Metformin in the Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Literature Review

This literature review examines the use of metformin in treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), highlighting its benefits and potential side effects. Metformin, an oral antidiabetic drug, has been used for nearly 30 years to treat PCOS by increasing insulin sensitivity, enhancing estrogen secretion, reducing ovarian androgen production, and influencing sex hormone-binding globulin levels. The review, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, analyzes studies from 2015 to 2022, emphasizing metformin's role in restoring fertility, alleviating hyperandrogenism symptoms, achieving average body weight, and regulating menstrual disorders. PCOS affects at least 20% of women of childbearing age and is characterized by chronic anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovarian morphology, often accompanied by insulin resistance and obesity.