Questions and answers dealing with iron
How much iron do I need every day?
Most people get enough
iron through a regular healthy diet that has iron-rich foods. But some groups of people don't get enough iron:
- teenage girls/women of childbearing age (who have heavy menstrual losses, who have had more than one child, or use an intrauterine device [IUD])
- older infants and toddlers
- pregnant women
These groups of people should be screened periodically for
iron deficiency. If the tests show that the body isn't getting enough iron,
iron supplements may be prescribed. Many health care providers prescribe iron supplements during
pregnancy because many pregnant women don't get enough. They can help when diet alone can't restore the iron level back to normal. Talk with your HCP to find out if you are getting enough iron through your diet or if you or your child needs to be taking iron supplements. Please see to the chart below to see how many milligrams (mg) of iron you should take every day.
Are there special iron guidelines for pregnant women?
Many pregnant women have a hard time getting enough iron. During
pregnancy, your body demands more iron because of the growing needs from the fetus, the higher volume of blood, and blood loss during delivery. Not getting enough
iron can cause preterm labor and delivering a low-birthweight baby. If you're pregnant, follow these tips:
- Make sure you get 27mg of iron every day. Take an iron supplement (pill). It may be part of your prenatal vitamin. Start taking it at your first prenatal visit.
- Get tested for anemia at your first prenatal visit.
I am taking hormone therapy (HT). Does that affect how much iron I should take?
It might. If you are still getting your period while taking HT, you may need more iron than women who are postmenopausal and not taking HT. Talk to your health care provider.
Does birth control affect my risk for anemia?
It could. Some women who take birth control pills have less bleeding during their periods. This would lower their risk for anemia. But women who use an intrauterine device (IUD) may have more bleeding and increase their chances of getting
anemia. Talk to your health care provider.
I am a vegetarian. What steps should I take to make sure I get enough iron?
It depends on your diet. Since it's easier to get iron from meat than from plant-derived foods, some vegetarians may need to take a higher amount of iron each day than what is recommended for other
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