What Does Losing One Ovary Mean for Your Health?

Losing one ovary—whether due to surgery (oophorectomy), trauma, or disease—does not typically impair fertility or hormonal function in premenopausal individuals. The remaining ovary usually compensates by increasing its activity, maintaining normal estrogen and progesterone production, regular menstrual cycles, and the capacity for conception.

However, outcomes depend on several clinical factors: age at time of loss, baseline ovarian reserve, surgical technique (e.g., whether blood supply to the contralateral ovary was preserved), and underlying etiology. For example, women with diminished ovarian reserve prior to unilateral oophorectomy may experience earlier onset of menopause or reduced fecundity. Similarly, conditions such as endometriosis or pelvic inflammatory disease that necessitated removal of one ovary may also affect the health and function of the remaining ovary.

Long-term considerations include a modestly increased risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis later in life—particularly if bilateral oophorectomy eventually occurs or if premature ovarian insufficiency develops. Routine monitoring of bone mineral density and cardiovascular risk factors is recommended for individuals who undergo early or bilateral ovarian loss.

Fertility preservation counseling should be offered before elective oophorectomy in reproductive-age patients, especially when risk factors for future ovarian compromise exist. In most cases, spontaneous pregnancy remains possible after unilateral oophorectomy, though assisted reproductive technologies may be considered if conception does not occur within 12 months of regular, unprotected intercourse.