First aid - pregnancy/OCP lab values in anemia

[anbuitachi]

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First aid lists pregnancy/OCP use as unchanged serum iron and ferritin, but increased TIBC and decreased saturation.

I notice wikipedia says the same thing, but why is this the case when in pregnancy, iron demand is higher? [as stated under iron deficiency anemia a few pages back] Shouldn't ferritin decrease...?

 

[thawunandonly]

Is it because of increased synthesis of transport proteins galore? Including transferrin.

 

[loveoforganic2]

First aid lists pregnancy/OCP use as unchanged serum iron and ferritin, but increased TIBC and decreased saturation.

I notice wikipedia says the same thing, but why is this the case when in pregnancy, iron demand is higher? [as stated under iron deficiency anemia a few pages back] Shouldn't ferritin decrease...?

Only if you don't adequately increase your iron intake. Pregnancy => Increased iron demand and increased estrogen => transiently decreased ferritin and increased TIBC => normal serum iron and ferritin (while retaining increased TIBC d/t the estrogen effect)

My rationale, not something I read, so might want to verify it