Iron deficiency anemia is a condition where the body lacks sufficient iron to produce healthy red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. It is caused by inadequate dietary iron intake, blood loss from menstruation or gastrointestinal bleeding, or poor iron absorption in the digestive tract. The Ferritin Serum test is the most important test for diagnosis because it measures the body's iron stores and detects deficiency before anemia fully develops.
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Iron deficiency anemia is caused by insufficient iron available for red blood cell production. The most common causes include chronic blood loss from heavy menstrual periods or gastrointestinal bleeding from ulcers or colon polyps, inadequate dietary iron intake especially in vegetarians and vegans, pregnancy when iron demands increase dramatically, and poor iron absorption due to conditions like celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease. Additionally, Helicobacter pylori bacterial infections in the stomach can interfere with iron absorption and contribute to deficiency over time.
The Ferritin Serum test is the most important test for iron deficiency anemia because it measures your body's iron stores and detects deficiency in its earliest stages, often before anemia fully develops. Low ferritin levels below 30 nanograms per milliliter typically indicate depleted iron reserves. For comprehensive diagnosis, the Iron Serum with TIBC test is essential because it measures circulating iron levels, total iron binding capacity, and calculates iron saturation percentage, creating a characteristic pattern where serum iron is low, TIBC is elevated, and saturation is below 20%. The Transferrin test provides additional confirmation by showing elevated levels as your body attempts to increase iron transport, while the Soluble Transferrin Receptor test detects tissue-level iron deficiency that may not show up on standard tests.
You should get tested if you experience persistent fatigue and weakness that interferes with daily activities, notice pale skin or pale inner eyelids and nail beds, have unexplained shortness of breath during normal activities, experience frequent headaches or dizziness, or have cold hands and feet. Testing is especially important if you have heavy menstrual periods lasting more than seven days, follow a vegetarian or vegan diet with limited iron sources, are pregnant or recently gave birth, have a history of gastrointestinal bleeding or ulcers, or notice cravings for non-food items like ice or dirt (a condition called pica). Early detection through blood testing allows for prompt treatment before symptoms become severe.
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What this means
Your testosterone levels are slightly below the optimal range. While this is not necessarily cause for concern, it may contribute to occasional fatigue, reduced motivation, or lower muscle mass over time.
Recommended actions
Increase resistance or strength training
Prioritize 7–8 hours of quality sleep per night, try to reduce stress
Include more zinc- and magnesium-rich foods (like shellfish, beef, pumpkin seeds, spinach)
Consider retesting in 3–6 months
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