Insulin-Lowering Medications in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
September 2000
in “
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America
”
insulin-lowering medications Polycystic Ovary Syndrome PCOS menstrual dysfunction hyperandrogenism metformin androgen levels ovulation thiazolidinediones insulin levels testosterone levels troglitazone rosiglitazone pioglitazone d-chiro-inositol PCOS insulin-lowering drugs menstrual issues high androgen levels metformin ovulation improvement thiazolidinediones insulin reduction testosterone reduction troglitazone rosiglitazone pioglitazone d-chiro-inositol
TLDR Insulin-lowering medications show promise for PCOS symptoms but can't be the main treatment yet due to limited long-term research.
The document from September 2000 reviews the use of insulin-lowering medications for treating Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), emphasizing the potential benefits of these drugs in improving symptoms like menstrual dysfunction and hyperandrogenism. It particularly notes that metformin has been successful in some studies in lowering androgen levels and improving ovulation, although its effectiveness varies. The document also mentions that thiazolidinediones have been effective in reducing insulin and testosterone levels, but troglitazone was withdrawn due to severe side effects. Newer alternatives like rosiglitazone and pioglitazone require further research. Additionally, d-chiro-inositol has shown promise in managing insulin and androgen levels. Despite these findings, the document concludes that insulin-lowering medications cannot be recommended as the primary treatment for PCOS yet, due to the absence of long-term studies and comparisons with established treatments, and the lack of a clear method to identify patients who would benefit most from these drugs.
