Listen to Story A 28-year-old woman from London, UK revealed she has a rare and "painful" condition that makes her allergic to her own periods. Georgina Jelley began experiencing rashes, itchy and burning eyes, and headaches, after she got an intrauterine device (IUD) fitted in her uterus in April. Initially, doctors believed she was having an allergic reaction and prescribed oral steroids and antihistamines, which temporarily relieved her symptoms.
"It felt like a strange burning sensation in my eyes. They were constantly watering, and my cheeks were red too," Jelley told British news agency SWNS. "I thought it might be a reaction to something like my fabric conditioner.
My GP prescribed steroids, and it seemed to calm down," she added. However, the symptoms returned three weeks later, more intense than before, affecting her vision and causing severe headaches. Despite undergoing an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) at St.
Mary's Hospital, which came back clear, doctors diagnosed her with eczema . "But I knew it wasn't that," Jelley said, adding, "I felt dismissed. The doctors kept saying it was just eczema and tried to give me topical steroids, but I knew something else was wrong.
" When her symptoms flared up again three weeks later, Jelley noticed it coincided with her menstrual cycle. After researching on her own, she suspected she had a rare condition called progesterone hypersensitivity and sought a formal diagnosis. ALL ABOUT PROGESTERONE HYPERSENSITIVITY Progesterone hypersensitivity is an allergic reaction to progesterone, a hormone produced by the ovaries, which peaks just before a woman’s menstrual cycle.
Symptoms of this condition include rashes, hives, swelling, redness, and itching. In severe cases, it can lead to coughing, shortness of breath, or even anaphylaxis. One has to manage their symptoms with corticosteroids and antihistamines or taking medications to reduce or block progesterone production.
"It was awful. My eyes were so red it looked like I was wearing an eye mask, and it affected my vision. It was incredibly painful and frightening," she said.
Jelley’s doctor eventually switched her to Depo-Provera contraceptive injections, which stopped her periods and prevented further allergic reactions. Since then, she has felt much better. "I feel so much better after having the coil (IUD) removed.
It was so painful and horrible, and we had no idea why it was happening," she said. Jelley, who works full-time and has a daughter to care of, spent nearly $520 (Rs 44,000 approximately) on creams trying to fix the problem. "I knew it wasn't just eczema.
You know your body, and you should always trust your instincts," Jelley said, who is now raising awareness about progesterone hypersensitivity..
