- Femme Fortified
- Posts
- š§Ŗ The Iron Marker Thatās Still Overlooked
š§Ŗ The Iron Marker Thatās Still Overlooked
Why ānormalā test results donāt always mean you're fine.

šš¼ Welcome to Femme Fortified, where busy, ambitious women get science-backed insights to feel better, work better, and cut through the wellness noise.
Real health insights. Zero jargon. Just smart, actionable tips so you can feel your best and get back to being unstoppable.
Not a subscriber yet? Sign up here. š

Ferritin is your iron savings account.
It drops well before anemia shows up, but many donāt test for it right away.
Knowing your number could save you months of exhaustion, confusion, and missed answers.
I was surprised to learn that iron deficiency doesnāt actually show up in your iron levels. At least, not right away.
It feels backwards. Shouldnāt a blood test for ironā¦measure how much iron you have?
But thatās not how our bodiesāor lab reportsāwork. Iāve had friends told their labs looked ānormal,ā even while battling fatigue, brain fog, and all the classic signs of low iron. It wasnāt until a provider thought to check their ferritin that the real issue came into focus.
And thatās part of the problem: ferritin isnāt always tested unless your doctor suspects iron deficiency in the first place.
It shouldnāt be this complicated. But given the inconsistent guidelines we're working with, it often is.
In this issue, Iām looking at what ferritin actually tells you, why itās the first marker to drop when iron runs low, and why itās worth requesting specifically.
šØ Was this forwarded to you?
Subscribe to get Femme Fortified in your inbox every week!

𩸠Ferritin: Your Iron Savings Account
Ferritin is how your body stores iron.
Think of it as your iron savings account, used to keep reserves ready for high-demand moments: pregnancy, menstruation, stress, recovery, or simply living in a female body.
When iron starts running low, your ferritin drops first, long before your hemoglobin or serum iron fall enough to flag as anemia.
Thatās why you can feel tired, foggy, and weak, and have lab tests still looking fine.
š§Ŗ Whatās āLowā vs. āOptimalā?
ā ļø <30 ng/mL ā Usually considered iron deficiency, even without anemia
šØ <15 ng/mL ā Often used as the official cutoff, but symptoms can show up much earlier
š 50ā150 ng/mL ā Generally seen as optimal for womenās energy and function
Many experts now recommend aiming for at least 50 ng/mL to feel and function your best.
š© Enjoying this issue?
Forward it to a friend who should know this, or share it on social media!
š„ One Big Caveat: Inflammation
Ferritin rises in response to inflammation.
So if youāre fighting an infection, dealing with autoimmune issues, or under chronic stress, your ferritin might look normal or even highāwhile your body is actually running low on iron.
In those cases, a falsely ānormalā ferritin could mask a deficiency.
If youāre not feeling well but your ferritin looks fine, itās worth asking your doctor to also check:
C-reactive protein (CRP) ā An inflammation marker
Transferrin saturation ā To see how well iron is circulating
TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity) ā To assess how much capacity your blood has to carry iron
š£ Iād love your input! Your feedback helps shape future issues!
Take a few minutes to share your thoughts: ⨠Femme Fortified Survey āØ

Small steps can move us towards clarity. Hereās how to start:
š Request ferritin specifically.
If you're tired, postpartum, or menstruating heavily, ask your provider for a ferritin testānot just āiron.āš Know your number.
Aim for above 50 ng/mL. Under 30? Itās time to act, even if other labs look fine.š§Ŗ Continue digging if symptoms donāt match the labs.
Ask for CRP and transferrin saturation if your ferritin is ānormal,ā but youāre still feeling symptoms of iron deficiency.

š¬ Has ferritin ever revealed what other labs missed for you? Or has it ever been overlooked entirely? Reply and let me know! Iād love to hear your story.
Reply