What to watch with Ferritin and Wechseljahre?

During menopause, iron metabolism shifts significantly: with menstruation ceasing, iron loss decreases, often causing ferritin stores to rise. At the same time, hormonal changes (declining estrogen) can promote low-grade inflammation, which elevates ferritin as an acute-phase protein—without true iron overload. Therefore, elevated ferritin should always be interpreted alongside transferrin saturation and CRP to rule out hemochromatosis or inflammation. Low ferritin in menopause is less common but can occur due to heavy bleeding or poor diet. MyBody-X biomarker tests can measure ferritin from a finger-stick, but a single reading is not diagnostic. If values are abnormal, clinical follow-up (iron panel, liver enzymes) is essential. Evidence: human-strong (well-established physiology). Caveat: ferritin alone does not distinguish deficiency from overload or inflammation; context matters.