Ferritin Levels

[Groovee]

My Ferritin was down at 25 in October, dropped to 17 in November and now down at 12. So been forced on iron tablets after spa tone didn't work

GP thinks I need to look at how to reduce my periods which are pretty heavy and always have been.

She's suggested the mirena coil and the mini pill or maybe gynae to speak further. I have no idea what to do. My getting pregnant days have been over for about 8 years in my mind. Just not keen on the contraception route.

Any advice?

A friend of mine had an ablation to try and reduce her heavy periods, like you she ended up on iron tablets.
Is there any reason you are against the Mirena?

My friend didn't want to try the Mirena, but the ablation needed to be done under a GA.

3 of my friends have lost their mirenas. One perforated her bowel. Another needed a hysterectomy due to where it embedded in her womb. The 3rd was found eventually after an MRI.

I really am reluctant to go on the pill as I only just manage to take my meds as it is.

I think an appointment with gynae is what I need.

I can see why you have been put off!!
Yes, get the gynae referral, as you won't want to be iron tablets long term.
How old are you?

I'm 38. Dd is 16 and Ds is 13 so do feel complete in that respect.

Just wish we could get it under control. Was gutted to find out there was a further drop.

My ferritin was about 10.5 on last test and actually has been around that for years. I don't tolerate iron tablets well so have struggled to raise it, but am now taking them as I really need to improve this. No one has suggested any intervention to reduce heaviness of periods, even though they think that is a key reason for it. I agree with you that you'd want some basic investigations before going the contraception route. have you been tested for coeliac at all? I think that can affect absorption of iron. Do you eat meat? If you have plenty of iron in your diet and your periods are no heavier than they have always been, I think they should investigate why your levels are dropping.

Actually sorry, it may have been haemoglobin 10.5 rather than ferritin, I am a bit confused. Ferritin is low though, it became low and then the haemoglobin got low, I think.

I have a family history of High ferritin levels which lead to Haemacromatosis. So I would prefer looking into what is causing it to drop than just sticking me on a contraceptive. My history with the combined pill was that it didn't reduce my period flow at all.

The last GP I saw didn't know how to increase ferritin levels. Think I will ask for a gynae review instead.

ferritin is iron stores I think, which is why haemoglobin drops usually after ferritin, it starts to be affected when you have used up a lot of your stores. Taking iron tablets should build up your ferritin levels but if there is an ongoing reason for them to be depleted then they should try to identify it or at least eliminate things before just concluding it is from heavy periods I suppose. Good luck with gynae referral, you could also ask whether anything gastro intestinal might be playing a part.

I had low ferritin that was suspected as being due to heavy periods. Periods now better controlled with three different medications and my ferritin is still persistently low. I want to continue on my medication as the periods were causing problems anyway, but if your periods don't bother you I would want pretty conclusive evidence that they were the cause of the low ferritin before starting long term contraception with its own possible side effects.