Only one ovary anyone? Has it affected your hormones/wellbeing?

[greekyogurtaddict]

I lost an ovary recently, it twisted under the weight of a very large dermoid. I'd rather they tried untwisting it and preserving even the smallest amount of ovarian tissue but unfortunately that was not the end result of my emergency surgery (which I was made to wait 48 hours for this making it a foregone conclusion). I'm very down about losing a part of my body that could have been avoidable (was due to have it out in a few months anyway as a regular cystectomy!) But more worried about how this will change me as a person.
I am currently very athletic and am terrified to read studies suggesting my testosterone/androgen production will be affected resulting in loss of muscle mass. One can infer also weight gain, lowered motivation and drive, irregular periods, depression, lowered libido, thinning hair and fatigue, slower fuzzier thinking, i.e things I might expect when I am much older. Also lower estrogen levels overall, up to 2/3rds lower, so potentially accelerated ageing and associated health problems, also more wrinkles (arg!) through to a slightly earlier menopause. Also some studies show a very significantly increased risk of dementia and cognitive decline after age 50. Has anybody with one ovary experienced changes like this after losing an ovary, and stayed that way? Or do you feel and function no differently? Or if you were born with one do u feel you suffer any of the above possibly as a result?
There are surprisingly few studies yet consultants seem happy to claim nothing will change and the other will compensate (mostly)! There are lots of studies telling me I could still have children but I'm more concerned about my health and longevity right now and feeling like me. Particularly maintaing my weight, relative youth and activity levels. Also, if I do want more children am I now biologically older and therefore is my remaining ovary going to let me down sooner?
I am also wondering if hormone testing and testosterone/estrogen supplementation is a safe and realistic prospect at my age (early 30s).
I lost my right one, and I read that the right one is possibly the most important too.

Thank you! I have no idea what to expect and am busy mourning and lamenting my missing ovary!

Sorry that should read 1/2 lower estrogen levels not 2/3rds!

I was born with only one (my left) and apart from irregular periods I can’t say I’ve suffered any of the symptoms you describe. I struggled to conceive both of my kids (had ivf for the second) but I only have one Fallopian tube as well so that might have been it.

I had no problems with extra weight until I went through IVF, sprung back to shape after first baby. My hair is also very thick and I have very few wrinkles for someone of 39.

You can’t change it so why worry now?

Sorry you're going through this - it's horrible, especially with the lack of information/research available online etc

I had my full right ovary & fallopian tube removed aged 14 due to a large dermoid cyst. Then at 20 I had a dermoid cyst on my other ovary, and as a result I had half of my left ovary removed too.

I'm now 26. With regards to my general health - I haven't noticed any serious effects from the ovary removals - weight stayed the same, no accelerated aging, no lowered motivation/drive, hair isn't thinning. I do really worry about how my muscle mass will be affected when I'm older though.

Obviously there's been a significant change in regards to being able to have children, however there's plenty of success stories of women conceiving with only one ovary.

Everyone is different - just monitor how you feel over the coming months and bug your GP/specialist if you notice any dramatic changes.

Thank you for sharing your experience turquoisetamborine, that's reassuring.
I've drawn possible associations from various human and animal research studies relating to unilateral oopherectomy but there are no certainties here. There isn't a lot of research at all into the matter of women with one ovary and most of those are a few IVF studies which do show at least that one ovary doesn't put women at any disadvantage in terms of oocyte retrieval and pregnancy rates despite slightly lower peak hormone levels etc. I am as you say worrying myself about what might happen when I can't bring my ovary back. I suppose I am trying to work out what changes I might experience and whether I should be exploring some sort of low dosage hrt. Hopefully no changes and none required!

Thanks bakreld, I just read your post. Again, very reassuring! And yes I think I will keep some sort of record to keep an eye on any possible changes.

Hello @greekyogurtaddict hoping you will get an alert to this thread as I'd like to hear how you're getting on a few years down the line. I had an large cyst removed a few weeks back and sadly the ovary had to go with it. Feeling much more impacted by this than I expected and worried for my health. Not only my fertility (I'm in my 30s) but what you could also mean in later life. Post op recovery feels slow right now. Any glimmers of hope you or anyone else can offer would be appreciated.