or fertility specialist before starting any new supplement, and bring the specific product you are considering so they can check for interactions with any prescribed treatment. Second, choose products tested for purity, with Informed Choice registration being a strong UK signal that a product has been screened for prohibited substances. Third, remember that marine collagen comes from fish and is not suitable for anyone with a fish allergy.

Beyond safety, there is no evidence that collagen accelerates conception, and any product or marketing that claims otherwise should be treated with caution. Collagen can support the things many women take it for in their 30s and 40s, such as skin, hair and joint comfort, as part of an overall protein-adequate diet. It is not a fertility intervention.

TTC supplement considerations at a glance

Can I take collagen with the contraceptive pill?

The flip side of the conception question: many women taking the combined or mini pill are also interested in collagen for skin, hair and joint health, and asking whether the two are compatible is exactly the right instinct. The answer is reassuring: there are no known interactions between hydrolysed marine collagen and oral contraceptives. Collagen is a dietary protein, broken down into amino acids, with no known hormonal activity.

The mechanism worth understanding: oral contraceptives are metabolised through the liver's cytochrome P450 enzyme system, and supplements that accelerate those enzymes can reduce the pill's effectiveness. The well-known example is St John's Wort, which is specifically warned against with the pill. Hydrolysed collagen contains no phytoestrogens, no hormone precursors and no compounds known to affect the P450 system, so there is no theoretical route for it to affect contraceptive efficacy, and no clinical reports have identified one.

For completeness on what does warrant attention: St John's Wort should not be taken with the pill; enzyme-inducing medicines are the category your prescriber checks; and while broad-spectrum antibiotics were historically flagged, current UK guidance is that the risk is not significant for most antibiotics. An older theoretical concern about very high-dose vitamin C (over 1,000mg daily) affecting oestrogen levels has little supporting evidence, and the 80mg of vitamin C in a Kollo sachet is a standard daily amount, nowhere near those doses. None of these concerns apply to collagen itself.

• No known interactions between marine collagen and oral contraceptives
• No timing requirement: collagen can be taken at the same time as your pill or separately
• Some women notice skin changes when starting or changing the pill; collagen supports skin structurally as it does at any life stage, but it is not a treatment for hormonal acne or any skin condition
• As good practice, tell your prescriber about any supplements you take

If you prefer a scoop-and-mix format for daily use at home, the Kollo Marine Collagen Powder pouch delivers the same 10,000mg dose in 30 servings with the best per-serving value in the range.

Collagen and PCOS: what the evidence says

PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) affects roughly one in ten women in the UK and brings a complex mix of skin, hair, hormonal and metabolic concerns. Marine collagen is one of the supplements women living with PCOS often ask about, particularly for skin and joint support, so here is the honest picture.

Where marine collagen may play a supporting role is in some of the secondary skin and connective tissue concerns that often come with PCOS. For skin elasticity and hydration, marine collagen has the same moderate evidence base it has in the general population, from studies of 8 to 12 weeks of consistent daily use; researchers believe absorbed peptides may also signal the skin's own collagen-producing cells. For hair, collagen supplies amino acid building blocks for keratin, and the evidence is emerging. None of this data has been generated specifically in PCOS populations, and collagen has no evidence for acne, post-acne marks or scarring, so we make no claims there.

If you and your clinical team decide to add collagen, bring the specific product to the conversation, ask about interactions with anything prescribed (metformin, hormonal contraception, anti-androgen medications), and choose an independently tested product; Kollo is Informed Choice certified, with every batch tested for over 250 prohibited substances. Allow at least 12 weeks of consistent use before judging skin or hair changes, treat collagen as one of the smaller levers, and remember marine collagen is not suitable for anyone with a fish allergy.

What do healthcare professionals generally say?

Most healthcare professionals take a cautious approach to all supplements during pregnancy beyond those specifically recommended, with folic acid, vitamin D and iron being the standard UK recommendations. This caution is not because collagen is considered dangerous, but because the research base for any supplement in pregnancy is limited, and pregnancy is not the time to experiment.

The general guidance is: if you were already taking a high-quality, independently tested marine collagen supplement before becoming pregnant and wish to continue, discuss it with your midwife or GP. If you are considering starting for the first time during pregnancy, it is reasonable to wait until after delivery and breastfeeding.

Collagen after pregnancy: the clearer case

The postnatal period is when many women choose to start or resume a collagen routine, once the specific caution that applies in pregnancy no longer does. Skin is recovering from the stretching of pregnancy, joints are restabilising and the body is repairing. The general evidence for collagen and skin, from studies in adults taking it daily for 8 to 12 weeks, applies here as it does at any other stage of adult life. If you are breastfeeding, the next section covers that specifically.

Can I take collagen while breastfeeding?

Marine collagen is generally considered safe during breastfeeding as a food-derived protein: collagen makes up around 30% of the body's total protein, and hydrolysed peptides supply the same amino acids found in everyday dietary protein. As with pregnancy, though, always consult your GP, midwife or health visitor before starting any new supplement while breastfeeding, so they can confirm it suits your individual circumstances.

The postpartum period places real demands on the body. Pregnancy and breastfeeding draw on your nutrient stores, and your body prioritises your baby's needs. The foundation is a nutrient-dense diet first: adequate protein from varied sources, plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats, because breastfeeding raises both energy and nutrient requirements. Collagen works best complementing that diet, never replacing it. What it can offer is the same general evidence base as at any life stage: skin elasticity and hydration support over 8 to 12 weeks, and amino acid building blocks for connective tissue.

Postpartum hair shedding, honestly

During pregnancy, elevated oestrogen keeps more hair in its growth phase, so hair often feels thicker. After birth, oestrogen drops rapidly and many of those hairs enter the shedding phase together, typically peaking around 3 to 6 months after delivery. This is a normal, self-resolving part of postpartum recovery, not a deficiency, and no supplement is a treatment for it. Collagen supplies amino acids used in keratin production, which is a reasonable supporting role while the cycle rebalances, but if heavy shedding continues beyond around 12 months, see your GP, who can check common underlying causes such as iron and thyroid function.

• Always consult your midwife or GP before taking collagen during pregnancy, and your GP or fertility specialist before starting any supplement while trying to conceive
• If you choose to take collagen, select a product that is independently tested and contains no added vitamin A
• Avoid any collagen product that does not disclose full ingredient testing
• Marine collagen is not suitable for anyone with a fish allergy
• The postnatal period is a sensible time to start or resume collagen for general skin support

Kollo Premium Liquid Marine Collagen delivers 10,000mg of Naticol® marine collagen per daily sachet, with B vitamins, vitamin C and l-lysine, no added vitamin A, and Informed Choice certification with every batch independently tested.