Iron Deficiency in Women: Signs, Causes, and When to Get Tested

Common Signs of Low Iron

Iron deficiency tends to develop slowly, so the signs are easy to dismiss. Symptoms may include:

• Persistent fatigue — feeling tired even after a full night of sleep.
• Brain fog — difficulty concentrating or remembering things.
• Shortness of breath — particularly during activity that used to feel easy.
• Physical changes — pale skin, brittle nails, or unusual hair loss.
• Heart palpitations — a racing or pounding heartbeat.
• Restless legs — an uncomfortable urge to move your legs, often at night.

If a few of these sound familiar, it does not automatically mean you are iron deficient. Therefore, the only way to know for certain is a blood test rather than guesswork.

What Causes Iron Deficiency in Women?

There is rarely just one cause. Specifically, the common causes we see at our Bentley clinic include:

• Heavy or prolonged periods — one of the leading causes of iron depletion in women.
• Pregnancy and the postpartum period — iron demands rise significantly to support a growing baby, and blood loss at birth can lower levels further.
• Dietary factors — vegetarian and vegan diets can make it harder to get enough absorbable iron, though it is still achievable with the right planning.
• Gut absorption issues — conditions such as coeliac disease can prevent the body absorbing iron properly, even from supplements.