Why are my iron levels low?

You don't give your age, but if you are female and of menstruation age there's your reason right there.

Otherwise, if there is any worry about why your iron has dropped, your doctor will organise tests to check. There's no need for worry if he/she isn't worried. Iron deficiency anaemia is easily corrected with a course of iron and you'll soon be back to normal. Don't obsess over it. There's no need.

Iron deficiency can be caused by a poor diet or certain intestinal diseases that affect how the body absorbs iron. Take your iron medication and you'll be fine.

In women under 50 iron deficiency usually is caused by blood loss from periods, and isn't usually investigated.

Except: If you're getting frequent diarrhoea, the other main thing to think about is coeliac disease, which can cause diarrhoea, and reduces the gut's ability to absorb iron. There is a blood test for coeliac disease.

You might want to ask your doctor about this?

Doctor

EDIT: it depends what your 8 value is.

1. The usual measurement of iron stores is ferritin. Our reference range is 12-300 ng/ml, so a ferritin level of 8 is low. On its own it indicates low iron stores.

2. You will have had a blood count done, which will have a haemoglobin (Hb) level. In women, our reference range is 110-150 g/L, though some labs still report in g/dL, so the range there would be 11-15. If your Hb is lower than 11, then you are anaemic. If not, you aren't.

If your haemoglobin is 8 g/dL, it's low, but in someone otherwise well you would not be thinking of transfusion.

EDIT 2: From what you say, you may well have had a test for coeliac disease already, and nobody here is in a position to advise if you have. There are many causes of iron deficiency, though you say you're young enough to be having periods, so serious causes such as cancer are much less likely. If you are worried I can only advise you to speak to your doctor again. If you have some particular concern, mention that to your doctor, otherwise you'll still worry about it.

Hi so many females suffer from this due to the monthly period cycle and need to take iron pills. there are other causes which only a specialist could advise you about.

Could be a lot of things. Simply eat more greens. Kale is great. Hydrate with water.