Fever during your period: what to know

Hormonal changes can cause cramps, tiredness, headaches, breast tenderness, or feeling warmer, but they do not explain every measured fever. A respiratory infection, stomach illness, urinary infection, or skin infection may happen at the same time as bleeding. A retained tampon or other menstrual product can also cause an urgent infection, particularly if you feel suddenly very ill.

Note the temperature, when it started, the amount and smell of bleeding, pain, discharge, urinary symptoms, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, and any medicines taken. These details help separate a brief warm feeling from an illness needing treatment.

Measure your temperature with a reliable thermometer, rest, drink fluids, and use light clothing. Follow the label for any fever medicine and check with a pharmacist if you take regular medicines, have liver or kidney disease, or might be pregnant. Remove a tampon if it has been in place longer than recommended, and use pads while you are unwell. Arrange clinical advice if the fever continues or you cannot keep fluids down.

Get urgent medical help for a fever with severe pelvic or abdominal pain, fainting, confusion, trouble breathing, a widespread rash, repeated vomiting, very heavy bleeding, or a strong unpleasant vaginal smell. Sudden fever with dizziness, muscle aches, vomiting, or marked weakness while using a tampon needs emergency assessment because toxic shock syndrome is uncommon but serious.

Ask whether you need an examination, urine test, or other checks; whether your bleeding pattern suggests another problem; and which fever medicine is suitable for you. Mention pregnancy possibility, contraception, recent antibiotics, and menstrual products used.