Metformin Effects on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

    March 2023 in “ East African scholars journal of medical sciences ”
    Deena Mohammed Shaker Barrouq, Bindu Raghu Unni
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    TLDR Metformin may help regulate periods and cause modest weight loss in PCOS patients, but more research is needed.
    The document reviews the impact of metformin on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), indicating that although non-randomized trials suggest improvements in metabolic, reproductive, and clinical outcomes, these benefits are less clear in randomized controlled trials. Metformin, used since 1994, has shown some effectiveness in improving endocrine abnormalities, ovarian function, and aiding in weight loss for obese PCOS patients. However, its effects on glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia, and endothelial function are considered modest, and evidence for its impact on hirsutism, acne, and ovulation is not strong enough to provide definitive guidance. The review concludes that metformin can regulate menstrual cycles and contribute to modest weight loss in PCOS patients, but calls for further research to determine appropriate dosing, long-term effects on pregnancy, and metabolic or cardiovascular risks.
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