Is low hemoglobin count normal for women?

There is a common perception that a low hemoglobin count is normal for women.

The normal hemoglobin levels for women are less than men, as to say it is 13.50 to 17.50 grams per deciliter for men while for women 12 to 15.50 grams.

Hemoglobin counts less than this is not normal.

Many also do not consider 9 to 10 grams of hemoglobin/dl as a problem for women as they lose blood for menstruation and childbirth. Actually, less than 12 grams hemoglobin/dl is anaemia.

If the anaemia is detected all on a sudden, attributing the problem to excessive bleeding for menstruation is another wrong assumption.

Ailments like peptic ulcer, liver diseases, piles, and stomach cancer that cause anaemia are not only men’s diseases. Cancer and other complexities should be diagnosed in middle-aged and older women who have lower hemoglobin counts.

Iron demand increases a lot during pregnancy and breast-feeding. It may turn to anaemia if the deficiency is not addressed. The deficiency can be caused by bleeding too during childbirth. The expectant mother’s anaemia affects the child in gestation along with complicating the mother’s heart condition. In each of the cases, treatment is essential.

Thalassemia and other genetic hemoglobin problems, if not mild, can be recognised at an early age.

For many the problem may be first identified during pregnancy as the hemoglobin levels are checked for the first time then.

Not all anaemia is caused by lower rate of iron and therefore, requires attention.

*Mousumi Moriom Sultana is a medicine specialist at Ibrahim General Hospital, Mirpur, Dhaka.