Iron Deficiency and Miscarriage Risk
If you’ve walked through miscarriage or struggled to grow your family, you know how isolating and confusing it can be be. You are not alone, and you deserve information that empowers you. One area we’re learning about more is the impact of iron deficiency has on early pregnancy loss, and new research offers clarity and hope.
As a naturopathic doctor, it’s almost daily I speak to someone to those who menstruate about iron deficiency. It is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies seen in women of reproductive age. Yet, it can often be overlooked when it comes to fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Many women know iron is important for energy and healthy red blood cells, but fewer realize how strongly it is tied to early pregnancy loss.
The Link Between Low Iron & Miscarraige
New research from 2025 has shown just how important iron status is. [1] In this study, women with iron deficiency who received IV iron had a 68% lower miscarraige rate when compared to those who remained untreated. Even after adjusting for factors like age, cause of infertility, and number of past pregnancies, treating iron deficiency still significantly reduced miscarraige risk (OR 0.32, p <0.001).
Not only that, but women who were treated for iron deficiency had 3.2 times higher live birth rates than those who were not treated. The women in this study all had iron deficiency without anemia.
That a powerful reminder that something as simple as optimizing iron can have a meaningful impact on pregnancy outcomes.
In the study mentioned above, ferritin levels increase from ranges of 16 ug/L to 82 ug/L after iron infusion treatments, which brought these patients to optimal ranges for fertility.
How to Know if Iron Deficiency is Affecting You
Iron deficiency can be sneaky. Even without anemia, ferritin under 30-40 ug/L may impact energy, cycles, ovulation, and fertility. Common symptoms include:
Fatigue
Heavy periods
Feeling cold
Hair loss
Shortness of breath
Brain fog
For anyone trying to conceive, or who has experienced miscarraige, iron testing should be a routine part of care.
Supporting Healthy Iron Levels
Iron deficiency can be corrected with:
Oral iron supplementation
IV iron: consider when levels are very low, when iron supplementation isn’t well tolerance, and/or when you have a short window of time to increase iron levels
Dietary changes: can improve iron levels, but it can be difficult to reach optimal levels if stores are currently low
Iron deficiency has also been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including maternal illness, low birth weight, premature birth, and intrauterine growth restriction. [2] These complications can have long-lasting effects on the child’s health and development.
Final Thoughts
If you’re trying to conceive or have had difficulty carrying a pregnancy, assessing iron levels is a simple and powerful tool. While it’s not the only reason miscarriage can occur, the emerging research is telling us that identifying and treating iron deficiency may significantly lower miscarriage risk and support healthier pregnancies.
If you’d like to understand your iron levels or explore treatment options, feel free to book 15 minute complimentary call to discover how we can work together. I’d love to help you navigate this piece of your fertility journey.
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Tulenheimo-Silfvast A, Ruokolainen-Pursiainen L, Simberg N. Association between iron deficiency and fertility. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2025;104(4):738-745. doi:10.1111/aogs.15046
Hansen R, Spangmose AL, Sommer VM, et al. Maternal first trimester iron status and its association with obstetric and perinatal outcomes. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2022;306(4):1359-1371. doi:10.1007/s00404-022-06401-x