For surgery for PMDD do both ovaries need to be removed or can they just take one? Does having just one ovary mean that I will have half the hormone levels?

Some patients with severe PMDD who have not responded, or gained enough relief, through other interventions, will opt to have a total hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy (removal of the uterus and both ovaries) to once-and-for-all remove the hormonal flux that causes symptoms. Bilateral oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries) eliminates hormone cycling and usually eliminates cyclical symptoms in those with PMDD.

Both ovaries must be removed for oophorectomy to be an effective treatment for PMDD. Ovulation still occurs regularly with just one ovary, and therefore the same levels of hormones are present when one ovary is left in place -- that is, removal of one ovary does not result in a reduction in monthly hormone production, and PMDD continues.

Therefore, both ovaries must be removed for surgical treatment to be effective.

-Tory Eisenlohr-Moul, PhD July 1, 2019

Visit www.iapmd.org/surgery for lots of evidence-based information and resources for those considering, going through, or recovering from surgery for PMDD/PME.