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Understanding Iron deficiency
What is iron deficiency?
Understanding Iron deficiency
What is iron deficiency?
Understanding Iron deficiency
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Iron deficiency develops when your body doesn’t have enough iron to meet its needs. It can affect anyone but is much more common in girls and women of reproductive age, mainly due to iron lost during periods and pregnancy.1

How common is iron deficiency?

Four women’s faces, one highlighted to represent 1 in 4 affected by heavy menstrual bleeding

Up to 1 in 4 women who have periods experience heavy menstrual bleeding2

Three women’s faces, two highlighted to represent 2 in 3 living with iron deficiency or anaemia

2 in 3 women are living with iron deficiency or anaemia3*

Woman’s face next to a man’s face, showing women are 10 times more likely to have iron deficiency than men

Menstruating women are 10x more likely to be iron deficient or anaemic than men4

What causes iron deficiency in women?

Sanitary pad with a blood drop symbolising heavy menstrual bleeding

Regular blood loss due to heavy menstrual bleeding can slowly use up your iron stores. If you have conditions like endometriosis, your periods might be heavier or come more often, making it even easier to run low on iron.1,5

Signs of a heavy period may include needing to use both tampons and pads, leaking through clothes, passing large blood clots, or having to change your pad or tampon more often than every two hours.6

Foetus inside a womb representing pregnancy and postpartum iron needs

Your body needs extra iron during pregnancy to support your growing baby and to prepare for blood loss during childbirth. Both pregnancy and giving birth can lower your iron levels, especially if you start out with low iron stores.1 

Leaf and meat symbolising dietary factors affecting iron intake

Iron deficiency can develop when you don’t get enough iron from your diet, particularly if you eat little or no red meat or follow a plant-based diet.7

Intestines representing digestive issues affecting iron absorption

Conditions like coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or other problems affecting the gut can make it difficult for your body to absorb iron.7 

Hand holding a blood drop symbolising blood donation or blood loss

Any ongoing or repeated blood loss, even from other medical conditions or surgeries, can also contribute to iron deficiency.7 

Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia. There is a difference

Reduction in iron stores and red blood cells with iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia.

Normally, there is a healthy balance between the amount of iron you take in and what your body needs to work properly.8

Reduction in iron stores and red blood cells with iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia.

When it doesn’t get enough iron, your body starts to use your iron stores. This eventually causes iron deficiency.8

Reduction in iron stores and red blood cells with iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia.

Once your stores are used up, the body doesn’t have enough iron to make haemoglobin. This stage is called iron deficiency anaemia.8

Professional woman wearing a blue suit and red glasses holding a document and yawning

It’s time to make iron deficiency part of regular health conversations, so you can feel informed and supported to take control of your health. Learn about the key signs of iron deficiency as the first step towards achieving this.

Explore the symptoms
References

*From an internet-based survey conducted among 4,506 women (aged 18–57 years) in five European countries between January and February 2012.3

 

References:

  1. International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. FIGO Statement: Iron deficiency and anaemia in women and girls. 2023. Available at: https://www.figo.org/resources/figo-statements/iron-deficiency-and-anaemia-women-and-girls (Accessed August 2025).
  2. Marret H et al. Clinical practice guidelines on menorrhagia: management of abnormal uterine bleeding before menopause. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2010;152(2):133–7.
  3. Fraser IS et al. Prevalence of heavy menstrual bleeding and experiences of affected women in a European patient survey. Int J Gynecol Obstet 2015;128(3):196–200.
  4. Breymann C et al. Treatment of iron deficiency in women. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2013;73(3):256–61.
  5. Iolascon A et al. Recommendations for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Hemasphere 2024;8(7):e108.
  6. Patient. Heavy periods. 2024. Available at: https://patient.info/womens-health/periods-and-period-problems/heavy-periods-menorrhagia#what-is-considered-a-heavy-period-menorrhagia (Accessed August 2025).
  7. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Anaemia – iron deficiency: what causes it? 2024. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anaemia-iron-deficiency/background-information/causes/ (Accessed August 2025).
  8. Schrier SL et al. Causes and diagnosis of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in adults. Available at: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/diagnosis-of-iron-deficiency-and-iron-deficiency-anemia-in-adults (Accessed August 2025).