Chills as a symptom of endometriosis

How common is the symptom Chills among people with endometriosis?

50,26% of people with endometriosis reported Chills as a symptom of endometriosis in our survey.

How common is the symptom Chills among people with endometriosis compared to the non-affected group?

4,28% of people with endometriosis suffer from the symptom Chills very strong compared to a prevalence of 0,00% among non-affected individuals.
The following table shows the symptom Chills in people with endometriosis compared to non-affected individuals. The scale ranges from 1 (not at all) to 5 (very strong).

Symptom Chills in endometriosis - comparison with control group

Chills in endometriosis
(n = 1727)
49,74%
17,49%
18,41%
10,08%
4,28%
Chills in non-affected individuals
(n = 159)
79,87%
12,58%
5,03%
2,52%
0,00%

Tabular comparison of the prevalence of Chills

Symptom severity Endometriosis Non-affected Comparison
not at all 49,74% 79,87% -30,13%
slightly 17,49% 12,58% 4,91%
moderate 18,41% 5,03% 13,38%
strong 10,08% 2,52% 7,56%
very strong 4,28% 0,00% 4,28%

Symptoms that could be related to Chills

Based on the datasets, we calculated the Kendall correlation. The following symptoms could be related to Chills.

Symptom name Correlation
Feeling cold / shivering moderate correlation (36,00%)
Fever weak correlation (28,00%)
Limb pain weak correlation (28,00%)
Dizziness weak correlation (28,00%)
Numbness in legs weak correlation (26,00%)
Nausea weak correlation (26,00%)
Joint pain weak correlation (25,00%)
Shortness of breath weak correlation (25,00%)
Loss of appetite weak correlation (24,00%)
Exhaustion / Fatigue weak correlation (24,00%)
Hot flashes weak correlation (23,00%)
Fainting weak correlation (21,00%)
Numbness in hands weak correlation (21,00%)
Kidney pain weak correlation (21,00%)
Belching weak correlation (21,00%)
Taste changes (e.g. iron taste) weak correlation (20,00%)
Frequent urination weak correlation (20,00%)
Abdominal pain outside the lower abdomen weak correlation (20,00%)

Chills in endometriosis

Rigors (shaking chills) are referred to by physicians as Febris undularis. You may experience uncontrollable trembling of the entire body and a pronounced sensation of cold. The shaking is caused by involuntary muscle contractions. This is intended to raise your body temperature. Chills therefore represent a protective function of the body against cooling. In most cases, chills are triggered by a bacterial or viral infectious disease, but other conditions can also be responsible, including endometriosis, thyroid dysfunction, and side effects of medications.

To understand why many women with endometriosis experience chills, you first need to consider the complexity of the condition: Endometriosis is characterized by clusters of cells made up of uterus-like tissue that grow in the pelvis, but also throughout the entire abdominal cavity and even in the lungs, heart, and brain. Because these lesions are regulated by the hormonal cycle, they grow cyclically and then bleed again. If the blood cannot be eliminated from the body, it escapes into the abdominal cavity or accumulates in the tissue. There it can lead to inflammation, adhesions, scarring, or even the formation of cysts. Key symptoms of endometriosis include severe pain, menstrual bleeding disorders, and reduced fertility. In addition, women with endometriosis have a significantly increased risk of conditions such as thyroid dysfunction, depression, and migraine.

Against this background, the following aspects of endometriosis may be considered as causes of chills:

  • Generalized inflammation caused by endometriotic lesions
  • Circulatory strain due to heavy bleeding
  • Fever spikes that can occur during menstruation; this is particularly common in women who, in addition to endometriosis, also have adenomyosis (a special form of endometriosis).
  • Thyroid dysfunction or side effects of medications used to treat thyroid dysfunction 
  • Side effects of medications used to treat migraine or depression

Did you know that you can also have a big influence on endometriosis symptoms yourself? In the Endo App you learn self-management techniques for endometriosis and find many interactive exercises to relieve symptoms.