Many women going through the change are often left wondering: can menopause cause a fever? Let's talk about this question so that you can know exactly what to expect.
Sometimes during menopause, women may mistake a hot flash for a fever.
If you actually take your core temperature, you’ll notice that you don't have a fever, you just feel hot. Your skin temperature will be very warm, up to a couple of degrees warmer than your core temperature, but it's not a true fever.
However, menopause can cause fever. There is something that occurs, usually in perimenopause, that I like to call the hormonal flu. When your hormones are transitioning in perimenopause and you have too much estrogen on board and not enough progesterone, you can actually feel like you have the flu. Symptoms may include body aches, chills, and even a fever. However, you don't actually have a virus. It's more of an inflammatory reaction, due to your hormones being so drastically out of balance.
When you're in perimenopause or menopause, you may not have the period to show for it, but these fevers do seem to have a cyclical effect. Oftentimes, if you're taking bio-identical hormones, you may notice that the “flu” only occurs when you skip your hormones for a few days.
So yes, in a sense, going through menopause can cause fevers, but just remember that it's an inflammatory reaction.
Menopause can also aggravate autoimmune conditions, as well as suppress your immune system because your estrogen levels are so low. This can cause stealth viruses or intracellular bacteria to actually surface and cause you to have recurrences, which may lead to fevers. In that case, it's the microbes that are causing the fevers. However, it’s menopause that makes you vulnerable to the resurgence of these infections.
Remember, it may be easy to confuse a hot flash with a fever. You may feel like you’re burning up, but you don't actually have a fever when you're taking your core temperature. Because menopausal women tend to have a lower metabolism, they usually have lower core temperatures.
How do you know what your core temperature is?
You can’t rely on the temperature of your skin, because when you’re having a hot flash, your skin will be incredibly hot. I recommend that my menopausal patients check their core temperatures by taking their temperature orally. An oral temperature will be the most accurate measure of your core.
There are a lot of crazy symptoms that come with the change that is not typical, and oftentimes, you don't get any sympathy from those around you who don't understand these atypical symptoms. If you'd like some support, please join us in our hormone support group, which you can access through our Hormone Review Training
Can menopause cause a fever?
Yes — menopause can cause a true fever, though it is less common and different in mechanism from a hot flash. The most frequent cause is what Deborah Maragopoulos FNP calls the "hormonal flu" — an inflammatory response triggered by sharp drops in estrogen and progesterone, particularly in perimenopause. When hormones shift dramatically, the immune system responds with a surge of inflammatory cytokines that produce body aches, chills, fatigue, and a low-grade fever — the same experience as the onset of a viral illness, without an actual infection. Menopause also suppresses immune function by reducing estrogen, which plays an active role in maintaining cellular immunity, allowing latent viruses and intracellular bacteria to reactivate and produce fevers. Any fever above 100.4°F (38°C) that persists beyond two to three days, or any fever accompanied by significant symptoms, warrants medical evaluation.
What is the difference between a hot flash and a fever during menopause?
A hot flash and a fever feel similar but are physiologically distinct. During a hot flash, skin surface temperature rises dramatically — sometimes several degrees above normal — because blood vessels dilate and blood rushes to the skin to dissipate heat. However, core temperature (measured orally) does not typically rise above normal during a hot flash. A true fever involves an elevation of core temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) — the hypothalamus has actually reset the body's thermostat upward in response to inflammatory signals. The simplest way to distinguish them: take your temperature orally when symptoms are at their worst. If your core temperature is normal or only minimally elevated despite feeling intensely hot, it is most likely a hot flash. If your oral temperature registers above 100.4°F, it is a true fever warranting assessment for its cause.
How high can a hormonal fever get during perimenopause?
Hormonal fevers in perimenopause are typically low-grade — most commonly ranging from 99°F to 101°F (37.2°C to 38.3°C). They are usually brief, lasting hours to a day or two, and tend to resolve when the hormonal shift that triggered them stabilizes or when the next cycle begins. Reader reports and clinical experience suggest that temperatures above 101°F (38.3°C) that persist for more than two to three days are less likely to be purely hormonal in origin and more likely to involve a reactivated infection, autoimmune flare, or other underlying condition that the hormonal changes of menopause have triggered. Persistent high fevers — especially those occurring daily or lasting weeks — should always be evaluated by a healthcare provider, even if they appear to track with a hormonal cycle pattern.
Can menopause cause recurring infections like shingles?
Yes — menopause can trigger or worsen recurring infections by suppressing immune function. Estrogen plays an active role in maintaining cellular immunity — particularly the T-cell mediated immune responses that keep latent viruses like the varicella-zoster virus (shingles), Epstein-Barr virus, and various intracellular bacteria dormant. As estrogen declines in perimenopause and menopause, this immune surveillance weakens, and viruses that have been dormant in nerve tissue or immune cells can reactivate. This is why some women experience their first shingles outbreak at menopause, or find that conditions like recurring cold sores, chronic fatigue related to EBV reactivation, or other latent infections worsen during the hormonal transition. The fevers associated with these reactivations are caused by the infection itself, but menopause created the immunological vulnerability that allowed the reactivation to occur.
I have high fiver 38:50 and smetime chill and hot flash sometime like flu
Hiw higwr fiver can be in this situation abd what i have to do to cool down
Temperature regulation responds well
to hypothalamus support
I having almost weekly shivering, chills, headache fatigue and flu symptoms to the point I cannot get out of bed and it is playing havoc with my life!
Supporting your hypothalamus with Genesis Gold can help ameliorate the symptoms of menopause
Couple week ago I had a migraine headaches and took rectal temperature and it say 101.Whoa because I figure out I am post menopause but still pelvic pain for many many years and see Gynecology. Today I feel awfully I was not sure if It cause post menopause issues?
Core temperature is worth to know the skin related.
Postmenopause is the last phase of the change of life, you might find this helpful https://genesisgold.com/menopause/what-to-expect-from-postmenopause/
Me too what did you do
Once a month to every two months I can count on waking up with horrible headache, chills, nausea and muscle aches. It’s definitely cyclic and I’m in menopause so I know it’s my hormones but it’s so awful. I’m sorry you go through that too
I have a high fever that fluctuates..making me really cold too. I’m so tired and the headaches come and go. Sometimes excessive night sweats my body is cool on the outside but inside it’s like a fever. What’s going on . My thoughts are tuning wild
When your hormones are transitioning in perimenopause and you have too much estrogen on board and not enough progesterone, you can actually feel like you have the flu. Symptoms may include body aches, chills, and even a fever. However, you don’t actually have a virus. It’s more of an inflammatory reaction, due to your hormones being so drastically out of balance. Balancing your hypothalamus can help with menopause symptoms. Here’s more information https://genesisgold.com/menopause-lp/
Hi, your article is helpful but still I want to confirm the case, my mother is about to 49 she often have fever but before fever she feels pain in abdomen and lower back hot flashes , after that she got high fever after every 2/3 months or some time every month one of the doctor says its because of her premenopausal but I am afraid of her fever with cold because she faces weakness? When will it all stops ?
Fevers can be a sign of autoimmunity or underlying infection.
Hot flashes are not true fevers. So take your temperature to be sure
Supporting the hypothalamus with Genesis Gold helps to improve temperature regulation and immune function
Can perimenopause cause headaches. I tend to get hot and cold flushes with a pain on the side if my head.
Yes as progesterone drops in perimenopause you may be prone to more vascular and tension headaches.
Supporting your hypothalamus through the change can help lessen symptoms
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i started having chills, hot flashes and headache 4 days ago, and my temp elevated to 39°C just this morning, is it a sign of perimenopause?
You can have your health care provider draw an FSH, follicle stimulating hormone level about day three to five of your period. On day three to five of normal menstrual cycle, your FSH level should be low in response to your previous month’s production of estrogen. If it is elevated, over fifteen, you are starting to perimenopause.
Now FSH will not always show. You may have a good month. And, then you have a month where you feel super symptomatic. The more symptomatic months, that next menstrual period, you are going to have a higher FSH. So you may have to check it a few times to see for sure.
I see many, many women that may get misdiagnosed and think it is something else.
Most women need help navigating the change. Why don’t you grab your Menopause Action Plan Guide here: https://genesisgold.com/map-guide/
I have not had a period for 2 months now but I have the normal period symptoms with body aches and cramping around my normal period time but this month I have a low grade fever on and off or 2.5 days. Is this common and I have not been formally told my doctor I am in menopause but I am having all the signs etc. Should I be concerned about this fever or wait a few more days before I call my doctor
These are common perimenopausal symptoms
If balancing your hypothalamus nutraceutically does not relieve temperature regulation issues then I would recommend getting a medical evaluation
https://genesisgold.com/balance-your-hormones/
I have not had my period, almost a year I am 49, have had covid twice, I feel very tired, and have not seen a doctor, except for ER doctor’s,due to no insurance, so I found myself running a fever again, feeling run down no energy, I do work nights, just wondering what would be the best advise as far as getting back to myself
With my patients I find that supporting their hypothalamus nutraceutically helps balance their hormones in perimenopause and has helped with post-covid symptoms https://genesisgold.com/balance-your-hormones/
I need help sis I’m super sick during my periods a fever for 5 days everytime .. I’m 43… This just started about 6 months ago and I have ovarian sensitivities to everything.. chronic cysts, enlarged ovary and hydrosalpinx so I’m afraid to take stuff that will effect my hormones to help me cuz it may make the ovary issue worse.. what can I do?? #Hating life.
Supporting your hypothalamus with Genesis Gold can help balance your hormones and improve immune function
Is muscle pain and stiff joints symptoms of menopause? I have had blood work, Ana, RA… Both normal… CRP, slightly elevated, but also had Shingles at the time. I have not had a period since Sept 2021 and diagnosed in Oct 2021 with Shingles and 6 months later diagnosed again with Shingles. Can menopause cause Shingles to rear it’s ugly head? I feel like I’m falling apart. I have always been very active and now I can barely walk with out pain and stiffness.
Yes, generalized pain is a symptom of low sex steroids in menopause
My menopausal patients find that trained Genesis Gold consistently helps relieve achy muscles and joints by decreasing inflammation
Yes, shingles can recur in menopause as your immune system is weakened by low sex steroids. Genesis Gold helps improve immune function by supporting your hypothalamus
Hi there, I’m almost 42 and showing signs of going through perimenopause. Today, however, i was out with my family and after walking quite briskly up a steep hill got a creeping pain in my pelvic area/lower abdomen. I’m an active mum, only 55 kilos but this was quite debilitating. I felt faint and feverish with chills and had to ask for assistance getting back to our car. The pain was excruciating and came in waves but no bleeding. I am due for my moon bleed in the next week or so but have never experienced pain this intense. I’m currently in bed after taking a panadine forte (i never take painkillers) the pain has subsided somewhat but i still feel feverish and am wondering if i should go to my local ED. I also have intermittent brownish spotting about a week before my full bleed. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
You may have an ovarian cyst and should be examined
I am 57 and have been menstruating pretty regularly until the past 6 months. I thought that finally this is over but I just got another cycle (pretty strong) out of nowhere and with that, my temperature was 102.5 yesterday and 101.8 today. I have never observed this high temperature raises (maybe just +0.8 to +1.8). I do feel headache and muscle ache, but don’t feel sick like a flu or similar. (Haven’t been sick in 20+ years). Living a healthy balanced lifestyle, eating healthily, exercising, meditating, etc. I don’t take any medications of any kind. Coud this extreme rise in temperature be because I skipped my period for 6 months and now it came back strongly?
I am almost 47. Recently having periods every 2-3mths. Prior to them I have high temperature, chills, headaches, muscle aches, no appetite, no energy and feeling nauseated. Could this be peri menopause?
Sounds like you’re going through a hormonal shift…
Why don’t you grab your Menopause Action Plan Guide here: https://genesisgold.com/map-guide/
Sounds like you’re going through a hormonal shift…
Why don’t you grab your Menopause Action Plan Guide here: https://genesisgold.com/map-guide/
Hey there, I’ve been having daily low grade fevers for two years. Can these menopausal fevers last that long (Averaging about 100F a day)? Also is a fever also a common sign in premature menopause as well? I’m only 33, but I check all the boxes for premature menopause, and other than low ferritin and b12 levels, no doctor has been able to find answers to my low grade fever, but my inflammation marker is always elevated on blood work (Above what even the over weight level is, which I am). I also haven’t been getting any sort of period on my week off on BC for about 3-4 months now and nothing has changed in terms of my dosage or type of BC. Any thoughts on this?
Menopause can also aggravate autoimmune conditions, as well as suppress your immune system because your estrogen levels are so low. This can cause stealth viruses or intracellular bacteria to actually surface and cause you to have recurrences, which may lead to fevers. In that case, it’s the microbes that are causing the fevers. However, it’s menopause that makes you vulnerable to the resurgence of these infections.
Most women need help navigating the change. Why don’t you grab your Menopause Action Plan Guide here: https://genesisgold.com/map-guide/
So if I orally take my temp and it’s been above 100 for 5 days now, it s not menopause??
There are a lot of crazy symptoms that come with the change that are not typical. Balancing your hypothalamus can help with menopause symptoms
Here’s more information
https://genesisgold.com/menopause-lp/
I’m 48 and for the past one week my temperature ranged from 37-38.5. I have a good appetite and feeling energetic, just the fever bugging me. Could it be perimenopause?
Higher body temperature can indicate an imbalanced hypothalamus usually caused by dropping sex steroids in perimenopause
Supporting your hypothalamus with Genesis Gold will help ease the transition into menopause. Here’s more information
https://genesisgold.com/menopause-lp/