Metformin in polycystic ovary syndrome (original) (raw)
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IMC Journal of Medical Science
Background and objectives: Metformin improves manifestations of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by reducing insulin resistance. The objective of this study was to determine how metformin, in combination with lifestyle changes, affects the clinical manifestations of PCOS. Materials and Methods: Patients with PCOS attending the outpatient of a tertiary care hospital were enrolled in the study. Revised Rotterdam Consensus 2003 criteria were used to diagnose cases of PCOS. Clinical information, anthropometric measurement, serum progesterone and polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) of each subject were recorded in a prescribed data sheet at baseline and after a period of nine months. Randomized placebo controlled double blind design was used to assign participants in respective groups. Participants were randomly assigned to receive 9-month course of either metformin (1500 mg/day) or placebo. Both groups were advised regarding schedule of lifestyle modification. Outcome variables were cl...
[Use of metformin in polycystic ovary syndrome]
Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a myriad of phenotypic and clinical features that may guide therapeutic options for metabolic protection and ovulation induction. The use of metformin may prove beneficial in a subset of the population of women with PCOS. Hyperinsulinemia, as demonstrated by elevated insulin levels on a 2-hour 75-g load glucose tolerance test, is an important parameter in deciding whether or not to initiate metformin therapy to women with PCOS with the hope of preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Cardiovascular risk factors including markers of subclinical inflammation, and dyslipidemia may also be improved by metformin therapy. For ovulation induction, metformin is not as effective as clomiphene citrate as first-line therapy for women with PCOS. There are no clear data to suggest that metformin reduces pregnancy loss or improves pregnancy outcome in PCOS, and it is currently recommended that metformin be discontinued with the first positive pregnancy test result, unless there are other medical indications (eg, type 2 DM). This review addresses practical management guidelines for the uses of metformin in women with PCOS.
Metformin in polycystic ovary syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis
BMJ, 2003
Objective To assess the effectiveness of metformin in improving clinical and biochemical features of polycystic ovary syndrome. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources Randomised controlled trials that investigated the effect of metformin compared with either placebo or no treatment, or compared with an ovulation induction agent. Selection of studies 13 trials were included for analysis, including 543 women with polycystic ovary syndrome that was defined by using biochemical or ultrasound evidence. Main outcome measure Pregnancy and ovulation rates. Secondary outcomes of clinical and biochemical features of polycystic ovary syndrome. Results Meta-analysis showed that metformin is effective in achieving ovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, with odds ratios of 3.88 (95% confidence interval 2.25 to 6.69) for metformin compared with placebo and 4.41 (2.37 to 8.22) for metformin and clomifene compared with clomifene alone. An analysis of pregnancy rates shows a significant treatment effect for metformin and clomifene (odds ratio 4.40, 1.96 to 9.85). Metformin has an effect in reducing fasting insulin concentrations, blood pressure, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. We found no evidence of any effect on body mass index or waist:hip ratio. Metformin was associated with a higher incidence of nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal disturbance. Conclusions Metformin is an effective treatment for anovulation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Its choice as a first line agent seems justified, and there is some evidence of benefit on variables of the metabolic syndrome. No data are available regarding the safety of metformin in long term use in young women and only limited data on its safety in early pregnancy. It should be used as an adjuvant to general lifestyle improvements and not as a replacement for increased exercise and improved diet.
The role of metformin in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome
Current Opinion in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2003
Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to provide a critical summary of recent studies on the clinical effects of metformin in polycystic ovary syndrome. Recent findings After the recognition that hyperinsulinaemia is a fundamental disturbance in polycystic ovary syndrome, a novel and promising form of therapy in the form of insulin-sensitizing drugs has been introduced. Among these, metformin is the most widely used. This therapeutic intervention has been shown to exert beneficial effects on the endocrine and metabolic disturbances that characterize the syndrome and, more recently, to improve the reproductive outcome in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. With rapid progress in this area, metformin use has also been extended to the management of lean polycystic ovary syndrome patients. Summary Although most studies are nonrandomized trials, current data provide a rationale for metformin as first-line management for women with polycystic ovary syndrome, alone or in combination with conventional treatments. Controversy still exists, however, regarding the mechanisms by which metformin exerts its beneficial effects in polycystic ovary syndrome.
Metformin therapy in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 2004
Objective: To determine the clinical, biochemical, hormonal, and ultrasonographic effects of 6 months of metformin therapy in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and compare with pretherapy parameters. Method: 50 Indian women with PCOS, 25 unmarried and 25 married, infertile women, were enrolled in this prospective clinical study. After a baseline workup, including body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR), Ferriman Gallwey hirsutism scoring, menstrual pattern, levels of fasting insulin, lipids, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), serum gonadotropins, estradiol (E2), testosterone, androstenedione, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), patients were given 1000 gm of metformin for 6 months and then reevaluated. Result: In 41 of 50 women who completed treatment, significant improvement in BMI, WHR, menstrual cyclicity (80.5%), ovulation rate (66%), and pregnancy rate (28%) was noted. Statistically significant decrease in lutenising hormone (LH) and LH/FSH ratio with an increase in follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were seen. Levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (Chol) increased along with a decrease in total cholesterol. Improvement was noted in ovarian volume, stromal thickness, and number of follicles. There was no change in hirsutism, acne, levels of other sex steroid hormones, and lipids. Conclusion: A 6-month course of metformin therapy may improve menstrual cyclicity and fertility in women with PCOS.
Metformin versus oral contraceptive pill in polycystic ovary syndrome: a Cochrane review
Human Reproduction, 2007
BACKGROUND: The object of this review was to compare metformin versus oral contraceptive pill (OCP) treatment in polycystic ovary syndrome. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis employing the principles of the Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group was undertaken. RESULTS: Four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (104 subjects) were included. Limited data demonstrated no evidence of a difference in effect between metformin and the OCP on hirsutism, acne or development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. There were no trials assessing diagnosis of cardiovascular disease or endometrial cancer. Metformin, in comparison with the OCP, was less effective in improving menstrual pattern [Peto odds ratio (OR) 0.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01-0.45) and in reducing the serum total testosterone level weighted mean difference (WMD) 0.54, 95% CI 0.22-0.86] but more effective in reducing fasting insulin (WMD 23.46, 95% CI25.39 to 21.52) and not increasing fasting triglyceride (WMD 20.48, 95% CI20.86 to 20.09) levels. Limited data demonstrated no evidence of a difference in effect between the two therapies on reducing fasting glucose or total cholesterol levels and severe adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: The limited RCT evidence to date does not show adverse metabolic risk with the use of the OCP compared with metformin. Further long-term RCTs are required.
Metformin monotherapy in lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 2005
This study was carried out to compare ovulation and pregnancy rates in response to metformin therapy in lean and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A total of 34 (17 lean and 17 obese) women with PCOS were treated with 500 mg metformin 3 times daily for 12 weeks. In the lean and obese groups, the mean body mass index was 24 and 36, and the mean fasting insulin concentrations were 12 and 21 mIU/l respectively. There was no difference between the two groups as regarding age, DHEA-S, androstenedione, 17-OH progesterone and LH concentrations. In the lean and obese groups 15/17 women (88%) and 5/17 women (29%) ovulated while 11/17 women (65%) and 3/17 women (18%) conceived respectively. Comparison between the groups was found to be statistically significant. Metformin monotherapy is very effective in improving ovulation and pregnancy rates in lean women with PCOS as compared with obese women.
Efficacy of Metformin Therapy in Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Pakistan Journal of Medical and Health Sciences
Background: Earlier analysis shows that metformin is beneficial clinically in treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by reducing hyperinsulinemia. Aim: The goal of this study was to determine the importance of metformin in modifying amenorrhea/ oligomenorrhea and anovulation within six months in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and hyperinsulinemia. Another goal was to evaluate hyperinsulinemia and weight loss with metformin in the studied people. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was held at the Obstetrics and Gynecology department of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi for one-year duration from July 2020 to July 2021. The study included 160 women who met the biochemical and clinical conditions for hyperinsulinemia and PCOS. Two females stopped taking the drug due to abdominal cramps, diarrhoea and nausea. Other excluding factors were inadequate adherence in one female women and use of other medications in two women. One female had anomalous levels of ser...
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2000
In the last few years some studies assessed the effects of attenuation of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, obtained by insulin sensitizing agents, in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), suggesting potential scope for these drugs in treating the whole spectrum of reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic abnormalities found in such subjects. However, the results of these studies, mostly uncontrolled and short-term, are still inconclusive, and there is no longterm follow-up. In the present study, 23 PCOS subjects [mean (Ϯ SE) body mass index 30.0 Ϯ 1.1 kg/m 2 ] were randomly assigned to doubleblind treatment with metformin (500 mg tid) or placebo for 6 months, while maintaining their usual eating habits. Before and after treatment, menstrual history, endocrine and metabolic profiles, serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone response to GnRH-agonist testing, and insulin sensitivity measured by the glucose clamp technique were assessed. Eighteen of these women, as well as 14 additional PCOS patients, were subsequently given metformin in an open trial for 11.0 Ϯ 1.3 months (range 4-26), to assess long-term effects of treatment and baseline predictors of metformin efficacy on reproductive abnormalities. After metformin treatment, mean frequency of menstruation improved (P ϭ 0.002), due to striking amelioration of menstrual abnormalities in about 50% of subjects. Women given metformin showed reduced plasma insulin (at fasting: P ϭ 0.057; during
The role of metformin in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review
Human Reproduction Update, 2007
This meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of metformin in subfertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Only randomized trials investigating the effectiveness of metformin and PCOS definition consistent with the Rotterdam consensus criteria, were eligible. Primary outcome was live birth rate. A literature search identified 27 trials. In therapy naïve women, we found no evidence of a difference in live birth rate when comparing metformin with clomifene citrate (CC) [relative risks (RR) 0.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51-1.1] or comparing metformin plus CC with CC (RR 1.0; 95% CI 0.82-1.3). In CC-resistant women, metformin plus CC led to higher live birth rates than CC alone (RR 6.4; 95% CI 1.2-35); metformin also led to higher live birth rates than laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) (RR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1-2.5). We found no evidence for a positive effect of metformin on live birth when added to LOD (RR 1.3; 95% CI 0.39-4.0) or FSH (RR 1.6; 95% CI 0.95-2.9), or when co-administered in IVF (RR 1.5; 95% CI 0.92-2.5). In IVF, metformin led to fewer cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) (RR 0.33; 95% CI 0.13-0.80). This meta-analysis demonstrates that CC is still first choice therapy for women with therapy naïve PCOS. In CC-resistant women, the combination of CC plus metformin is the preferred treatment option before starting with LOD or FSH. At present, there is no evidence of an improvement in live birth when adding metformin to LOD or FSH. In IVF, metformin leads to a reduced risk of OHSS.