The Effects of Metformin on Pregnancy and Miscarriage Rates in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF OULU · Oct 13, 2009

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Women with PCOS represent about 5-10% of the general female population and one third of the women treated for infertility. Thus, the development of new therapies to improve the efficiency of ovulation induction treatments and the outcome of pregnancy, and to reduce the long-term risks of the syndrome would bring important health benefits.

The central role played by insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia in PCOS - causing hyperandrogenism, premature follicular atresia, anovulation, oligo-amenorrhea and anovulatory infertility - has led to the use of insulin-lowering drugs for the treatment...

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. age \< 40 years at entry
• • 2. BMI \> 19 kg/m2
• • 3. Infertility lasting \> 1 year
• 4. Criteria for PCOS are as defined by ESHRE/ASRM: at least two of the following findings:
• • polycystic ovaries shown by vaginal ultrasonography (more than 12 subcapsular follicles of 3-8 mm diameter in one plane of the ovary)
• • oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea
• • clinical manifestations of hyperandrogenism such as a hirsutism score of \> 7 according to Ferriman and Gallwey (Ferriman \& Gallwey 1961)and/or an elevated serum testosterone level (\> 2.7 nmol/l).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. diabetic subjects
• • 2. alcohol users
• • 3. active liver disease (ALAT \> +2 SD the upper normal value i.e.\> 100IU/l)
• • 4. hormonal drugs
• • 5. past or present cardiac failure (NYHA I-IV)
• • 6. liver or renal failure (S-Creatinine above the normal value ie.124 umol/l)
• • 7. pregnancy or lactation
• • 8. hypersensitivity to metformin