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The reason more females have it is because of blood loss from periods (Iron is needed to make up Red-blood cells).

I had IDA for over a year. My doctor tried to fix/ mask it with iron supplements, turns out was a coeliac. Which explains why I was constantly felt lethargic/ hung-over.

Pro tip: Don't trust everything your doctor says (new Dr suspected it and ordered tests straight away).

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I will second this, many doctors are willfully ignorant and can't even conceive of the notion that a doctor is capable of being uninformed or wrong.

I've been having some unexplained medical issues lately and asked for some specialized blood tests and was refused (this being Canada, you go to the doctor with your hat in your hand, begging that they actually take your problems seriously, and if they don't want to help you, you're out of luck.)

> blood loss from periods

...is a whopping 10-35 mL per period—hardly enough to cause a nutrient deficiency.

The flip side is hemochromotosis, women doesn't necessarily become symptomic while pre menopausal. The blood loss masks/treats it until menopause.

"In women of reproductive age, periods are the most common cause of iron deficiency anaemia."

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anaemia-iron-deficiency-/Pages/...

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