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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffSome people with hereditary hemochromatosis never have symptoms. Others experience a wide range of problems. These can vary considerably from person to person and may be different for men and women.
When signs and symptoms typically appear
Although the genetic defect that causes hereditary hemochromatosis is present at birth, most people don't experience signs and symptoms until later in life — usually between the ages of 30 and 50 in men and after age 50 in women. Women are more likely to have symptoms after menopause, when they no longer lose iron with menstruation and pregnancy.
Early-stage signs and symptoms
Early signs and symptoms of hereditary hemochromatosis mimic those of many other common conditions, making it difficult to diagnose. Signs and symptoms include:
- Arthritis, especially in your hands
- Chronic fatigue
- Loss of sex drive (libido) or impotence
- Lack of normal menstruation (amenorrhea)
- Abdominal pain
- High blood sugar levels
- Low thyroid function (hypothyroidism)
- Abnormal liver function tests, even if no other symptoms are present
Advanced-stage signs and symptoms
In later stages of the disease, you may develop serious conditions such as:
- Cirrhosis — a condition marked by irreversible scarring of the liver
- Liver failure
- Liver cancer
- Diabetes
- Congestive heart failure
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Discolored skin that's bronze or gray in appearance
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you experience any of the signs and symptoms of hereditary hemochromatosis. And if you're age 25 or older and have an immediate family member who has hemochromatosis, see your doctor to be genetically tested to see if you have the gene defects that put you at risk of hemochromatosis. Monitoring and treatment can help you avoid complications.
