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Effects of One Ovary on Menopause

Women may undergo surgery for ovary removal due to cysts, fibroids, ovarian cancer, pelvic pain, tumors or other reasons. This may or may not affect a woman's experience of menopause because there are many factors that influence menopause onset.

  1. Menopause

    • Menopause is defined as the absence of menstruation for one full year. Although it typically occurs around age 51 when the egg supply is low or gone, it can happen earlier. If you experience menopause before age 40, it is considered premature menopause. According to the Consumer Reports Health.org website, ovary removal is a typical reason for early menopause.

    The Ovaries

    • Ovaries are the site of estrogen and progesterone production and are glands. If an ovary is removed and hormone balance is affected, this could create menopause-like symptoms. This does not mean that menopause is happening. You need to get a physical exam to receive a diagnosis.

    Menopause Symptoms

    • The symptoms of menopause can include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, insomnia, weight gain, memory issues, night sweats, depression, changes in libido, anxiety, muscle or joint pain, fatigue, hair loss, irritability and more.

    Ovary Removal and Menopause

    • According to the Consumer Reports Health.org website, ovary removal can exaggerate menopause symptoms, trigger early menopause and make the experience of menopause more severe. There is no surefire way to predict if this will occur.

    Considerations

    • How you will respond to removal of one ovary and to menopause in general depends upon factors like age, lifestyle choices (diet, exercise, smoking), stress levels, whether you take hormone replacement therapy, your genetics and, according to the website Menopause Expert, even alcohol intake.

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