Educational information from Her Form — reviewed for accuracy by our health specialists.
Not a substitute for personal medical advice. Optional 1:1 consults with Robyn, our consulting women's-health specialist, are available on request.
What it is
Ferritin reflects the body's iron stores. Standard haemoglobin tests miss low iron until anaemia is well established; ferritin catches it earlier.
Why it matters for women
Low ferritin causes fatigue, hair shedding, breathlessness, brain fog and poor exercise recovery. Heavy periods, vegetarian diets and frequent travel are common drivers.
Optimal range
50–150 ng/mL.
Standard lab range
Lab ranges start at 15 — far below symptom threshold.
When it's high
- ↑Inflammation
- ↑Liver issues
- ↑Hemochromatosis
When it's low
- ↓Fatigue
- ↓Hair shedding
- ↓Breathlessness on stairs
- ↓Restless legs
- ↓Hair-tie hair-thinning
References
- RACGP — Iron deficiency in adults— Investigation and management of iron deficiency in women
- NICE — Iron-deficiency anaemia (NG24)— Diagnosis, prevention and management of iron deficiency
- Jean Hailes — Heavy periods and iron— Iron stores and menstrual blood loss in women
References are provided for educational context only. Always interpret results with a qualified healthcare professional.
A note on interpretation. Ranges above are what our health specialists works to in healthy women. They are not a diagnosis — a single result always needs context from your symptoms, cycle phase and other markers.