Menstrual Blood Loss may Determine Iron Status in Premenopausal Blood Donors: Study
Menstrual Blood Loss Determines Iron Status in Premenopausal Blood Donors suggests a study published in the Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica.
A study was done to prevent blood donors from developing iron deficiency (ferritin <15 μg/L) and subsequent anemia (hemoglobin <120 g/L), blood services rely on information about known risk factors, including the donor's sex and age. For example, while Finnish women can donate whole blood with a minimum donation interval of 91 days, women in the 18 to 25-year-old age group are recommended to donate no more than once yearly. Menstrual blood loss is not accounted for in blood donation interval recommendations, despite being a known risk factor of iron deficiency.
We aim to investigate to what extent menstrual bleeding is associated with ferritin and haemoglobin levels in female blood donors and quantify the association of other menstruation-related variables not currently accounted for by blood services (i.e., use of hormonal contraception, heavy menstrual bleeding) with iron deficiency or anaemia. The study population comprised 473 premenopausal and 491 postmenopausal Dutch whole blood donors. Exclusion criteria were current pregnancy, BMI ≥50, ferritin ≥200, pictorial blood assessment chart (PBAC) ≥400, and age <18 or ≥70 years.
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