All of her symptoms seemed random and not quite connected.
Apart from red face patches, the Austin, Texas-based artist and product designer would also get swelling.
It felt like my skin was being stretched off my face, Haley tells Well+Good.
It was hard to simply get out of bed and make it through the day.
Why does progesterone hypersensitivity even happen?
The origin of PH is still a mystery.
Mark Trolice, MD, is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist based in Winter Park, Florida.
PH can manifest in a variety of ways.
According to theNational Organization for Rare Disorders, people with the condition can also get hives and asthma.
Haley R.
How is autoimmune progesterone dermatitis diagnosed?
Unsurprisingly, this condition is hard to diagnose.
Over the years, Haley says she met with at least 18 specialists and had countless blood tests.
Sometimes I was misdiagnosed and put on medications that werent needed, she says.
They looked at her hormone levels and her thyroid.
Everything came back normal.
It was very frustrating, time-consuming, and invasive, she says.
Mark Trolice, MD, is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist based in Winter Park, Florida.
In 2021, Haley went to see yet another rheumatologist.
She described her symptoms and shared something peculiar shed picked up on about a year prior.
While tracking her menstrual cycle, she noticed her symptoms flared on the same dates every month.
At first, she thought they might be triggered by a food allergy.
Whats more, Haley got her first period at age 18, which is when these flares initially appeared.
She felt there had to be a connection.
She confirmed that the symptoms were happening cyclically, during the luteal phase of her menstrual cycle.
Haley finally received a formal diagnosis of progesterone hypersensitivity.
My doctor was hesitant to do the test, because it is not always accurate, she says.
She had an answer at last.
What is life with progesterone hypersensitivity like?
For example, my joint pain made it difficult to build things.
Progesterone hypersensitivity has also taken a toll on her social life.
I have to cancel plans if Im not feeling good, she says.
And if my face looks wrecked, I dont want to be out in public.
Along the way, Haley learned to advocate for herself, and she encourages others to do the same.
Ultimately, dont give up.
It has been a long roadit took me over a decade to get diagnosed, Haley says.
Its difficult, but stay positive and keep moving forward.
The thought of being pregnant was very scary for me because progesterone spikes during pregnancy.
They will likely refer you to an allergist, Dr. Trolice says.
He also points out that other ingredients in the drug could be to blame.
In fertility treatments, progesterone is mixed with peanut, sesame, or ethanolamine oil, he says.
People might be reacting to the throw in of oil used rather than the progesterone.
And if you want to get pregnant?
An allergist can try progesterone desensitization techniques, Dr. Trolice says.
Other people with PH have had success with this approach, but it didnt work for me.
Beyond medication, there are certain lifestyle shifts Haley has made to lessen her symptoms.
I eat a plant-based,anti-inflammatory diet, she says.
She sticks tolow-FODMAP foodsand cooked vegetables, and avoids spicy dishes.
She also makes sure toget plenty of sleep, at least seven hours per night, plus daily naps.
Over time, natural progesterone hypersensitivity may stop altogether with menopause.
What happens during pregnancy?
Haley got pregnant at the end of 2023.
The thought of being pregnant was very scary for me because progesterone spikes during pregnancy, she says.
Haleys hives did indeed increase with conception.
Yet as the pregnancy progressed, her symptoms resolved.
It can also be the result of changes in your immune system during pregnancy.
In fact, some people find their symptoms disappear permanently after giving birth.
Four months ago, Haley gave birth to a healthy baby girl.
Pregnancy was a reprieve from my symptoms and only time will tell what happens next, she says.
When to see a doctor
Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis is pretty rare.
They may refer you to an allergist to test you for PH.
reviewed byAndrea Braden, MD, OB/GYN
Dhaliwal, Gurnoor et al.
Progesterone Hypersensitivity Induced by Exogenous Progesterone Exposure.Cureusvol.
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