While women with well-stocked iron supplies do not necessarily need to take iron during their period, iron is definitely recommended for women with heavy menstrual bleeding and/or for those who tend to have low ferritin levels.
During your period, it may be advised to take an iron supplement to help increase your levels and see the benefits of iron.
As mentioned, it is a misconception that taking iron supplements will make your periods heavier.
In short, yes. A heavy menstrual cycle is the leading cause of low iron in women. In some cases, some women can lose too much blood during their menstrual cycle.
The average menstrual period can last anywhere from two to five days. During this time, it is estimated that 220 to 250mg of iron per pint of blood is lost. It is recommended that women of childbearing age (between 19-50), get 14.8mg of iron a day.
But a type of anemia that's common with heavy periods is iron deficiency anemia. Heavy periods lead to blood loss over a long time. This depletes your body's iron stores. With iron deficiency anemia, you might feel tired all the time, weak, dizzy or short of breath, among other signs and symptoms.
Both heavy menstrual bleeding and iron deficiency, with or without anemia, adversely impact quality of life-heavy menstrual bleeding during the episodes of bleeding and iron deficiency on a daily basis.
Iron pills don't make periods lighter, but supplementation is still a sensible idea to replenish the iron stores in the body. Of 236 women treated for heavy menstrual bleeding, one year of iron supplementation increased their hemoglobin levels, reduced anxiety and depression, and improved their daily energy.
While iron supplements can help improve menstrual flow in women with iron deficiency or anemia, they can also have potential side effects on menstrual flow. These side effects can include changes in menstrual flow, such as heavier or lighter periods, as well as changes in the duration or timing of menstrual periods.
While there's little scientific evidence backing this claim up, weight gain from iron pills does happen 6. One study found that individuals with iron deficiency anemia complained of weight gain during their treatment, even though oral preparations of iron aren't known to cause weight gain as a side effect.
The average menstrual period lasts anywhere from two to five days. Estimates suggest that 220 to 250mg of iron per pint of blood is lost during menstruation. This can vary over a woman's lifetime due to changes in iron stores, changing contraceptives, the use of intrauterine devices, or certain medications.
Most women have experienced painful period cramps at some point or the other in life, if not regularly. Iron, however, is something that can help reduce menstrual cramps and make sure that your period isn't something you dread because of pain.
You may notice pale skin and cold hands and feet. Iron-deficiency anemia can also cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. Occasionally, it can cause chest pain, a fast heartbeat and shortness of breath. Iron deficiency can cause you to have unusual cravings for non-food items such as ice, dirt or paper.
According to a specialist, you should take iron early in the morning to have a good effect, because at this time the body has just undergone a long sleep and this period is when the calcium and iron levels in the body are at a low level. best. Therefore, every day taking iron in the morning is what experts recommend.
Most people with iron deficiency have no symptoms, so taking iron pills may not result in any obvious changes to how they feel. A doctor can verify if the pills are working via a blood test. However, if a person does have anemia symptoms, they may notice they get better or go away entirely.
Anaemia, a condition caused by low iron levels, can also cause pink period blood. 'Iron is what gives the blood its red colour, and blood may become lighter if iron is low,' explains Dr Rosén.
Magnesium with vitamin B6
One study found that combining magnesium and vitamin B6 may help relieve a long list of PMS symptoms: water retention (which can cause bloating and breast tenderness), PMS-related mood and mental health issues, low back pain, headache, acne, muscular pain and more.
The best way to take the iron supplement is through two or more doses each day. This way your body absorbs the greatest amount of iron. However, you should take extended-release iron products once a day.
Iron works to slow heavy period flow because it helps small capillaries to contract when necessary, and thus staunch and stop bleeding. And further, if iron deficiency anemia occurs, the body may then suffer low levels of platelets, which are needed for blood clotting, exacerbating menstrual blood loss.
Research has found 50 per cent of women of childbearing age who have an iron deficiency will have amenorrhea. This can also be caused by eating too few calories. Low iron levels are also associated with anovulation, where the egg doesn't get released during your menstrual cycle — making trying to conceive impossible.
Taking certain medications, such as birth control pills, can delay your period, but not any particular supplements that you can purchase over the counter. Some supplements, such as iron, can actually help your menstrual cycle if you have anemia.
Some women experience high levels of estrogen and low levels of progesterone. This can cause the uterine lining to thicken. When a thick uterine lining sheds during menstruation, women might experience heavier blood flows and larger blood clots. Uterine fibroids – Fibroids are noncancerous growths inside the uterus.
Anemia Due to Blood Loss
One sign your period is abnormally heavy is if you're going through a tampon or pad every hour for a few consecutive hours. Other signs include passing large blood clots and bleeding for more than seven days in a row.
Do not take iron supplements and antacids or calcium supplements at the same time. It is best to space doses of these 2 products 1 to 2 hours apart, to get the full benefit from each medicine or dietary supplement.