Review Question - QID 213173

A 46-year-old woman presents to her primary care provider reporting several weeks of fatigue and recent episodes of lightheadedness. She is concerned that she will have an episode while driving. She has never lost consciousness, and reports that there is no associated vertigo or dizziness. She states that she normally goes for a jog 3 times a week but that she has become winded much more easily and has not been able to run as far. On exam, her temperature is 97.9°F (36.6°C), blood pressure is 110/68 mmHg, pulse is 82/min, and respirations are 14/min. Auscultation of the lungs reveals no abnormalities. On laboratory testing, her hemoglobin is found to be 8.0 g/dL. At this point, the patient reveals that she was also recently diagnosed with fibroids, which have led to heavier and longer menstrual bleeds in the past several months. Which of the following would suggest that menstrual bleeding is the cause of this patient’s anemia?