﻿ Hemochromatosis (Iron Overload) Symptoms, Causes, Treatment -
What are the symptoms of hemochromatosis? - MedicineNet  Iron
Overload (cont.)  Medical Author: Medical Editor:  How is
hereditary hemachromatosis inherited?     What are the symptoms
and signs of hemochromatosis?  Patients with early
hemochromatosis have no symptoms and are unaware of their
condition. The disease may then be discovered when elevated iron
blood levels are noted by routine blood testing. In men,
symptoms may not appear until 40-50 years of age. Iron deposits
in the skin cause darkening of the skin. Since females lose iron
through menstrual blood loss, nonmenstruating women develop
symptoms 15 to 20 years later.  Iron deposits in the pituitary
gland and testicles cause shrinkage of the testicles and
impotence. Iron deposits in the pancreas cause a decrease in
insulin production resulting in diabetes mellitus (please read
the Diabetes Mellitus article). Iron deposits in the heart
muscle can cause heart failure as well as abnormal he