A. Anemia is a process, not a disease, and is the most common disorder of the blood. In order for the body to stay healthy, organs and tissues need a steady supply of oxygen. Just as the name implies, this form of anemia is due to insufficient iron. The principal cause of iron-deficiency anemia in premenopausal women is blood lost during menses. During their reproductive years, women are at an increased risk for iron deficiency because they lose 20-40 mg or iron per month during the menstrual cycle.
Inadequate iron needs to be replenished through a well balanced diet.
Iron balance is maintained through the absorption mechanism of the gastrointestinal tract. Iron-depletion causes the amount of stored iron to be reduced, but has no affect on the functional iron. However, a person with no stored iron has no reserves to use if the body requires more iron. In essence, the amount of iron absorbed by the body is not adequate for growth and development or to replace the amount lost. Iron-deficiency anemia is the final stage of iron deficiency.