IV iron treatments increase 17-fold among Australian women, researchers report

A study has found a “dramatic” increase in the number of Australian women receiving intravenous (IV) iron treatments in the past decade. Between 2013 and 2024, the researchers found a 17-fold increase in IV iron use among women of reproductive age. In 2024, one in 20 women received the treatment. The increased use between 2013 and 2024 also brought on a substantial increase in cost. The government’s patient spending on the treatment increased from AUD$1.1 million (US$781,232) to AUD$82 million (US$58.2 million). The researchers note that some clinics charge hundreds of dollars per infusion as an out-of-pocket cost for the women.