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Iron prophylaxis in menorrhagia
Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica
|January 1, 1981
Summary
Iron supplementation effectively addresses heavy menstrual bleeding. Daily iron tablets for 10 days during menstruation helped most women replenish iron lost, preventing deficiency.
Area of Science:
- Gynecology
- Hematology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) is a common cause of iron deficiency.
- Iron supplementation is a standard treatment to counteract increased iron loss.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a specific iron supplement (100 mg iron daily for 10 days) in women with menorrhagia.
- To determine if this iron prophylaxis regimen sufficiently covers iron losses due to heavy menstrual bleeding.
Main Methods:
- 15 women with menorrhagia received one 100 mg iron tablet daily for 10 days around their menstrual period.
- Tablets contained 59Fe-labeled ferrous sulfate (FeSO4).
- Total iron absorption was measured using a whole-body counter.
Main Results:
- Mean menstrual blood loss was 117 ml, equating to an average iron loss of 53 mg.
- The mean iron absorption from the supplement was 81 mg.
- 14 out of 15 women absorbed more iron than they lost during menstruation.
Conclusions:
- The applied iron prophylaxis regimen (100 mg daily for 10 days) appears sufficient for most women experiencing menorrhagia.
- This supplementation strategy effectively helps prevent or correct iron deficiency in this population.