1Magnus wrote:Sorry to be confusing: what I was alluding to, about iron supplements, was the period. (I'm female, despite my username). If you bleed once a month, that may not affect some women and their ability to do sports, but some women will feel fainter around the time of their periods, or during menopause, for example. Iron supplements don't require a prescription - you buy iron tablets from Boots, and take one a day: sorted. And lots of women do that.
The situation is similar for blood donation. I donate blood, but only during the winter months, when I don't go hillwalking. I couldn't donate blood and then go on a munroing trip the next weekend, iron supplements or not! (But perhaps that's another thread, sorry).
Thanks, Magnus. I did realise the reason for women's higher iron requirement, and you do make some strong points here. I'm fully aware iron tablets are available over the counter, as are proton pump inhibitors, another medication I'm prescribed. Both these products come with the risk of side effects, so I was just highlighting the risk of taking things people are not prescribed or don't really need. But I accept what you say, in that some women may benefit from taking iron at certain times, and absolutely you'll want to build your Hb back up after donating blood. Like when I need to build mine back up after a gastro bleed!