Iron deficiency and symptoms?

It isn't usually lower a few days BEFORE your period, but it can be during and a few days after, if you have a heavy flow and especially if you're already somewhat anemic.

The most obvious sign of an iron deficiency is a chronic fatigue feeling, and in some cases a loss of color in the skin.

Pica (craving non-food items) is also a common symptom. While pica does include things like an intense desire to eat things like dirt, clay, or starch, the most common craving is ice.

Talk to your doctor. You may need to take a slow-release iron supplement, either full-time, or during your period. Also, look for foods high in iron (protein-rich foods like meat and cheese, and I think green leafy veggies).

Symptoms of iron deficiency are not unique to iron deficiency (ie not pathognomonic). Iron is needed for many enzymes to function normally, so a wide range of symptoms may eventually emerge, either as the secondary result of the anemia, or as other primary results of iron deficiency. Symptoms of iron deficiency include:

Fatigue

Pallor

Irritability

Weakness

Pica