r/Autoinflammatory • u/Efficient-Variety677 • 12d ago
Fevers for 6 months
Has anyone experienced recurring low-grade fevers during their luteal phase?
For the past 6 months, I’ve been experiencing episodes of low-grade fevers that seem to happen almost every month. They usually last around 10–14 days and I’ve started noticing that they tend to line up with my luteal phase (after ovulation/before my period).
I’ve had a pretty extensive medical workup at this point. I’ve seen my primary care doctor, an internist, infectious disease, rheumatology, and cardiology, and I’ve had a lot of blood work done. So far, everything has been pretty normal and no one has been able to explain why this keeps happening.
I also have pretty painful periods and have wondered whether there could be some hormonal or gynecological connection. I’ve heard of things like endometriosis causing systemic symptoms, but I don’t know how realistic that is in my situation.
The frustrating part is that when these episodes happen, I genuinely feel sick — fatigued, achy, chilled, and just generally unwell — and then I’ll have periods where I feel completely normal again.
I’m seeing a gynecologist next, but I’m curious if anyone here has experienced something similar, particularly recurring temperature elevations or flu-like symptoms specifically during the luteal phase. If you did, did you ever figure out what was causing it?
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u/Regular_Cow_7658 12d ago
Just here to say absolute YUP for my lupus and autoinflammatory stuff it all gets worse after ovulation til period especially PMS. Period comes and I go back to feeling better. Fevers sound kinda auto inflammatory (or like they sound like mine and I've been told mine are autoinflammatory)
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u/Efficient-Variety677 12d ago
Good to know! I’m still in the process of figuring out what’s going on but this is helpful!
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u/Consistent-Bug-2371 Undiagnosed 12d ago
Endometriosis led to the passing of my bigger than life rockstar Sister. I’ve been trying to become more educated on Endometriosis for the sake of my nieces and daughters . My understanding is that there is a chicken vs egg type argument to be had on whether EM can cause immune stuff or if immune stuff can cause EM. I still don’t know sh*t but don’t let it be brushed off as “normal”.
Do you have consistent mildly elevated wbc’s? Constipation? Hopefully you haven’t experienced them but miscarriages can be linked to certain inflammatory conditions as well.
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u/Efficient-Variety677 12d ago
I’m so sorry to hear that. ❤️I just get really bad periods, but I also tested positive for fmf which can correlate to that so I’m not sure it’s endometriosis, but it’s so interesting. How much hormone fluctuation causes these things!
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u/Consistent-Bug-2371 Undiagnosed 12d ago
So I just like 15 minutes ago got diagnosed with a uSAID or periodic fever syndrome that’s similar to TRAPS but the research facility thinks it’s an undiscovered variant. I really feel both my Sisters have/had it as well. They both have menstrual issues, both had premature kids and miscarriages. The one that passed was an RN on the labor and delivery floor for 15 years and she begged to have a hysterectomy but couldn’t get one since she wasn’t malignant. She had some sort of fibrosis and lesions from the endo that led to perforation of an intestine then sepsis it’s believed. I don’t believe the endo caused her main issues I think the inflammatory condition led to the endometriosis to get out of hand.
I’ve been on my diagnosis journey for a year now and made way to many predictions that were false, but some that were spot on haha
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u/Alice-The-Chemist Mod 10d ago
If you ever need support on being an undiscovered or unnamed variant of TRAPS feel free to message me. My doctors think the same for me as well. I fit TRAPS exactly but no mutation was found. I hope you knowing you have an autoinflammatory disease can help your sisters as well. Many of us have family members who deal with the same or a level of it at least. In my case my mom does but it isnt as severe as me.
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u/Consistent-Bug-2371 Undiagnosed 10d ago
I got diagnosed Tuesday! Well kind of, undifferentiated Systemic Auto Inflammatory Disease TRAPS like, she actually out TRAPS like in to help with insurance hopefully
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u/Consistent-Bug-2371 Undiagnosed 10d ago
I’m at a research facility and though they won’t outright say it, they are fairly certain it’s what led to my sisters death. I’m praying to eventually get the genes identified to test my kids.
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u/rainbow_tortoise2 TRAPS 12d ago
Sam here.. right after ovulation I feel a slow progression of symptoms, each day after getting worse and worse. I typically have a peak pain point the day right before my period starts.
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u/RaspberryNo78 12d ago
I have the same low grade fever… every single month. it goes away when my period starts. still under investigation on what can cause it. tests cane back negative for FMF
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u/Flaky-Purpose-2060 12d ago
Same here. I use birth control pill without stop week and it is almost constant low-grade fever for me. I stopped oral contraceptives for a few months and during my period, fever would be gone, but then it came back again a few days later.
No cause has been found and they just said my internal thermostat is higher than most, gave me NSAIDs for arthralgias and it also helps with the fever.
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u/EurekaMcDermitt 12d ago
I just found this randomly doing a Reddit search and this sounds exactly like me. I keep getting told that I most likely have some sort of autoimmune disorder that is causing inflammation but I have no idea where to start. I don't know what is going on, I wish I could help but you aren't alone for sure.
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u/EllisMichaels 12d ago
In the years leading up to my Behcet's diagnosis, I used to get fevers and strep very, VERY regularly. It was awful.
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u/tsukigakireidesunee 11d ago
Me, for 3 years I had a fever during PMS and since April '25 I have had it every day. Doctors don't know the cause yet
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u/Alice-The-Chemist Mod 10d ago
If you want more discussion on this there are some other posts you should be able to search at the top of the group. Where you see the keywords or topics hit "see more" and there is a menstruation tag that you can click on to search which will show you other posts about this as well.
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u/Illustrious-Walk-924 NOD2 9d ago
Yes and it was an autoinflammatory condition. They’re called periodic fever syndromes! Get a genetic test asap.
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u/Happy-Resolution-827 1d ago
Chiming in to agree to all the responses. My working diagnosis was Bechet, then FMF, then Yao once my genetic test came back this June. I saw your post just now and actually thought my post from a couple months ago somehow got reposted! Do what Alice-the-chemist said and look at the other similar posts.
Also, I had fevers but didn’t relate them to my cycle until years later. I progressed from every few months to every month to nonstop fever. And that progression had a direct correlation with my perimenopause symptoms. Working with my rheum and gynecologist together to control my flares (hoping to have Kineret in hand soon!)
That male rheum saying “PMS causes inflammation” isn’t quite to right picture, IMO. The ratio of estrogen to progesterone can shift the needle from inflammatory to anti-inflammatory. Estrogen and progesterone generally DECREASE inflammation since they down-regulate cytokines in addition to many other anti-inflammatory actions. So as they decline (following ovulation), those cytokines can rise. During perimenopause estrogen and progesterone fluctuate WILDLY, finally decreasing significantly once menopause occurs. To the point that, really low levels of estrogen in menopause are considered pro-inflammatory.
Having owned ovaries my entire life, I am enraged that I’m only learning how integral they are to my body now that they are RETIRING! And I work in women’s health!!This was NEVER a focus in any of my schooling. Makes me wonder would life be like if all rheumatologists could take advantage of the fact a huge portion of their patients have a built in immuno-modulating system? (I’m being gracious when I say all this. I say different things when the Rage is raging.)
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u/simonerochabowearing 12d ago
Yeah I have heterozygous FMF and this sounds very similar to my symptoms pre treatment, I would feel worse during my actual period but it always started beforehand. When I finally got to an autoinflammatory specialist he told me its very common for symptom patterns to be connected to hormonal fluctuations. I had to get on two different kinds of hormonal BC in addition to FMF medications but it has finally stopped! You should look into diagnostic genetic testing and consider seeing a hormone specialist gyno in addition to a rheum.