Menstrual Suppression, Iron Homeostasis, and Disease Risk

Menstrual blood loss may reduce risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular and other diseases in premenopausal women (compared to men of comparable age and postmenopausal women) by maintaining relatively low levels of body iron as measured by the serum ferritin. The impact of menstrual suppression and cessation has not been adequately studied for the effects on ferritin levels or disease risk. Evidence for increased disease risk with rising body iron stores and effects of menstrual suppression on iron homeostasis are reviewed. We postulate that monitoring ferritin levels may guide preservation of optimal iron stores to reduce disease risk during menstrual suppression and cessation.