Does Finasteride, As Well As Metformin, Improve Insulin Resistance In PCOS?

In a study conducted 8 years ago, 52 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were randomly assigned to receive finasteride, metformin, or a combination of both for 12 months. The study aimed to compare the effects of these treatments on hormone levels, insulin resistance, and hirsutism score. The results showed significant reductions in hirsutism score, free testosterone, DHEAS, androstenedione, HOMA-IR, AUC-insulin, and AUC-glucose within each group, while BMI and estradiol levels remained unchanged. No treatment modality was clearly superior to the others. The study concluded that both finasteride and metformin, alone or in combination, were effective and safe in treating women with PCOS, as they had beneficial effects on both hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance.