What to watch with Ferritin and menopause?

What to watch with Ferritin and menopause? Ferritin is the main iron storage protein. During menopause, iron metabolism shifts significantly: with the cessation of menstruation, monthly blood loss stops, so iron stores tend to increase. At the same time, declining estrogen affects iron regulation. Elevated ferritin in postmenopause may indicate incipient iron overload, but also inflammation (ferritin is an acute-phase reactant). Low ferritin is less common but can occur with bleeding disorders or poor intake. Key point: ferritin alone is not diagnostic – transferrin saturation, CRP, and clinical symptoms should be assessed together. Ferritin >150–200 µg/l with elevated transferrin saturation (>45%) may suggest hemochromatosis, which often becomes symptomatic in women after menopause. Ferritin <30 µg/l indicates depleted iron stores. Evidence is mostly clinical practice and basic physiology; large randomized trials on ferritin optimization in menopause are lacking. Caveat: ferritin is not a direct menopause marker. Abnormal values warrant medical evaluation.