Pregnancy after unilateral oophorectomy in a woman with hyperthecosis ovarii. A case report

Ovarian hyperthecosis has been described exclusively as bilateral. It occurs predominantly in perimenopausal women but may be seen at any age after puberty. In a young woman, stromal hyperthecosis is characterized by virilism, menstrual disorders and infertility. Ovarian suppression therapy, induction of ovulation and wedge resection of the ovaries have been ineffective, and only bilateral oophorectomy has caused regression of virilism in these patients. Conservative surgery in appropriate cases may save many young women desiring pregnancy from having bilateral oophorectomy. This case report describes a unique situation in which a young woman with ovarian hyperthecosis achieved three pregnancies after unilateral oophorectomy, indicating the possibility of unilateral ovarian hyperthecosis in our patient.