Evaluation of Insulin Resistance Markers in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients Receiving Metformin, Finasteride, or Both

December 2025 in “ Annals of the College of Medicine Mosul/Annals of the College of Medecine ”

Iman Abdul-Kadhim Abdul-Jabbar, Asma Abdul Jaleel Swadi

metformin finasteride PCOS HOMA-IR TyG index TyG-BMI index TG/HDL ratio polycystic ovary syndrome

TLDR Metformin reduces insulin resistance in PCOS, but combining it with finasteride offers extra benefits.

This study on 150 Iraqi women with PCOS assessed the impact of metformin, finasteride, and their combination on insulin resistance markers over 3 months. All treatments significantly reduced insulin resistance, with metformin alone showing the greatest reduction in HOMA-IR levels. However, the combination of metformin and finasteride resulted in the most significant improvements in the TyG index, TyG-BMI index, and TG/HDL ratio, suggesting enhanced insulin sensitivity. The study concludes that while metformin effectively reduces insulin resistance, its combination with finasteride may provide additional benefits for managing insulin-related issues in PCOS.

View this study on mmed.uomosul.edu.iq →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Related Community Posts Join

6 / 44 results

community Female, 30, PCOS diagnosis, MPB Norwood 2. Endo refuses to give anything other than Spironolactone. Feel like I’m at my wit’s end here.

in Female 55 upvotes 2 years ago

A 30-year-old female with PCOS and male pattern baldness is frustrated with her endocrinologist's recommendation of only Spironolactone and minoxidil, feeling that dutasteride, finasteride, and progesterone would be more effective. Other users suggest various online sources for treatments, warn against self-medicating due to potential risks, and recommend seeking a specialized endocrinologist or considering additional treatments like Inositol, Berberine, and dermaneedling.

community PCOS female who posted before; saw Endo today. prescribed spironolactone and minox 5%

in Update 1 upvotes 2 years ago

PCOS female visited doctor for hair loss concerns, prescribed spironolactone and minox 5%. Doctor advised against finasteride or dutasteride, user considering self-medication with dutasteride.

community One+ year 1mg Fin, Ketoconazole, and 3.75 Oral Min. I have DUPA. Switched from Topical to Oral Min.

in Progress Pictures 142 upvotes 3 years ago

A user's experience with hair loss treatments such as finasteride, ketoconazole, and oral minoxidil that have not yielded any results; other users suggest shaving the head or getting a wig, while others offer additional advice such as seeing a dermatologist, checking thyroid levels, switching to dutasteride and adding needling, and trying stemoxydine.

community [25, F] [RANT] Shedding since March 2020. This just isn’t fair.

in Female 42 upvotes 4 years ago

User "missbloombastic" has been experiencing hair loss since 2016 and tried min, fin, multivitamins, and spiro with mixed results. Another user shares their struggle with hair loss and its impact on self-esteem, while a third user suggests checking blood tests and confirming the cause of hair loss.

community If You Have DUPA, PLEASE READ THIS: Everyone Should Be Scalp Biopsied

in Research 830 upvotes 1 year ago

Scalp biopsies are crucial for diagnosing hair loss conditions like Diffuse Unpatterned Alopecia (DUPA) and retrograde hair loss, as treatments like finasteride and dutasteride may not be effective if other conditions are present. Combining PPAR-GAMMA agonists with retinoids could improve treatments for conditions like Lichen Planopilaris.

community 57% increased chance of pattern hair loss independently associated with the consumption of sugary beverages in men (p<0.001) Pt 2

in Research/Science 479 upvotes 1 year ago

Sugary beverages increase the risk of pattern hair loss in men by 57%. Treatments discussed include Minoxidil, finasteride, and RU58841.

Similar Research

5 / 1000+ results

research Comparison of Finasteride, Metformin, and Finasteride Plus Metformin in PCOS

4 citations , January 2017 in “Acta Endocrinologica”

Finasteride and metformin both help treat PCOS, but using them together works best.

research The Current and Emerging Role of Statins in the Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: The Evidence to Date

January 2024 in “Medicina”

Statins may help treat PCOS by lowering androgen levels and improving cholesterol.

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

May 2015 in “Endocrine Abstracts”

Both finasteride and metformin effectively treat PCOS by reducing hormone levels and insulin resistance.

Efficacy and Safety of Anti-Androgens in the Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

research Efficacy and Safety of Anti-Androgens in the Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

7 citations , August 2023 in “EClinicalMedicine”

Anti-androgens can help manage some PCOS symptoms better than metformin but are not more effective than placebos or birth control pills for other symptoms.

research Pharmacological Approaches to Controlling Cardiometabolic Risk in Women with PCOS

26 citations , December 2020 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences”

Treatments for PCOS aim to reduce androgen levels and improve insulin sensitivity to lower cardiometabolic risk.