Can I Get Pregnant if My Ovaries are Removed?

Becoming naturally pregnant requires several important factors all to align at the right time and in the right way. Fortunately, with today’s medical advancements, those that may struggle to meet all the necessary elements can now be given the needed advantage to help them along on their journey to parenthood.

One of the more important organs for natural pregnancy is the ovaries. Unfortunately, some women may require having them removed for a medical ailment or prevention. The bright side is that today, the removal of a woman’s ovaries doesn’t mean they cannot carry and give birth to a child.

This article will review the importance of the ovaries and the options available to those that have had or plan to have their ovaries removed.

A Brief Overview of the Importance of Ovaries

The ovaries are part of the female reproductive system and are a crucial part of natural pregnancy.  Women have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. The ovaries produce and store a woman's eggs.  During ovulation, an ovary releases an egg. If that egg is fertilized by a sperm, a pregnancy can occur.  Ovaries also make the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. When a woman goes through menopause, her ovaries stop making those hormones and releasing eggs. 

Nature can be hard on women, and a women’s reproductive system is fragile.  Women can face conditions such as Ovarian cysts, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Ovarian cancer, Primary ovarian insufficiency, Ovarian torsion, endometriosis, etc. Often, these conditions result in the removal of these crucial organs for pregnancy.

It is important for women to consider egg freezing, especially for women who are aware of their ovaries’ condition and may be struggling with PCOS. Having a reserve of eggs will allow you to still attempt a pregnancy via IVF if your ovaries ultimately need to be removed.

What is Egg Freezing

Egg freezing technology allows you to align your priorities without worrying about your biological clock. Egg freezing involves the retrieval of a woman's eggs to allow the woman to have more flexibility in when she chooses to start her fertility journey.  Fertility drugs are used to stimulate the ovaries to maximize the number of mature eggs being retrieved.  The eggs are retrieved and stored until you are ready to have a child.  Using advanced egg freezing methods available at PFCLA, you can freeze the eggs indefinitely without weakening their quality.

What Could Cause Ovary Removal

A surgeon may remove one or both of your ovaries for several reasons, including a disease known as endometriosis, when cells from inside the uterus travel and grow elsewhere. Benign (non-cancerous) growths are known as cysts.  Preventative surgery for patients with a high risk of cancer of the breast or ovaries.

Women who suffer from ovarian removal often ask if they can still get pregnant. The short answer is yes. In the event that eggs were not able to be frozen prior to ovarian removal, using an egg donor will add an option for IVF treatment as well.

What is the Process of IVF using an Egg Donor

There are many reasons that an egg donor may be needed for an Intended Parent. Some of the more common reasons are listed below:

•         Age-related infertility
•         Genetic disease risk on the female side
•         Low Varian reserves
•         Premature ovarian failure
•         Unexplained repeated IVF failure
•         A woman born without her ovaries due to a congenital anomaly or had both ovaries removed

By finding a healthy donor with good egg quality, we frequently see better results for birth rates. Finding the right donor takes time and careful consideration. To start looking for an egg donor, please visit this page here.

Once an egg donor has been found, there are several steps that are taken to assure everything goes according to plan. Below is an outline of the process.

•         Psychological evaluation
•         Genetic evaluation
•         In-person medical screening
•         Legal Contract
•         Ovarian stimulation cycle

After the eggs have been retrieved, the eggs are fertilized by the sperm of the male partner (or sperm donor) in our IVF lab.  The embryos will go through the biopsy process and PGT-A (preimplantation genetic screening) testing, the frozen embryo(s) are then transferred to the uterus of the recipient, whose uterine lining has been appropriately prepared beforehand. 

At PFCLA, we personalize your fertility treatment plans, we provide treatment plans for Conventional IVF, Egg and Embryo Freezing, Egg donor and surrogacy service, IUI, etc. With over 30 years of experience and comprehensive care, we are here to make your dreams come true of having babies. Take your first step today and contact us to get started.