Women's Health
Iron matters
Addressing iron deficiency in women’s health is crucial4,5
Iron deficiency (ID)/iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is a global health problem that is highly prevalent in women.4,5
Globally, anaemia is estimated to affect 30% of reproductive-aged women and 37% of pregnant women, with ID causing ~50% of cases4,6
The global prevalence of ID without anaemia is not known, but it is suggested to be at least double that of IDA7
ID/IDA often occurs in reproductive-aged women as a result of:8,9
Excessive iron loss due to abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), including heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB)
Increased iron demand during pregnancy
Inadequate dietary intake of iron (e.g. due to a vegan or vegetarian diet)
Timely identification and treatment is needed5
ID/IDA is a major cause of morbidity in women1,8,10,11
Burden of ID with or without anaemia1,8
- Chronic fatigue
- Cognitive impairment
- Reduced exercise capacity
- Poor health-related quality of life
- Poor work performance
Impact on the mother8,10,11
- Fatigue
- Pre-eclampsia, placenta previa, caesarean section
- Susceptibility to infection
- Reduced lactation
- Increased risk of postpartum haemorrhage and depression
Impact on the infant8,10,11
- Preterm birth and low birth weight
- Increased risk of perinatal and neonatal mortality
- Neurodevelopmental deficits
ID/IDA is widely underdiagnosed and undertreated – you play a crucial role in addressing this condition5,12
References & footnotes
Abbreviations
AUB, abnormal uterine bleeding; EHA, European Hematology Association; HMB, heavy menstrual bleeding; ID, iron deficiency; IDA, iron deficiency anaemia.
References
- Dugan C et al. The misogyny of iron deficiency. Anaesthesia 2021;76(Suppl 4):56–62.
- Favrat B et al. Evaluation of a single dose of ferric carboxymaltose in fatigued, iron-deficient women – PREFER a randomized, placebo-controlled study. PLoS One 2014;9(4):e94217.
- Van Wyck DB et al. Large-dose intravenous ferric carboxymaltose injection for iron deficiency anemia in heavy uterine bleeding: a randomized, controlled trial. Transfusion 2009;49(12):2719–28.
- World Health Organization. Anaemia. 2025. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/anaemia (Accessed August 2025).
- 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).
- World Health Organization. The global prevalence of anaemia in 2011. 2015. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241564960 (Accessed August 2025).
- Camaschella C. Iron deficiency. Blood 2019;133(1):30–9.
- Benson CS et al. The effect of iron deficiency and anaemia on women’s health. Anaesthesia 2021;76(Suppl 4):84–95.
- Iolascon A et al. Recommendations for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Hemasphere 2024;8(7):e108.
- Pavord S et al. UK guidelines on the management of iron deficiency in pregnancy. Br J Haematol 2020;188(6):819–30.
- Smith C et al. Maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality associated with anemia in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol 2019;134(6):1234–44.
- World Health Organization. WHO guideline on use of ferritin concentrations to assess iron status in individuals and populations. 2020. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240000124 (Accessed August 2025).
A complete copy of the cited publications may be requested from CSL in your country.