Evidence check: Eisen-Ferritin Selbsttest in the context of Wechseljahre

A self-test for iron (ferritin) can provide a snapshot of your body's iron stores. In menopause, interpretation becomes tricky: as menstruation ceases, iron loss decreases, so ferritin may rise, yet many women experience fatigue that could stem from either iron deficiency or hormonal shifts. The test alone cannot differentiate causes. Additionally, inflammation (elevated CRP) can falsely raise ferritin, masking a true deficiency. Evidence for the benefit of such self-tests during menopause is limited: no specific studies confirm that lay users draw correct conclusions without medical guidance. A normal ferritin does not rule out functional iron deficiency, and self-supplementing with iron carries risks (e.g., GI upset, or organ damage in undiagnosed hemochromatosis). Therefore, the test should be used cautiously as a screening tool; a doctor's evaluation with a complete blood count, transferrin saturation, and inflammatory markers remains essential. Evidence: practice (common usage), but not supported by context-specific studies.