Tick off the risk factors and symptoms that apply to you to gauge whether it may be worth asking your doctor for an iron/ferritin blood test. This is a screening checklist, not a blood test replacement.
This tool tallies recognised risk factors (like heavy periods, pregnancy or a plant-based diet) and common symptoms (like fatigue, dizziness or unusual cravings) that are commonly associated with iron deficiency in women. The more items you tick, the more it may be worth asking your doctor for a ferritin and full blood count test. It cannot diagnose iron deficiency or anemia — only a blood test interpreted by a doctor can do that.
⚕️ Medical Notice: This is a risk-awareness screener, not a diagnosis. Iron deficiency and anemia have several possible causes and can only be confirmed with a blood test — ferritin and a full blood count — ordered by your doctor. If you tick several items, or you're worried regardless of your score, please make an appointment with your GP.
Risk Factors
Symptoms
| Detail | Value |
|---|
| Items Noted (of 17) | General Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0–2 | Relatively few recognised risk factors/symptoms noted — reassuring, but not a clearance |
| 3 or more | Several recognised risk factors and/or symptoms noted — may be worth asking your doctor for a ferritin and full blood count test |
Iron deficiency usually develops gradually rather than suddenly. The body holds a reserve of stored iron, mainly reflected by a blood marker called ferritin. When ongoing losses (such as monthly menstrual bleeding) or poor absorption outpace what you take in through food, stored iron is drawn down first — often for weeks or months — before the iron available for making healthy red blood cells starts to run genuinely short. This is why symptoms often start mild and easy to dismiss (a bit more tired than usual, slightly more breathless on the stairs) and only become more obvious as stores are used up further.
Ferritin is the key blood test doctors use because it reflects how much iron is stored in the body and is often the most accurate early indicator of a developing problem — commonly before someone becomes anaemic in the strict sense. In commonly cited women's health guidance on iron deficiency, ferritin levels below roughly 30 ng/mL are often flagged as suggesting depleting iron stores, even while red blood cell counts on a standard full blood count may still look normal. This calculator does not ask for or interpret an actual ferritin number — that requires clinical interpretation against a laboratory's specific reference range — but it's worth knowing so you know what to ask your doctor to test.
| Risk Factor | Why It Raises Risk |
|---|---|
| Heavy menstrual periods | The most common cause of iron deficiency in women of reproductive age — regular heavy blood loss depletes stores faster than diet typically replaces them |
| Pregnancy | Blood volume expands and the growing baby draws on maternal iron; commonly cited estimates suggest iron-deficiency anemia affects roughly 1 in 6 pregnant women |
| Vegetarian / vegan diet | Plant (non-haem) iron is absorbed less efficiently than iron from meat, so intake needs more deliberate planning |
| Bariatric / gastric surgery | Altered digestive anatomy can reduce how much iron is absorbed from food and supplements |
| Frequent blood donation | Each donation removes a measurable amount of iron, which can accumulate across repeated donations |
| Endurance athletic training | A less commonly known factor — heavy training can increase iron losses through several mechanisms including foot-strike breakdown of red cells and gut losses |
| GI conditions (coeliac disease, IBD) | Conditions affecting the gut lining can reduce how well dietary iron is absorbed, regardless of intake |
Symptoms of iron deficiency often develop gradually and can be mild or easy to dismiss at first, which is part of why it's frequently under-recognised. Commonly cited women's health guidance on iron deficiency lists symptoms including fatigue, lightheadedness or dizziness, pale skin, shortness of breath on exertion, cold hands and feet, brittle nails, restless legs, headaches, and difficulty concentrating. One specific and less widely known symptom is pica — unusual cravings to chew or eat non-food items such as ice, dirt or starch — which is a recognised, if not fully understood, sign of iron deficiency.
What causes iron deficiency in women?
The most common cause in women of reproductive age is heavy menstrual bleeding, which removes iron faster than a typical diet replaces it. Other recognised contributors include pregnancy, a vegetarian or vegan diet without enough planning around iron-rich foods, bariatric surgery, frequent blood donation, endurance training, and gastrointestinal conditions such as coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease that reduce absorption.
What's the difference between iron deficiency and anemia?
Iron deficiency means your body's stored iron (reflected by ferritin) has become depleted. Anemia is a step further — it's when iron levels have dropped enough to actually reduce the number or function of healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. You can have iron deficiency without yet being anaemic, which is why catching low ferritin early matters.
What is ferritin and why does it matter?
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron inside your cells, and its level in a blood test reflects how much iron your body has in reserve. It's often the most accurate early indicator of a developing iron problem, commonly dropping before red blood cell counts change. Commonly cited guidance suggests ferritin below roughly 30 ng/mL often points to depleting iron stores, though your doctor will interpret this against your lab's specific reference range.
Can heavy periods cause iron deficiency?
Yes — very commonly. Heavy menstrual bleeding is considered the most common cause of iron deficiency in women of reproductive age. If your periods feel heavy, our Menstrual Blood Loss (PBAC) Calculator can help you describe how heavy your bleeding is, which is useful information to bring to a doctor's appointment alongside this screener.
Do vegetarians and vegans need to worry more about iron?
Being vegetarian or vegan is a recognised risk factor worth being mindful of, since plant-based (non-haem) iron is absorbed less efficiently than iron from meat. It doesn't mean iron deficiency is inevitable — many vegetarians and vegans maintain healthy iron levels with thoughtful meal planning, such as pairing iron-rich plant foods with vitamin C sources to boost absorption.
What is pica and why does it happen?
Pica is a craving to eat or chew non-food items such as ice, dirt, clay or starch. It's a recognised symptom of iron deficiency, though the exact reason it happens isn't fully understood. If you notice these cravings in yourself, it's worth mentioning to your doctor alongside any other symptoms or risk factors, as it can be a useful clue.
How is iron deficiency treated?
Treatment generally involves dietary changes and/or iron supplements, but the right approach — including whether supplementation is needed, and at what dose — should be decided by a doctor based on your blood test results and health history. Taking iron supplements without a confirmed need is not recommended, so please discuss treatment with your doctor rather than self-prescribing.
Can men get iron deficiency too?
Yes, men and people who don't menstruate can also become iron deficient, usually from causes like gastrointestinal blood loss, poor absorption, or inadequate dietary intake. This particular screener focuses on risk factors especially relevant to women, such as menstruation and pregnancy, but the underlying symptoms and the need for a blood test to confirm a diagnosis apply to anyone.
Is this screener the same as a blood test?
No. This tool only tallies self-reported risk factors and symptoms to help you gauge whether testing might be worthwhile. It cannot measure your actual iron or ferritin levels. Only a blood test — typically ferritin and a full blood count — ordered and interpreted by your doctor can confirm iron deficiency or anemia.
How often should women get their iron levels checked?
There's no single rule for everyone — it depends on your individual risk factors and symptoms. Women with heavy periods, who are pregnant, or who have other recognised risk factors may benefit from more regular checks as advised by their doctor. If you're generally low-risk and asymptomatic, routine screening frequency is best discussed with your GP as part of your regular check-ups.