A 30-year-old female with a history of menorrhagia presents with fatigue, weakness, and pale skin. Lab tests show a low red blood cell count, and her MCV is low. What could be the possible cause, and what are the next steps?
This patient's symptoms and laboratory findings suggest microcytic anemia, likely due to iron deficiency caused by chronic blood loss from menorrhagia. The next step would be to confirm iron deficiency with serum ferritin and iron studies. Treatment usually involves iron supplementation and addressing the underlying cause of the blood loss.