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Colds with Menstrual Cycle

Every month when I come on my cycle I seem to catch a cold. Is there really a link? What can I do to try to head it off before I get sick? Is this normal or do I have an immune system issue?
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Avatar universal
Wow so many people have it! I am 21 and I have had this since a year ago or so. I only put two and two together a couple of months ago when I looked at the days I was taking sick leave off and noticed that it was around the same time every month! One point is that my sickness is not always the same, right now I have lost my voice but no other symptoms except a sore throat and usual tiredness that comes with period. But more often than not I get flu symptoms with a pounding head etc. I take vitamins, women’s plus healtheries tablets and if I feel sick symptoms I take olive leaf pills but I still get this every month ☹️
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Avatar universal
I have this, too. :/ I get sick super often, and always within five days of my period, which I just got today. Leading up to it, though, I shared a water with someone and was knocked on my butt by the next morning. Sore throat, aches, feverish and I kept having extreme hot flashes and tossing and turning all through the following nights. Jut awful. And I, like a lot of others in here, eat really well, exercise regularly, etc. My mom actually suggested that I might have some kind of gut disorder because it makes no sense how often I fall ill all things considered,but I finally made the connection today. Glad to have found answers. I tend to be pretty reckless about things like sharing food or washing hands after being out and about because my immune system is so great the rest of the month, but I'll just have to be more careful around this time from now on.
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Avatar universal
I have noticed the same pattern over the past couple of years where I catch a cold right as my cycle is beginning. Thank goodness it is not every month. These colds come on very quick. I found an article that provides some interesting insights...
http://www.livescience.com/36067-women-prone-infections-ovulating.html
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1 Comments
on The same dilemma  too,searching for solution.
Avatar universal
I am struggling with the same thing, 4 months ago I travelled to South-America. Before the flight, I got 3 vaccinations: yellow fever, tetanus, and a special flue of the region. I got back and lost my voice on my period. It took me 2-3 weeks to recover. Since then, I've been having cold symptoms just after my period each months...I feel I am loosing my immunity during those days.
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9118730 tn?1401800652
It is not the same in my case but I reckon there might be a correlation because of the temporary hormone imbalance during the menstrual period.
In my case, when I feel a cold or flu symptoms, I just increase my Vit.C intake and it always works. So I suppose increasing ones intake of Vit.C prior to the onset of the period might help. Just a though. But hey, its worth a try rather than enduring a flu or cold each and every month.
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Avatar universal
that's why I'm here. reading with interest while sitting miserably on the couch with aches and pains and stuffed nose. putting two and two together and realised its nearly always after my period. take double dose of iron for first 4 days of period and vitamin c. in general good health and reasonably fit. over the 40 mark and depressing to think that this might be the long rocky road to menopause!!!
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Avatar universal
Ive been sat sniffling for a few days wondering if theres a pattern. Finally I realised every period for the past few months I've been getting a sore throat, and stuffy nose, with hot/cold flushes. Today I'm sad to find so many people suffering with the same symptoms with no real cure. But I'm happy I'm not the only one. I haven't been to the doctor this time. I was diagnosed with a throat infection last time and given antibiotics which didn't really help. I have been drinking lots of Pomegranate juice however which eases my throat to bearable. Unfortunately when I stop it comes back. I'm trying every remedy the internet throws at me and not having much success. Hopefully I'll find one that works soon and I will report back. At least were all in this together, even if the doctors wont make the connection between the two.
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Avatar universal
I'm on the contraceptive pill and a few days after I have taken my last pill of the packet I start with a cold. It's not every month, however, it's more often than not. I'm 34 and have been like this from my early twenties.
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Avatar universal
Wonderful insight; it is unfortunate that doctors in general do not attempt to connect hormones with sickness; unfortunately diagnosis tends to focus solely on functioning mechanics of the sloughing of the uterine lining.. so prescribe treatments tend to be hormone therapy (birth control) ablation, hysterectomy, when a thoughtful intellectual rationale for monthly symptoms is not tested;
I get sick as well, with congestion, temperature changes, sleeplessness, and general aches, especially in my back; it is hard to not feel like a hypochondriac;
It would be nice if there were more articles on the functioning of the endocrine system as it relates to the menstrual cycle.  
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Avatar universal
I don't know how I just put this together. I get a cold EVERY period for about 9 years now; Wall of fatigue hits, tickle in my throat, runny nose, congestion, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, Im couch bound fatigued for days. I'm out of work for at least 3 days. My cycles are becoming longer, 5 weeks... I eat very healthy, no refined sugars, no gluten, no dairy. I run 3 miles 4 days a weeks (except for my period week). Also interesting, never been pregnant, gave up trying years ago. Im 35. This all started about 9 years ago. Before that I was on birth control... coincidence? After reading all of your similar miseries I am suddenly very hopeful. Tomorrow morning I will purchase Vitex (chaste berry extract) and I might even start birth control. Birth control gave me migraines but Id rather have those than a cold that lasts week.... What infertile woman needs a period anyways?! Do they still have Depo injections? 3 months of no periods and cold sounds promising. Thank you all for you generous advice!!
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Avatar universal
The last 7-10 days before the onset of your cycle, your immune system weakens to protect a possible pregnancy from being destroyed. (Your body views the implantation as a foreign object.) Your sleep cycle may also be interupted. Once your body decides conception did not occur, you proceed to get your cycle. My hunch is, if you are exposed to viruses aroind or just before your immune system takes a nap, you get sick because you dont have what you need to defend yourself until your immune system rebuilds over the next week of your cycle. What helps me...take otc sleep meds to stay rested that week, hand sanitize constantly, and keep my work/home well washed and cleaned. If I slip up and slack off, I get sick. There are also suggestions of low calcium and vitD right before you menstruate and supplements are recommended.
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Avatar universal
I am so glad I found this thread!  I was starting to think that I was loosing it. I'm 50 and Peri-menopausal.  This getting sick every time my period shows up (usually with a cold) had me wondering what the heck is wrong with me!  So, I guess it's good old hormones.  Doesn't make it any better, but at least I have some peace of mind.
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Avatar universal
I´m also grateful for this site. I´m 42, and I´m sick and tired of all this stuffy nose and throat, as if a type of allergy would hit me just before and during my period. I take care of myself, I´m quite healthy in other respects but nothing I do is really changing this. If you have any further suggestions please post them. Thanks
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Avatar universal
check out this link

http://www.livestrong.com/article/204893-cold-flu-like-symptoms-before-a-period/
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Avatar universal
There is no doubt in my mind that  about a week before my period starts, I always get cold symptoms (sore throat, sniffles, tired).  I'm so sick of this.  I wish I could find out what I could take to prevent it.  I've tried oil of oregano, echinacea, vitamin supplements - Argrrggg!!!
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Avatar universal
yowza! glad to see this isnt particularly uncommon (well, not really GLAD...). this started with me after the birth of my sun... started off with sore throat/sinus issues then morphed to a cold. my first cycle came during the holidaze and my husband is attributing the cold and cycle connection to food and celebration ~although i agree to a certain extent, i think (after reading this) that it could also have to do with hormones and the whole after 40 mark (I know that doesn't speak to the ladies under 40 :-/ ). im going to try green juicing at the onset of the next cycle and see if that helps... drinking it during my last bout with this seemed to help tremendously ~cleared up the cold in a couple of days. good luck to us all!
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Avatar universal
OMG...i thought that i am the only one that is going thru this...it is getting so irritated...today i woke up again with stuffy nose, cough, chills, and i realize its that time of the month....i been having this cold everymonth and i am scared to catch cold again because once i start coughing it will go on and on...pls i need a cure...someone help me...thanks...
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Avatar universal
Every time  i catch a cold i have noticed it starts about a week before my period starts - why what can i do =what can i` take that can help replace whatever is missing at this time/ joanne
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Avatar universal
I have this sysmptoms :(  I had flu vaccine for a year it does help me  but after a year of flu vaccine expired  I got flu almost every period :(  

Now i have to get rid this flu  for flu vaccine :(  I hate this feelings ..fever  ,runny  nose and clogged nose
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Avatar universal
I have noticed this too. Over the past 2 years (after 40) I get a sore throat, cold, chills, and also am extremely tired the week before my period.  It usually clears up within the next week.
Glad I'm not alone.
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Avatar universal
i also had that bad moment evrymonth of my period...and i ask it already on my ob...he said that its really normal as long that you have your regular period evry month...it is also maybe a genetic problem...just only for my own opinion because me and all my sisters and my other cousins have experiencing too....
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the post.
i have cold and flu symptoms before each period. i am searching the internet to see if i have allergy to the progesterone and estrogen my body manufactures
also check progesterone allergy autoimmune disease postings
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Avatar universal
I don't just end up with a cold sometimes, like now it has really messed up my asthma. For 2 days I lost my voice and just felt cold and clamy, now I know why. In my teen years I could passout while sitting down. Once I heard something about some syndrome, but no one else ever did and it seems like I imagined it, when I know I didn't!
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2 Comments
Wolf Parkinson White Syndrome could possibly be what you are referring to. I had that growing up and had to have an ablation done to treat it.
Wolf Parkinson White Syndrome could possibly be what you are referring to.
Avatar universal
Im 19 and this recently started a couple of months ago. I remember feeling nauseated and I had a head cold. When I went to the doctor they couldn't tell me any specific thing that was wrong, I thought it was food poisoning. But the doctor didn't agree she said maybe your menstrual cycle is about to begin, and sure enough later on that day it came on. My mom also told me that my aunt had similar symptoms when she was younger. I really don't know where the source of these colds come from, is it genetic, is it only specific women who have these symptoms? I'm glad I found this post and know that I'm not alone.
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