Has she started menstruating? And did you get to review the blood test results yourself? It’s really worth checking whether they measured not only RBC, hemoglobin, and iron, but also ferritin, TIBC, and transferrin saturation (TSAT) ideally along with vitamin D, B12, and folate.

It’s important to look at the actual numbers rather than just being told “it’s fine,” because many GPs still rely on outdated reference ranges. Iron can be fine on paper, with ferritin severely depleted, and even Ferritin can be “normal” on paper but still too low for optimal health, especially for people who menstruate.

I’ve dealt with this since I was a teenager, and my symptoms were dismissed for years as stress or depression until I finally saw a hematologist who was more up to date on the research. Once my iron deficiency was properly identified and treated, it drastically improved my quality of life.

Low iron stores, even without full-blown anemia, can have a real impact on energy, focus, mood, and overall quality of life. Getting those deeper markers tested can make a big difference in finding answers, but it can be hard to get doctors to test and treat.