Iron levels and vaginal symptoms

Got bad vag and haven’t checked your iron levels lately? Put it on your to-do list.

Low iron is associated with vaginal symptoms and poor immunity. We see it a lot in patients: bad vag and low iron. It’s an important element to investigate because it’s so critical for your body.

Low iron maybe not the only thing going on, but if you’re eliminating the causes of your problems and are hitting a wall, check your iron and ferritin levels and make sure they are not just within range, but optimal.

Do not accept suboptimal “within range” iron levels – running on the smell of an oily rag is not the same as running on a full tank. Both might get you someplace, but the ride will be smoother and you’ll go for waaay longer feeling good if your tank is full.

SIGNS YOU MAY BE LOW IN IRON

Do you have a poor vaginal microbiome?
Are you pale?
Are you sensitive to the cold?
Are you tired all the time?
Do you puff or get tired walking up stairs or up hills?
Is your hair falling out?
Do you get colds more often than other people?
Are you anxious all the time?
Do you have heavy periods?
Have your periods recently gotten heavier?
Do you avoid red meat generally due to preference/taste?
Are you a vegetarian? Vegan?
Do you have a history of disordered eating?

WHAT YOU WANT YOUR TEST TO TELL YOU

You can’t tell how your iron is going without a test, and you shouldn’t supplement without a test – you don’t want to have too much iron, as that’s dangerous, though in all truth, if you’re getting regular periods, you’re probably not low.

However, safety first, kids! Book in online or with your doctor for iron studies that include:

Iron
Ferritin (want to see 50-100 ug/L (ng/mL)
Transferrin and Iron-binding Capacity (TIBC)

UNDERSTANDING IRON AND FERRITIN

Ferritin levels reflect the body’s overall stores of iron. Ferritin holds iron in the cell until the body signals it’s time to release it. Then, transferrin picks it up and delivers it to its destination.

Ferritin is a great indicator of how much iron is being released into your body and a better measure than just iron by itself. You could have plenty of iron, but not much ferritin or transferrin, making the iron useless.

Over 100 ug/L (ng/mL) indicates hemochromatosis (a dangerous condition), while under 50 means you’ll be suffering symptoms.

Your test results may fit between the lab’s reference ranges, but that is not what is optimal. Check for over 50 and under 100, and if you fall below, get some advice, supplement or start eating more red meat.

Quercetin, zinc and slippery elm all block the intestinal absorption of iron, so take at a different time to iron supplements or food sources of iron.
Bovine lactoferrin is a great source of iron that doesn’t come with the same intestinal issues that other iron supplements. You want 300-500mg per day. It must be bovine lactoferrin, not apolactoferrin. It’s also an immune booster, so if you’re low in iron and immunity, lactoferrin is a great choice.
Absorption enhancers include vitamin C and lysine. Take any iron supplement with vitamin C if it isn’t already included.
Bugs steal iron! If you’re low in iron and have chronic problems, especially in the digestive tract, after reading all the safety information and understanding what you’re doing, try a good gut biofilm treatment such as InterFase or InterFase Plus (with supportive treatments) to weed out the iron stealers. This is especially useful if you have had long-running iron-deficient anaemia for no apparent cause (i.e. if you eat red meat, but are still always low).
DO NOT DO A BIOFILM TREATMENT UNLESS IT’S SAFE FOR YOU!

UNDERSTANDING TRANSFERRIN AND TIBC

Transferrin levels reflect how much iron is being transported around the body. When the dog whistle for iron occurs, transferrin picks up its homie ferritin, and they start hauling iron around.TIBC is another way to talk about how much transferrin the blood has in it.

WHERE TO GET A TEST

If you live in a country with free healthcare, schedule a visit with your GP and ask for a full blood checkup including iron studies. Iron studies mean not just iron, but the full panel that includes ferritin and transferrin, but at minimum, ferritin.

If you live in the USA, you can get a ferritin and iron test through your GP or from an online testing provider where you pay online and drop into the lab nearest to you and get the blood drawn.

If you’re squeamish about needles, think about your vagina and try to push through! But, if it’s all too much, see a practitioner such as a holistic naturopath or nutritionist who can look at you (eyes, mouth, nails, diet, symptoms) and see if you’re likely to be low in iron and work from there.