What Is a Normal Oxygen Level for an Adult Female?

Oxygen is necessary to sustain your life. The normal oxygen levels between women and men do not vary; oxygen is needed equally by both genders. However, the factors that influence your body's ability to take in and carry oxygen may be affected by your gender. Understanding your needs and gender influences can help keep your oxygen levels normal and healthy.

Oxygen Saturation

The term oxygen saturation refers to the amount of oxygen your blood is carrying. When your blood circulates, it goes to each of your cells and picks up carbon dioxide, a byproduct of metabolism. It brings this carbon dioxide to the lungs, where it is exchanged for oxygen. Your lungs exhale the carbon dioxide, and your blood delivers the oxygen to the cells that need it.

Normal Levels

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Normally, when your blood circulates to your lungs, 95 to 100 percent of your red blood cells are able to grab oxygen molecules, reports Harvard Health Publications 2. This is the normal oxygen level for an adult female and can be measured using a device known as a pulse oximeter. This is a small instrument that attaches to one of your fingers and is able to measure the amount of oxygen inside your blood in a non-invasive manner.

Females and Anemia

If your oxygen levels are low and you are a female, this may be an indication of anemia. Anemia is a condition characterized by low iron intake. Without iron, your body cannot produce red blood cells, and consequently, your blood cannot carry the oxygen it should. Women, especially adult women before menopause, need a larger amount of iron than men because iron is lost through menstruation. An adult female needs to take in 18 mg per day of iron, compared with just 8 mg for men, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements from the National Institutes of Health 4. Iron is found in meat, beans and fish.

Other Influences

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, may also be a cause of low oxygen level 5. COPD encompasses any number of conditions that make it difficult for your body to absorb oxygen through the lungs. According to NYTimes.com, the number of women suffering from COPD is increasing. Women are more sensitive to pollution and smoke, two causes of COPD, and seem to be far more affected by the disease, experiencing more severe symptoms and a worse quality of life than men. They also are more likely to be hospitalized and to die from the disease.