Iron /Ferritin Level and Menopause

[MightyMay]

Hello Everyone...Quick question. Is it necessary to test your iron and ferritin if you no longer have a menstrual cycle? The GP who is filling in for the regular GP stated that since I no longer have a period, that I could not be anemic due to low iron/ferritin. This does not make sense to me , so I am coming to you reliable women for the correct answer.

[humanbean]

I could not be anemic due to low iron/ferritin

I became anaemic after I had a total hysterectomy. There were several medical reasons for it and I took iron supplements for quite a long time. Eventually (after several years) my ferritin started to rise and didn't stop, so I stopped taking iron supplement altogether. I haven't tested my iron and ferritin since I stopped taking it but I intend to do it before the end of this month.

I would say that you should test iron and ferritin at least once, but don't start supplementing until you know you need it. Excess iron can be poisonous in overdose.The things you would need to test would be a Complete Blood Count and an iron panel. I don't know what chances you have of getting those in the USA.

This is info on the Complete Blood Count :

testing.com/tests/complete-...

and a full iron panel :

I can't find what it is called in the USA but it should include the following :

Serum Iron

Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)

Transferrin Saturation

Ferritin

CRP

In the UK we can get some blood tests done privately and get tested without involving doctors.

[MightyMay in reply to humanbean]

Good afternoon HB...I appreciate the info you have given me. I will be getting all of these test done. Thank you.

[radd]

MightyMay,

What a load of tosh! Of course you can be or become iron deficient at any stage in your life. There are many different reasons for iron deficiency and as your previous post states you have PA, you should be carefully monitored.

There is thought that post-menopausal women’s need for iron reduces but only if they are healthy. If losing iron via period blood loss just compounded an existing malabsorption problem (for instance), than not having periods isn’t going to make the malabsorption issue just go away.

You will need an ‘iron panel’ test which measures not only iron/ferritin levels but how your body is using it. If you are iron deficient and need to supplement you will have to retest after several weeks to gauge levels and adjust iron sups appropriately because iron becomes toxic when amount exceeds a certain level.

[MightyMay in reply to radd]

Good afternoon...thank you for your reply. I will be getting these test done as quickly as possible.

[Batty1]

Your doctor is full of horse manure…I had hysterectomy and Ive become anemic.

[MightyMay in reply to Batty1]

Good afternoon and thank you for your response....