Spring has arrived, and with it comes one of the most difficult seasons for people with allergies. Instead of enjoying nature waking up, many are dealing with a runny nose, constant sneezing, and daily antihistamines while waiting for pollen season to pass.
I only understood what allergies truly were after the birth of my second child. After delivery, I received a pertussis vaccine and shortly afterward came down with COVID. Whether due to postpartum changes, illness, stress, or shifts in immune regulation, I suddenly found myself facing severe allergic reactions.
An allergy is an immune response to a substance the body mistakenly identifies as harmful, even though it is usually harmless. In many allergic reactions, immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies activate mast cells and basophils, triggering the release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators. This can lead to itching, swelling, skin irritation, sneezing, congestion, or more serious reactions.
It felt as though everything had become an allergen—food, clothing, cosmetics. Products I had used for years suddenly caused skin inflammation, and the situation worsened day by day. That year, I tried nearly every allergy medication available. When none of them helped enough, I was prescribed steroid medications. Unsurprisingly, this also affected my menstrual cycle.
Antihistamines may reduce or dry cervical mucus, which can make fertility charting more difficult. Ovulation may appear to occur while cervical secretions are minimal or absent. Steroid medications, especially with long-term use, can affect hormone balance and may interfere with ovulation, so they should be used cautiously and under medical supervision.
After a year of struggling with allergies—and an anaphylactic reaction that sent me to the hospital—the symptoms finally subsided. I still shudder when I think back to that time, and I sincerely sympathize with everyone who lives with allergies.
Fertility awareness methods are a simple and practical tool for monitoring the menstrual cycle. Even if medications cannot be discontinued, charting can help you observe how they may be affecting fertility signs and how your cycle recovers afterward.
Have you ever tracked your cycle while taking allergy or other medications? What changes did you notice?
