Why Do So Many Women Feel Exhausted?

Written by Jess, Founder of BONEnBLOOM

This article provides general information only. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan.

Women are often told that exhaustion is simply part of menstruation, pregnancy, parenting, working or getting older. A full life can certainly be tiring. Persistent exhaustion, however, should not automatically be dismissed as something women must tolerate.

There is no single explanation. Menstrual blood loss, particularly heavy bleeding, can contribute to iron deficiency. Requirements for iron and folate increase during pregnancy. After birth, physical recovery, blood loss, feeding demands and interrupted sleep can all affect energy. Women can also experience the same broad causes of fatigue as anyone else, including poor sleep, stress, depression, anxiety, thyroid conditions, diabetes, infection, medication effects and inadequate nourishment.

The aim is not to diagnose every tired woman or suggest that one supplement is the answer. It is to give women clearer language for what they are experiencing and a more useful pathway towards support. Your exhaustion may be understandable, but that does not mean it should be ignored.

The problem with normalising women's exhaustion

Tiredness after a demanding day is human, and not every period of low energy means something is medically wrong. The problem begins when persistent exhaustion is treated as an inevitable cost of womanhood. Phrases such as 'that's just being a woman', 'that's just having children' or 'that's just getting older' can shut down a conversation before common and sometimes treatable contributors have been considered.

Women are not one homogeneous group, and fatigue does not have one universal cause. Look at the pattern, how long it has lasted, what else is happening in the body and whether it is affecting daily life.

Menstruation and iron loss

Menstruation is one source of blood and iron loss. Heavy menstrual bleeding can increase the likelihood of iron deficiency over time, even when a person eats a varied diet. Fatigue, dizziness, breathlessness and palpitations can occur with iron deficiency or anaemia, but they also have many other possible causes. Symptoms alone cannot confirm low iron. A healthcare professional can decide whether tests are appropriate and investigate the reason for any blood loss.

Pregnancy and postpartum recovery

Pregnancy increases the body's requirements for several nutrients, including iron and folate. After birth, recovery can involve blood loss, interrupted sleep, feeding demands and major physical and emotional adjustment. These factors can overlap, which is why significant or persistent fatigue during pregnancy or the postpartum period deserves an individual conversation with a doctor or midwife.

Do not start high-dose iron based on fatigue alone. If you are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding, speak with a healthcare professional before adding supplements, including liver-based products, to your routine.

Sleep disruption and invisible labour

As a mum, founder and someone living with chronic illness, I know how quickly exhaustion can become background noise when you are carrying work, family and the invisible planning that holds everything together. I do not see fatigue as a personal failure. I see it as information: a reason to look at sleep, nourishment, stress, symptoms and whether it is time to ask for help.

Parenting, caregiving, shift work and the mental load of running a household can fragment sleep in ways that are not always captured by the number of hours spent in bed. When sleep is repeatedly interrupted and a person remains mentally 'on duty', generic sleep advice may not address the practical source of the problem. The issue may include workload, support and recovery time, not simply bedtime habits.

Eating less than the body needs

Skipped meals, chronic dieting and limited food variety can make it harder to meet the body's needs for energy, protein, iron and other nutrients. This is not an invitation to follow a rigid meal plan or blame yourself for being tired. It is a reminder that regular, adequate nourishment belongs in the broader fatigue conversation. A dietitian can help when eating feels difficult or dietary needs are complex.

Stress and mental health

Stress, anxiety, depression and grief can all contribute to fatigue. They are legitimate health concerns, not personal weaknesses. Regular nourishment may support general wellbeing, but food or supplements are not substitutes for appropriate mental health care. If low mood, anxiety or distress is persistent or affecting daily life, speak with a healthcare professional.

Health conditions that deserve investigation

Thyroid conditions, sleep apnoea, diabetes, autoimmune conditions, infection and the effects of some medicines can all contribute to fatigue. This list is not exhaustive. A new, worsening or unexplained change in energy is more useful to investigate than to explain away.

A more useful energy conversation

Instead of asking, 'Is this just part of being a woman?', track the pattern and take it to a healthcare professional. Healthdirect recommends seeing a doctor if fatigue has lasted for more than two weeks and is not improving, or sooner if it is worrying you, stopping you from doing things or occurring with other symptoms.

It may help to note:

• How long the fatigue has lasted and whether it is changing.
• Your menstrual pattern, including heavy or prolonged bleeding.
• Pregnancy, birth, postpartum recovery or breastfeeding factors.
• Sleep quality, snoring, repeated waking and daytime sleepiness.
• Recent illness, medication changes, eating patterns and current supplements.
• Other symptoms such as breathlessness, palpitations, dizziness, fever, weight change or low mood.

The right response depends on the cause. Looking at the whole pattern is more useful than pushing through persistent symptoms or choosing a supplement from a checklist.

wellness, untangled.

Jess

Keep exploring

• Read "Seven Signs You May Need More Iron—and When to Get Tested" 
  
• Join the free VIP Club for practical recipes, educational resources and founder notes

Sources and further reading

• Healthdirect — Fatigue
• Healthdirect — Heavy periods 
• Healthdirect — Anaemia 
• Food Standards Australia New Zealand — Pregnancy and healthy eating 
• Pregnancy, Birth and Baby — Looking after your body after having a baby 

SEEK HELP: Speak with a qualified healthcare professional if fatigue persists, worsens or affects daily life. Seek urgent medical care for chest pain, severe or worsening breathlessness, fainting, confusion or heavy uncontrolled bleeding. In an emergency, call 000.