Could the feeling of fever be a symptom of pregnancy?
Feeling of fever as a symptom of pregnancy: is it possible? Well yes, as long as it is an increase in temperature of a few tenths of a degree. Find out why it happens and how to distinguish this symptom from a fever before your period.
Some expectant mothers report feeling slightly feverish before they found out they were pregnant . Could this be a random condition or could fever actually be a symptom of pregnancy ?
How body temperature changes during pregnancy
In fact, a few days after conception , there is normally a slight increase in body temperature of about 0.3-0.5°C . This means that, if the thermometer normally marks 36.5°C (underarm or oral), in a pregnant woman it could indicate a temperature of 37.5°.
This sort of “fever of a few tenths of a degree” (which in reality is not fever) is caused by hormonal changes and, in particular, the increased production of progesterone .
The levels of this hormone, in fact, increase after ovulation and, in the event of conception, grow further to prepare the uterus to welcome the embryo.
On the other hand, progesterone also acts on the thermoregulation mechanisms of the nervous system, causing this physiological rise in temperature which, during pregnancy, is responsible for some typical symptoms such as:
- feeling hot , sometimes with real hot flashes
- increased sweating
Is the feeling of fever a sign of pregnancy?
We can answer this question by saying that, among the very first symptoms of pregnancy, there is actually an increase in body temperature of a few tenths of a degree, which some women may perceive as a feeling of fever .
However, it is not a fever at all, but a normal change linked to the new state and which, correctly interpreted, can be an indication of pregnancy to be confirmed with a test.
In this regard, it is important to underline that this will be the new temperature to keep as a reference to understand if there are feverish increases during pregnancy.
Fever before period or pregnancy?
At this point, the next question arises: how to understand if you are pregnant or if you simply have a little fever before your period?
If it is a temperature increase of more than half a degree, it cannot be related to the increase in progesterone and has causes other than pregnancy .
Of course this does not exclude that the pregnancy is in any case in progress, beyond the feverish symptom. In the event of a temperature above 38° , especially if there is a suspicion of being pregnant, the advice is to call the doctor to evaluate therapy with paracetamol (tachipirina) .
If, on the other hand, it is a low-grade fever , a further clue could come from the presence of other early pregnancy symptoms , which however do not occur in all women and are very unspecific.
Among these, for example, we also find tiredness and the feeling of fatigue , which can easily accompany even a real feverish episode.
Consequently, to answer the initial question, the only way to understand if you are pregnant is to wait for the right moment to take the test .
In the stork’s beak!
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.