The SHINE Foundation for Women’s Health launches today to mark Iron Deficiency Day 2025, becoming the first UK organisation solely focused on preventing and treating iron deficiency. The condition is the leading cause of anaemia worldwide and a top five cause of disability in women. It affects one in three women, yet remains routinely overlooked in clinical practice.

SHINE, which stands for Screening for Heavy periods, Iron deficiency, Nutritional and Emotional health in women, has been set up to drive coordinated national action on a condition linked to fatigue, low mood, cognitive difficulties and reduced productivity across the female population.

The Foundation is submitting a policy briefing to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care calling for:

• A national targeted screening programme for iron deficiency beginning with NHS England pilots.
• Priority status for iron deficiency within the Women’s Health Strategy, Women’s Health Hubs and community health hubs.
• A national awareness campaign to help women recognise symptoms early and access timely care.

Evidence highlights scale of underdiagnosis

Iron deficiency is most commonly caused by heavy menstrual bleeding and is the most widespread nutritional deficiency globally. Women of reproductive age remain disproportionately affected due to blood loss and higher iron requirements. A 2025 Randox Health analysis of more than 33,000 UK adults found that almost one in three women attending clinics had absolute iron deficiency, with nearly one in ten anaemic. National Diet and Nutrition Survey data similarly shows low iron stores in up to 20% of pre-menopausal women. During pregnancy, iron needs almost double, with women requiring around 14.8mg per day compared with 8.7mg for men, according to NHS guidance.

The condition’s impact is intensified by late diagnosis. It contributes to around 57,000 emergency hospital admissions each year, while many women experience symptoms for five to ten years before receiving appropriate treatment and often spend two to three years taking oral iron.

Recent UK figures also show:

• 22% of female university students have anaemia.
• Women frequently report years of fatigue, low mood, poor concentration, breathlessness and recurrent infections before a diagnosis is made.
• Iron deficiency can underlie diagnoses such as ADHD, anxiety or depression.
• Iron deficiency significantly reduces productivity, especially among working-age women and those with caring responsibilities.

These symptoms often mimic mental health disorders and are sometimes dismissed as lifestyle problems. Research from the Global Burden of Disease study places iron deficiency anaemia among the top five causes of disability for women of reproductive age worldwide, and UK rates reflect this pattern. Studies associate low iron with higher anxiety and low mood, and these effects are reversible once iron levels are restored.

Professor Toby Richards, Chair of the Board of Trustees and clinical lead for the Foundation, said: “Iron deficiency is one of the most preventable causes of poor mental and physical health in women. We see women living with exhaustion, brain fog, low mood and anxiety with a direct impact on their ability to work and relationships, including with their families and children. A simple test and timely treatment could restore their quality of life almost immediately.”

He continued: “By launching the SHINE Foundation today, Iron Deficiency Day 2025, we hope to create awareness for national action. Screening, awareness and better access to treatment will save the NHS money, improve women’s wellbeing unlocking the full social and economic potential of millions of women.”

Professor Richards, a vascular surgeon known for his work in intravenous iron therapy, has overseen thousands of treatments at The Iron Clinic and led trials such as PREVENTT, which demonstrated improvements in fatigue and quality of life after iron repletion. Heavy menstrual bleeding affects up to one in five UK women, yet ferritin testing below 30µg/L in at-risk groups is not consistently implemented despite NHS recommendations.

Growing demand for prevention in women’s health

The Foundation’s launch coincides with an expansion of Women’s Health Hubs, which currently lack clear pathways for diagnosing and treating iron deficiency. Long waits in primary care further delay intervention. Heavy menstrual bleeding remains widely normalised, slowing recognition of iron loss and contributing to preventable complications including low birth weight in pregnancy.

SHINE argues that iron deficiency is a defining test of the UK’s commitment to preventive women’s health. The Women’s Health Strategy for England acknowledges the link between menstrual health and iron loss, but does not mandate screening. Comparative studies show that routine screening in Australia halves anaemia rates relative to the UK, providing a model for the NHS to adopt through targeted pilots.

Foundation seeks partners to support national change

The SHINE Foundation is inviting founding Trustees, partners and supporters who share its aim of improving women’s health outcomes. “By partnering and supporting SHINE, we can help deliver measurable improvements in women’s health, productivity and wellbeing across the UK,” said Professor Richards. “Iron deficiency is entirely treatable and together we can stop women suffering needlessly.”

A national digital and social media campaign will run throughout Iron Deficiency Day featuring the message “Detect it. Correct it. Empower her.” The initiative aligns with global efforts, including World Health Organization 2025 anaemia estimates, which highlight persistently high rates among non-pregnant women aged 15–49. By centring early identification and awareness, SHINE aims to reduce both the physical consequences of iron deficiency and the substantial mental health burden associated with low iron levels.