• News
  • Life
  • TV & Film
  • Beauty
  • Style
  • Home
  • News
    • Celebrity
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Royal Family
  • Life
    • Animals
    • Food & Drink
    • Women's Health
    • Mental Health
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Travel
    • Real Life
  • TV & Film
    • True Crime
    • Documentaries
    • Netflix
    • BBC
    • ITV
    • Tyla Recommends
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Make-up
    • Skincare
  • Style
    • Home
    • Fashion
    • Shopping
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
Submit Your Content
Woman in agony after realising she was allergic to her own period

Home> Life> True Life

Published 10:46 20 Aug 2024 GMT+1

Woman in agony after realising she was allergic to her own period

The London mother-of-one suffered burning eyes, tainted vision, whopping headaches and itchy rashes

Rhianna Benson

Rhianna Benson

It took several weeks and countless doctors to determine that the severe allergic reaction 28-year-old Georgina Jelley was suffering from only seemed to occur on a monthly basis.

And in a startling follow-up revelation, she made the unexpected discovery that she actually suffers from a biological intolerance to her own menstrual cycle.

Georgina had no idea that the rare condition even existed. (SWNS)
Georgina had no idea that the rare condition even existed. (SWNS)

Back in April, after having been on the contraceptive injection for several years, Georgina made the decision to have a coil fitted.

Advert

Her GP initially recommended the switch after she began experiencing premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) symptoms from the jabs.

Just three weeks later, however, she began suffering itchy eyes, whopping headaches and sporadic rashes, which would appear all over her body.

Being that all her symptoms seemed to point at an allergic reaction - though the trigger at this point remained unknown - the Londoner's GP prescribed her with both oral steroids and antihistamines in an attempt to reduce her discomfort.

"It was such a strange burning sensation in my eyes," she later told press. "They kept watering and my cheeks were red too.

Advert

"I thought maybe it was a reaction to my fabric conditioner or something."

Though her agony initially subsided, just three weeks later, her symptoms flared up again - this time, to a more extreme degree.

One of Georgina's major symptoms was a rash. (Kinga Krzeminska/Getty)
One of Georgina's major symptoms was a rash. (Kinga Krzeminska/Getty)

So much so, that the mother-of-one was quickly referred to an eye specialist, where she underwent an MRI scan in hope of identifying the cause of her pain.

Advert

"My eyes were so red - it looked like I was wearing an eye mask and it affected my vision," she recalled. "It was so painful and I was so worried that something was seriously wrong."

Bizarrely, however, Georgina's tests all came back clear.

Though she was glad to hear that her pain was not being caused by a potentially-fatal ailment, she was equally devastated to remain at a loss about what was going on within her body.

Some medics hinted that she may simply be suffering with extreme eczema, though Georgina claimed she felt 'fobbed off' by this assertion.

Advert

"[They] tried to give me topical steroids to treat it," she looks back. "But I just knew that it wasn't."

After several further investigations were carried out by specialists at St Mary's Hospital, Orpington, Georgina noticed a unique pattern surrounding when she experienced her reaction - when she was menstruating.

Georgina's eyes were severely affected. (SWNS)
Georgina's eyes were severely affected. (SWNS)

It turns out, that the commercial researcher has been suffering with a rare condition which means she's technically allergic to her own period.

Advert

"My final reaction was three weeks later, and when I started to experience the allergic reaction, I moaned to my partner that it was also my time of the month, which added to what I was going through," Georgina explained.

"He then had a light bulb moment and realised that I'd been on my period every time I had the reactions."

After she began to research progesterone hypersensitivity, she discovered that once the eggs are released from her ovaries, an allergic reaction is triggered.

In fear of the symptoms resurfacing, Georgina subsequently made the decision to have her coil removed, and has returned to the contraceptive injection, which made her periods considerably more sparse.

"I feel so much better since having my coil removed," she added. "It was so painful and horrible, and we had no idea why it was happening.

"I work full time and have a daughter to look after, it was a lot to go through.

The mother-of-one has now reverted back to the contraceptive injection. (Ake Ngiamsanguan/Getty)
The mother-of-one has now reverted back to the contraceptive injection. (Ake Ngiamsanguan/Getty)

"I spent nearly £400 on creams to try and treat the problem - I desperate to make it stop."

Though Georgia insists she's she's 'over the moon' to have found an answer to her health battle, she is still awaiting an official diagnosis from her GP.

"It was such a surprise to me when I learnt about the condition," Georgina admitted. "I'm told it's a rare condition, but maybe it's not and people just know that they have it.

"It was shocking to think I'm actually allergic to my own periods."

She added, however, that she'd like to use her experience to 'raise awareness of progesterone hypersensitivity'.

"I knew it wasn't just eczema," she claimed. "You know your body and you should always listen to your gut."

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: Health, Life, True Life

Rhianna Benson
Rhianna Benson

Rhianna is an Entertainment Journalist at LADbible Group, working across LADbible, UNILAD and Tyla. She has a Masters in News Journalism from the University of Salford and a Masters in Ancient History from the University of Edinburgh. She previously worked as a Celebrity Reporter for OK! and New Magazines, and as a TV Writer for Reach PLC.

X

@rhiannaBjourno

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

11 hours ago
17 hours ago
  • 11 hours ago

    Wedding photographer deletes couple’s photos after not being given any food

    The photographer took to Reddit to ask if they were in the wrong

    Life
  • 11 hours ago

    Warning issued as adult baby pacifier trend surges among Gen Z

    Adults using pacifiers as a stress reliever? It's a surprising trend that’s raising understandably eyebrows

    Life
  • 17 hours ago

    Your ‘just in case’ wee before bed needs to stop, doctor warns

    Many of us are seemingly guilty of this common habit...

    Life
  • 17 hours ago

    'Ozempic vulva' explained as drug surges in popularity

    A doctor has weighed in on one of the newly-coined phrase making its way across the internet

    Life
  • Woman who 'died' after allergic reaction reveals eerie details of what she saw before coming back to life
  • Expert issues severe AI warning after teen encouraged to end his own life
  • Woman diagnosed with brain tumour after thinking symptom was just her menopause
  • Woman issues warning after she was rushed to hospital over unusual symptom that turned out to be heart problem