How does metformin work for PCOS?

To compare the efficacy of clomiphene citrate (CC) administration for ovulation induction in CC-resistant oligo-ovulatory women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) after metformin treatment or laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD). Design Prospective controlled study.

Patients:

Twenty-eight overweight oligo-amenorrhoeic women with PCOS who were still anovulatory after metformin administration (group A, n = 8) or LOD (group B, n = 20).

Methods:

Treatment with CC 150 mg/day for 5 days from the third to the seventh day of a progesterone-induced uterine bleeding for 6 months.

Measurements:

The ovulation, pregnancy, abortion and live-birth rates were evaluated in each group.

Results:

The subjects of groups A and B were studied for a total of 36 and 74 cycles, respectively. At the end of the study, no differences in ovulation [11/36 (30.6%) vs. 23/74 (31.1%); P = 0.96], pregnancy [6/36 (16.7%) vs. 12/74 (16.2%); P = 0.95], abortion [2/6 (33.3%) vs. 5/12 (41.7%); P = 1.00] and the live-birth [4/6 (66.7%) vs. 7/12 (58.3%); P = 1.00] rates were observed between groups A and B.

Conclusion:

Metformin administration as well as LOD improves the effectiveness of CC for ovulation induction in overweight infertile CC-resistant women with PCOS.

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This is the personal website of David A Viniker MD FRCOG, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Whipps Cross University Hospital, London - Specialist Interests - Reproductive Medicine including Infertility, PCOS, PMS, Menopause and HRT.

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