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Could it be iron deficiency? A symptom checklist

Tiredness that won't go away, pale skin, nails that break: these are typical signs of iron deficiency, but also of many other things. These 12 questions help you sort out what you've noticed and know which blood tests to discuss with your GP.

Tick "Yes" for anything that has happened to you often over the last few months or that applies to you.

1. I feel tired or low on energy most days, sometimes with headaches or dizziness

2. I'm paler than usual, or people have told me so

3. I get out of breath or notice my heart pounding with light effort, like climbing a flight of stairs

4. My hands and feet are often cold

5. My nails break easily, or I'm losing more hair than usual

6. I crave ice or things that aren't food (soil, paper, chalk)

7. In the evening or at night my legs feel restless and I need to move them

8. My periods are heavy, long or very frequent

9. I'm pregnant, or I've given birth or breastfed in the last year

10. I'm vegetarian or vegan and don't make a point of getting enough iron

11. I give blood often (several times a year)

12. I have coeliac disease, Crohn's disease or another gut condition, have had stomach surgery, or often take ibuprofen or aspirin

Please answer every question to see your result.

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Your result

Please answer every question to see your result.

This result is a guide, not a diagnosis. Only a health professional can assess your situation. If your symptoms worry you or have lasted for weeks, speak to your GP or, in England, refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies.

About this test

This is not a validated questionnaire or a diagnosis: it's a list of symptoms and risk factors described by sources such as the NHS and MedlinePlus. It helps you organise what you've noticed before you speak to your GP.

Your body needs iron to make haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. When your iron stores (ferritin) run low, there may be no symptoms at first; if the shortage continues, iron deficiency anaemia develops, with tiredness, pale skin or shortness of breath.

Heavy periods and pregnancy are very common causes, as is bleeding in the stomach and intestines. Iron deficiency can also come from a diet low in iron or from poor absorption, for example with coeliac disease. That's why, as well as confirming the deficiency, your GP will look for its cause.

What your score means

0–2Few signs
3–5Some signs
6–12Many signs

When to get help

See a GP if your symptoms last for weeks or get in the way of daily life. Call 999 if you're short of breath at rest, have chest pain or faint. Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if your poo is black or dark red, or if you're vomiting blood.

Don't take iron supplements on your own without a blood test: too much iron can damage your body, and if you're losing blood, the cause needs to be found. People with haemochromatosis should not take iron, and an iron overdose can be fatal for a young child, so keep tablets out of their reach.

Frequently asked questions

Can you have iron deficiency without anaemia?

Yes. Your iron stores (ferritin) empty first, and only if the shortage continues does haemoglobin fall and anaemia develop. So iron can be low while your haemoglobin is still normal, which is why ferritin is checked too.

What are the symptoms of iron deficiency in women?

The same as in anyone: tiredness, pale skin, shortness of breath, brittle nails. What differs is the risk: heavy periods and pregnancy are among the most common causes.

Is there a test for iron deficiency?

Yes, a blood test your GP arranges: a full blood count (haemoglobin) and ferritin, sometimes serum iron and transferrin to work out transferrin saturation. Symptoms alone aren't enough to tell.

What causes iron deficiency?

Most often blood loss (heavy periods, bleeding in the stomach or gut), higher needs in pregnancy, too little iron in the diet or poor absorption, for example with coeliac disease. Regular blood donation also removes iron from the body.

Can I just eat more iron-rich food?

A varied diet with meat, beans, nuts and dark green vegetables helps prevent deficiency. But if you're already low, your GP will usually prescribe iron tablets and look for the cause: diet alone often isn't enough.

Sources

Reviewed on 30.10.2026

  1. "tiredness and lack of energy", "shortness of breath", "heart palpitations", "paler than usual skin", "headaches"; "hair loss", "wanting to eat non-food items, such as paper or ice (pica)", "restless legs syndrome"; "Heavy periods and pregnancy are very common causes"; "Bleeding in the stomach and intestines is another common cause" — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/iron-deficiency-anaemia/
  2. "Brittle nails"; "Desire to eat ice or other non-food things"; "Celiac disease"; "You are a strict vegetarian"; contact your provider if "You notice blood or a black tar-appearance in your stool" — https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000584.htm
  3. "Too much iron can damage your body... Extremely high levels can lead to organ damage, coma, and death" — https://medlineplus.gov/iron.html; "Very high doses of iron can be fatal, particularly if taken by children" — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/iron/
  4. "Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if: your poo is black or dark red" — https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bleeding-from-the-bottom-rectal-bleeding/
  5. "Cold hands and feet" — https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/anemia/iron-deficiency-anemia; "Donating blood removes iron from your body" — https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/before-during-after/iron-blood-donation.html

Which blood tests to look at

Other tests