Among 1,633 Vively women, median ferritin was 47 to 50 µg/L from the 20s to the 40s and 73 µg/L from 50 onwards. About 1 in 4 women under 50 had ferritin under 30 µg/L, the level many Australian doctors use for low iron stores. Lab ranges for women usually start at 15 or 30 µg/L.
Ferritin is the protein that stores iron, and the ferritin blood test is the best single measure of how much iron you have in reserve. For women, the number depends a lot on stage of life: periods, pregnancy and breastfeeding all draw on iron stores, and menopause stops the monthly loss.
This guide shows ferritin levels by age from the first blood test of 1,633 Vively women, next to the ranges Australian labs use. Normal does not always mean optimal, so we also show the range we aim for.
Ferritin is one of 70+ markers in the Baseline Health Check, alongside iron, transferrin saturation, haemoglobin and hs-CRP, so you see your iron stores in context.
Median ferritin, the middle 50% of women, and the share with low iron stores. 1,633 women.
| Age | Women | Median (µg/L) | Middle 50% (µg/L) | Under 30 µg/L | Under 15 µg/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 to 29 | 137 | 50 | 28 to 83 | 27% | 3% |
| 30 to 39 | 431 | 47 | 29 to 75 | 26% | 6% |
| 40 to 49 | 517 | 49 | 29 to 86 | 25% | 7% |
| 50 to 59 | 373 | 73 | 46 to 113 | 11% | 3% |
| 60 and over | 175 | 73 | 47 to 125 | 7% | 0% |
Lab reference range 15 to 400 µg/L. Vively optimal range 70 to 200 µg/L. Under 30 µg/L is the level many Australian doctors use for low iron stores. Ranges vary between labs.
The line is the median at each age. The darker band is the middle 50% of women, the lighter band the middle 90%. 1,633 women.
| Group (µg/L) | Members | 5th | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | 95th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women 18 to 29 | 137 | 15 | 19 | 28 | 50 | 83 | 136 | 173 |
| Women 30 to 39 | 431 | 13 | 19 | 29 | 47 | 75 | 115 | 141 |
| Women 40 to 49 | 517 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 49 | 86 | 137 | 179 |
| Women 50 to 59 | 373 | 20 | 28 | 46 | 73 | 113 | 168 | 226 |
| Women 60+ | 175 | 24 | 32 | 47 | 73 | 125 | 192 | 225 |
Type your ferritin to see where it sits among Vively women your age.
| Group (µg/L) | Members | 5th | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | 95th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women 18 to 29 | 137 | 15 | 19 | 28 | 50 | 83 | 136 | 173 |
| Women 30 to 39 | 431 | 13 | 19 | 29 | 47 | 75 | 115 | 141 |
| Women 40 to 49 | 517 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 49 | 86 | 137 | 179 |
| Women 50 to 59 | 373 | 20 | 28 | 46 | 73 | 113 | 168 | 226 |
| Women 60+ | 175 | 24 | 32 | 47 | 73 | 125 | 192 | 225 |
Ferritin under 30 µg/L was common in women until their 50s, and rare in men.
| Women | Men | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 to 29 | 27% (n=137) | 4% (n=132) |
| 30 to 39 | 26% (n=431) | 2% (n=304) |
| 40 to 49 | 25% (n=517) | 4% (n=310) |
| 50 to 59 | 11% (n=373) | 3% (n=152) |
| 60+ | 7% (n=175) | 6% (n=85) |
These are Vively members who chose to have a blood test, so they may not represent all Australian women. We don't know who was pregnant or taking iron at the time. A member median is not a target or a normal range.
In Vively women, median ferritin sat between 47 and 50 µg/L at every age from 18 to 49, then rose to 73 µg/L in women aged 50 to 59 and 60 and over. Low stores were common before 50: 25% to 27% of women in each age group under 50 had ferritin under 30 µg/L, against 11% at 50 to 59 and 7% at 60 and over.
The pattern matches what large surveys find. In the US NHANES III survey, median ferritin in women was about 31 to 43 µg/L between 19 and 50, and roughly doubled after 50, once periods stop.
Most women under 50 sat below the Vively optimal range of 70 to 200 µg/L. That is common, and it's the reason we read ferritin with haemoglobin, transferrin saturation and how you feel rather than on its own.
Most Australian labs report an adult female range that starts at 15 or 30 µg/L. The upper limit varies between labs, and the RCPA no longer sets one.
| Ferritin | |
|---|---|
| Lab reference range, adult women (Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, Vively app) | 15 to 400 µg/L |
| Level many Australian doctors use for low iron stores | below 30 µg/L |
| Vively optimal range | 70 to 200 µg/L |
The gap between 15 and 30 matters. A 2024 review in the Medical Journal of Australia pointed out that women with ferritin between 15 and 30 µg/L can be iron depleted and benefit from treatment, even though a range starting at 15 won't flag them. Always read your result against the range printed on your own report, because labs differ.
The Vively optimal range is what we aim for to support long-term health, with enough stored iron to cover a heavy period, a hard training block or a pregnancy. It is not a diagnostic cut-off, and a result below it is not a diagnosis of iron deficiency.
Ferritin follows how much iron you lose, how much you absorb and whether there is inflammation in your body.
Before menopause, periods are the main drain. Each cycle takes a little iron, and heavy periods take a lot. Pregnancy uses a large amount of iron, and stores often take a year or more to rebuild afterwards.
After menopause, the monthly loss stops and stores build up. Ferritin also rises with weight gain, fatty liver, alcohol and chronic inflammation, which all become more common in midlife. A 2025 Medical Journal of Australia review found raised ferritin in about 3% of premenopausal women, rising to 17% of women over 70.
A ferritin under 30 µg/L usually means your iron stores are low. Ferritin often drops before haemoglobin does, so you can have low iron with a normal blood count.
The common causes, roughly in order for women under 50:
Low iron stores can show up as tiredness, getting out of breath on stairs, restless legs, poor sleep and trouble concentrating. Some women notice more hair shedding.
After menopause, low ferritin is less expected, because the main cause has gone. Doctors look for blood loss from the gut. In the 2024 MJA review, endoscopy found a bleeding cause in about two thirds of post-menopausal women with iron deficiency anaemia. A low result after menopause is a reason to see your GP before starting a supplement.
A high ferritin usually reflects inflammation or a metabolic cause, not too much iron. Fewer than 10% of raised ferritin results are due to iron overload.
Common causes:
Your doctor will look at transferrin saturation alongside ferritin. A transferrin saturation of 45% or more, measured in the morning while fasted, is consistent with iron overload and may lead to testing for haemochromatosis. If ferritin is high but transferrin saturation is normal, iron overload is unlikely.
Ferritin is fairly stable from day to day, but a few things move it:
Do you need to fast? Not for ferritin on its own. Transferrin saturation is best measured in the morning after fasting, and the Baseline Health Check is a fasting test, so plan an early draw.
Ferritin makes most sense read with your other iron and inflammation markers.
| Pattern | What it can mean |
|---|---|
| Low ferritin, normal haemoglobin | Iron stores are running down before anaemia shows |
| Low ferritin, low haemoglobin | Possible iron deficiency anaemia. See your GP |
| Ferritin in range, high hs-CRP | Inflammation may be lifting ferritin and hiding low stores |
| High ferritin, transferrin saturation 45% or more | Needs a repeat fasting test and a check for iron overload |
| High ferritin, raised ALT or GGT | A liver or metabolic cause is more likely than iron overload |
Try to fix the cause as well as the number. If heavy periods are draining your stores, talk to your GP, because there are good treatments.
See your GP if your ferritin is below 30 µg/L with symptoms, if it is low after menopause, or if it is low and your haemoglobin is also low. Also see your GP for very heavy periods, black or bloody stools, unexplained weight loss, or a ferritin that stays high on repeat testing.
Ferritin is included in the Baseline Health Check, with iron, transferrin, transferrin saturation, haemoglobin and hs-CRP. You don't need a referral from your own GP: a doctor in our network reviews and signs your request. You have one blood draw at one of our 3,700+ partner collection centres, and your results arrive in the Vively app, usually within a few days. A Vively practitioner explains where your iron stores sit against optimal ranges, and members have a targeted re-test after 3 months. Get your Baseline Health Check to see your ferritin in context.
Most Australian labs report an adult female range starting at 15 or 30 µg/L, with an upper limit set by each lab. A result below 30 µg/L usually means low iron stores. Among Vively women under 50, the median was 47 to 50 µg/L. Our optimal range is 70 to 200 µg/L.
A ferritin of 30 µg/L sits right at the line many Australian doctors use for low iron stores. It may be inside the range on your report, but if you have heavy periods, tiredness or restless legs, it's worth discussing. We would usually look at your haemoglobin, transferrin saturation and CRP as well.
Yes. Once periods stop, women stop losing iron each month and ferritin rises. In Vively women, median ferritin was 47 to 50 µg/L before 50 and 73 µg/L from 50 onwards, and low stores became much less common. A low ferritin after menopause should be checked by a GP.
No, ferritin itself isn't affected much by food. If your test also includes transferrin saturation, a morning fasting sample gives the most reliable result. The Vively Baseline Health Check is a fasting test, so book an early collection.
Yes, when a doctor requests it. With Vively, a doctor in our network signs the request for your Baseline Health Check, which includes ferritin and iron studies. Medicare covers the Baseline lab tests; your membership pays for the analysis, your report, the app and your practitioner.
Yes. Ferritin rises with infection and inflammation, so it can look normal even when stores are low. That's why we check hs-CRP alongside it. If CRP is raised, a ferritin under about 70 µg/L can still point to iron deficiency.
Vively supports preventative health and health optimisation. It does not replace your GP, emergency care or specialist medical advice.
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