As if bloating, mood swings, and horrible breakouts aren’t enough, fevers and flu-like symptoms could also come your way during ovulation.
Does ovulation cause fevers? While fever is not a direct result of ovulation, the immune system is slightly weakened during ovulation, which could make you prone to infection from viruses and other germs. While a slight rise in basal body temperature is to be expected around the time of ovulation, a fever is usually unrelated.
Let’s take a look at why you might feel feverish or like you have the flu while you are ovulating.
Feverish During Ovulation
What does your menstrual cycle have to do with feeling like you have a cold? Let’s find out.
Flu-Like Symptoms During Ovulation
It is surprisingly common for women to feel cold or flu-like symptoms at the end of their menstrual cycle between ovulation and the start of their next period. This is sometimes referred to as the “period cold.”
Symptoms of the period cold include nausea, body aches, fatigue, dizziness, diarrhea, backaches, headaches, and even a low-grade fever.
While the period cold is common, it does not usually happen every time you ovulate. Symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough, or fever are typically caused by germs, not ovulation.
What Is Considered a Fever in Adults?
An adult likely has a fever when the body temperature is above 99℉, but medical providers usually only consider temperatures over 100.4℉ to be fevers. A low-grade fever is between 100 and 102℉. Anything above that is considered a high-grade fever.
Basal Body Temperature When Ovulating
It is normal to experience a slight temperature rise during ovulation but not to the point of having a fever.
The basal body temperature is a person’s normal, resting temperature. For most women, this temperature averages between 97℉ and 97.5℉. Just before you ovulate, your body temperature will dip slightly. Then, 24 hours after the egg is released, your BBT rises about one degree and stays elevated for several days.
Some women may be more sensitive to this slight rise in temperature and feel feverish or overheated during and after ovulation.
How Much Should Temp Rise After Ovulation?
Your temperature should only rise about one degree after ovulation. On average, a normal BBT is between 97℉ and 97.5℉. After ovulation, it rises between 97.6℉ and 98.6℉. The numbers in this range are relative and could be slightly different for each woman. However, your temp should not increase more than one degree above your normal BBT. If it does, you likely have a fever caused by pathogens or other bacteria.
How Long After Ovulation Does BBT Rise?
BBT rises 24 hours after an egg is released and may stay elevated for several days. The normal luteal phase after ovulation is 11-14 days, and the temperature should stay elevated until menstruation.
Basal Body Temperature if You Conceive
If you do not conceive, your BBT will drop with menstruation. An elevated BBT that lasts for 18 or more days following ovulation may be an early indicator of pregnancy.
High Temperature During Ovulation
If your temperature exceeds 99℉, it is not just your BBT rising. You likely have an actual fever. It is possible to spike an actual fever during ovulation as well as experience flu-like symptoms, not just because of ovulation but because of germs.
It might be a good idea to up your vitamin C intake during ovulation. Research has discovered a possible link between ovulation and the female immune system, which could be the reason for actual fevers or flu-like symptoms during ovulation.
When a woman is ovulating, her body is readying itself for fertilization. At this stage, estrogen levels rise, and a number of changes occur to make fertilization more likely, including lowering immune system function to prevent the immune system from attacking sperm.
Estrogen lowers the activity of molecules in the immune system that defend you against viruses, pathogens, and other bacteria. Because of this, you are more likely to become infected by such pathogens during ovulation.
Common Symptoms of Ovulation
Fevers and flu-like symptoms do happen, but they are not the most common symptoms of ovulation. If you are tracking your menstrual cycle, look out for these symptoms as indicators that ovulation is near:
- Menstrual-like cramping on the side of the abdomen near the ovaries
- Changes in cervical mucus
- Increased libido
- Mood swings
- Appetite changes
- Tender or full breasts
- Bloating
- Fluid retention
- Light spotting
Not Feeling Well During Ovulation
A woman will often not feel her best during her period or during ovulation. Hormonal changes that occur throughout the menstrual cycle can cause a variety of unpleasant physical symptoms. You may experience cramps, mild pain, discomfort, nausea, or fatigue, or you may just feel “blah” during ovulation. All of these are totally normal.
If you find yourself not feeling 100% during ovulation, take it easy, and be sure to rest. Focus on maintaining a healthy diet and staying hydrated. Get some fresh air or sit in front of a cool fan. If you are able, take the time to pamper yourself or indulge in a lazy day at home.
Related Questions:
Can Ovulation Make You Bloated?
We all know that awful feeling that accompanies our period— feeling 10 pounds heavier and like your lower abdomen doubled in size overnight. You may not be able to button your jeans or wear that cute crop top because of the bloating that happens at different times in your menstrual cycle. It is completely normal to experience bloating during ovulation as you do during your period. Bloating is triggered by hormonal changes, and there are plenty of those during ovulation.
Can Ovulation Make You Tired?
Sudden hormone changes can make you feel tired or fatigued during ovulation. Though the degree of tiredness will vary from woman to woman, the sleepy feeling is attributed to the sleep-promoting qualities of progesterone.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! While germs are what is causing your fever, where you are in your menstrual cycle could be what made you more susceptible to infection from those germs. Who knew our cycles could have such a huge impact on so many other body functions, am I right?