ABOUT
Hi! I'm Kristen and I've been an ER nurse for 18 years...........
ABOUT
Hi! I'm Kristen and I've been an ER nurse for 18 years...........
ABOUT
Hi! I'm Kristen and I've been an ER nurse for 18 years...........
In-Home Iron Infusions for Athletes
Personalized, medically supervised iron care for athletes with low iron, delivered at home.
Feeling exhausted, run down, or struggling to keep up with your usual workouts? Low iron can affect your energy, focus, endurance, and recovery, even when you’re staying active and eating well.
Why Iron Matters for Athletes
You put a lot into your training. Iron helps your body meet those demands, supporting the oxygen delivery and energy production your muscles depend on.
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Oxygen delivery: Iron helps carry oxygen through your bloodstream and supply it to your working muscles.
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Energy production: Your body needs iron to turn fuel into usable energy.
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Endurance and training capacity: Low iron can leave you feeling fatigued, weak, or less able to keep up with your usual workouts. Correcting a documented deficiency may improve symptoms and exercise capacity.
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Focus and immune function: Adequate iron supports normal concentration and immune function.
Why Athletes Can Be More Prone to Low Iron
Training can increase iron demands while making it harder to maintain adequate iron stores, especially during frequent or intense endurance exercise.
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Greater iron losses: Intense exercise can increase iron losses through sweat and small amounts of bleeding in the digestive or urinary tract.
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Red blood cell breakdown: Repeated foot strikes during running can damage red blood cells, adding to the demands on your body’s iron recycling system.
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Reduced absorption: Hard workouts can temporarily raise hepcidin, a hormone that limits how much iron your body absorbs from food.
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Nutrition that falls short of training demands: Underfueling or eating too few iron-rich foods can make it harder to maintain adequate stores. Plant-based iron is also less readily absorbed.
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Additional risk factors: Menstrual blood loss, blood donation, adolescent growth, and altitude training can further increase the risk of deficiency.
Low Iron Is More Common in Athletes Than You Might Think
Research has reported iron deficiency in 15–35% of female athletes and 5–11% of male athletes studied.
If your usual workouts feel harder or fatigue is holding you back, iron deficiency may be one possible cause, even without anemia.
Blood testing and a clinical evaluation can help determine whether your iron is low and which treatment is appropriate. Being an athlete does not automatically mean you need an iron infusion.
Schedule an evaluation to find out whether low iron could be contributing to your symptoms.
Clinical Leadership
Liliana Fera, NP
Hematology-trained Nurse Practitioner with extensive experience managing iron deficiency and infusion therapies.
Kristen Dooher, RN, BSN
Founder of Westwood IV Therapy with 20+ years of nursing experience and a commitment to exceptional in-home patient care.
Chak Reddy, MD
Provides physician oversight and clinical guidance for Westwood IV Therapy's infusion programs and protocols.
How the Process Works?
Four steps, evaluated and administered by our clinical team, scheduled around your training.
Step 1
Complete Intake Form
Step 2
Submit/Request Labs
Step 3
Meet with NP
Step 4
Receive Infusion
Tell us about your symptoms, medical history, and health goals.
Send recent lab work or request labs through our team if needed.
Schedule a medical evaluation with Lily to review your symptoms.
If approved, your infusion will be administered by our experienced nursing team.
Treatment Structure & Pricing
$600 per infusion*
*While treatment plans are individualized, many clients may receive a series of three Venofer infusions.
Our iron infusion program is fully self-pay, with payment collected prior to service. While we do not bill insurance directly, we provide a superbill that clients may submit to their insurance provider for possible reimbursement.
A Thoughtful, Safety-First Approach
Iron infusions are medical treatments, not standard wellness IVs. Every client is carefully screened and reviewed before treatment to ensure care is appropriate and safe.
Our goal is to create an experience where clients feel informed, supported, and cared for every step of the way.
If you think low iron may be affecting how you feel, we’re here to help guide you through the next steps. To learn more, please don't hesitate to call us at (781) 731-1170 or email hello@westwoodivtherapy.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can low iron affect my training?
Iron supports oxygen transport and energy production. Low iron can contribute to fatigue, reduced endurance, difficulty concentrating, and workouts feeling harder than usual.
Correcting a confirmed deficiency may help reduce fatigue and support exercise capacity, but results vary. An infusion does not guarantee faster recovery or improved athletic performance.
When should I seek an evaluation?
Consider having your iron levels checked if you feel unusually tired despite rest, notice reduced endurance, or struggle with workouts you previously managed comfortably.
An evaluation before a demanding training block or race season may also be helpful, particularly if you have a history of low iron, heavy menstrual bleeding, or a diet that limits iron-rich foods.
If an infusion is recommended, plan ahead: improvements may take several weeks. Your provider will help determine timing based on your labs, treatment plan and competition schedule.
Who decides whether I need an infusion?
Our nurse practitioner, Liliana “Lily” Fera, reviews your symptoms, medical history, training demands and lab results.
Treatment is based on a medical need. Oral iron or dietary changes may be appropriate first, and we do not offer iron infusions as a routine performance boost.
What labs do I need, and how often should I be tested?
Our requested labs include a CBC, vitamin B12, and an iron panel with TIBC and ferritin, ideally from the past month. You can send labs from your doctor, or we can order them to be drawn at Quest for no charge or come right to your house and draw then for $125.
Follow-up testing depends on your results, treatment, symptoms and risk factors. Athletes with previous iron deficiency, heavy menstrual bleeding or high training loads may need more frequent checks. Lily will recommend an appropriate schedule rather than a fixed schedule for every athlete.
How does treatment fit into my training schedule?
After your intake, labs and virtual NP evaluation, approved infusions are scheduled at home. Each infusion takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, followed by monitoring.
Tell Lily about upcoming races, competitions and demanding training sessions. She will advise you on scheduling and returning to exercise based on your treatment and how you feel afterward.
Is it safe to receive repeat infusions, and do sports rules apply?
Repeat treatment requires a medical review and appropriate lab testing. Too much iron can be harmful, so additional infusions are prescribed only when clinically indicated.
If you are subject to anti-doping rules, check with your team physician or governing body before treatment. Under WADA rules, IV infusions or injections totaling more than 100 mL in 12 hours are generally prohibited unless an applicable exception or approved Therapeutic Use Exemption applies—even when the infused substance is permitted.
What does it cost, and do you accept insurance?
The evaluation and first infusion are $900, with additional infusions at $500 each. A prescribed three-infusion series totals $1,900, plus any applicable lab or blood-draw charges.
The program is self-pay. We provide a superbill for possible insurance reimbursement, but coverage is not guaranteed.