Females are far more likely to be iron deficient as a consequence of the effects of regular blood loss (and therefore iron loss) from menstrual cycles, combined with inadequate dietary intake. A survey published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that around one in four females did not meet their dietary iron intake requirement, compared to 3% of males who had insufficient dietary intake.
Source:
Australian Health Survey: Usual Nutrient Intakes, 2011-12 financial year [Internet]. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2021 [cited 17 May 2021]. Available from:
https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/australian-health-survey-usual-nutrient-intakes/latest-release