Should women over 60 take iron supplements? What you need to know

After menopause, women's iron needs change. Find out who needs extra iron, and why too much can be dangerous.

November 21, 2025

By Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Reviewed by Suzanne Salamon, MD, Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

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Pills in a variety of shapes and colors scattered on a red background surrounding a white square with the letters Fe, the chemical symbol for iron.

With menopause comes the end of monthly menstrual bleeding — and the regular loss of iron this process entails. But many women over 60 may wonder if they still need an extra quota of the mineral, popping iron supplements “just in case.” Yet too much iron can be as problematic for our health as too little, a Harvard expert says.

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About the Author

Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Maureen Salamon is executive editor of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. She began her career as a newspaper reporter and later covered health and medicine for a wide variety of websites, magazines, and hospitals. Her work has … See Full Bio

View all posts by Maureen Salamon

About the Reviewer

Suzanne Salamon, MD, Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

Dr. Suzanne Salamon is an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. She is a geriatrician and practices primary care geriatrics at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where she is the associate chief for clinical … See Full Bio

View all posts by Suzanne Salamon, MD

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