Menorrhagia commonly leads to which type of anemia?

Menorrhagia commonly leads to which type of anemia?

• A. Megaloblastic anemia
• B. Aplastic anemia
• C. Iron deficiency anemia
• D. Hemolytic anemia

Answer: (C)

Heavy menstrual bleeding depletes iron stores faster than they can be replenished. Iron is essential for hemoglobin production, so when stores are exhausted, red blood cells become smaller and paler and anemia develops. This is why iron deficiency anemia is the common consequence of menorrhagia. Other types of anemia arise from different causes—such as impaired DNA synthesis in megaloblastic anemia, bone marrow failure in aplastic anemia, or increased red cell destruction in hemolytic anemia—so they’re not the typical outcome of chronic iron loss from heavy menses.

Heavy menstrual bleeding depletes iron stores faster than they can be replenished. Iron is essential for hemoglobin production, so when stores are exhausted, red blood cells become smaller and paler and anemia develops. This is why iron deficiency anemia is the common consequence of menorrhagia. Other types of anemia arise from different causes—such as impaired DNA synthesis in megaloblastic anemia, bone marrow failure in aplastic anemia, or increased red cell destruction in hemolytic anemia—so they’re not the typical outcome of chronic iron loss from heavy menses.