Use of Metformin in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome with Impaired Fertility

Mimoza Dollenga

Abstract: Many studies based on the role of IR in PCOS have demonstrated the possible role of insulin-sensitizing agents, particularly Metformin, in the treatment of PCOS. A series of studies in women with PCOS, indicated that Metformin reduced insulin resistance and increased ovulation and pregnancy without, or sometimes with, clomiphene citrate (CC) (4, 5). However, Metformin's exact role in managing women with PCOS has been quite controversial. In a group of women with PCOS and impaired fertility (76) presenting in our gynecological clinic, we have seen the different treatments used by the gynecologist and have concluded that in 80 of them Metformin is used alone or with contraceptives (38 ). Metformin was a treatment of choice especially in overweight or obese women, and this is concordant with high IR in this group. However, we have no sufficient data on ovulation or pregnancy rate improvement. We concluded that further investigations are necessary to determine if Metformin has a role in the reproductive or only metabolic aspect of PCOS.

Keywords: PCOS, insulin resistance, therapy