Iron prophylaxis in menorrhagia

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.