Impaired Prolactin-Lowering Effects of Metformin in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

    August 2023 in “ Journal of Clinical Medicine ”
    Robert Krysiak, Karolina Kowalcze, Witold Szkróbka, Bogusław Okopień
    Image of study
    TLDR Metformin lowers prolactin in women without PCOS but not in those with PCOS, where it reduces other hormones instead.
    The study involved 50 prediabetic women with hyperprolactinemia, half of whom had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). It found that metformin, a drug used to treat diabetes, had different effects on women with PCOS compared to those without. In women without PCOS, metformin reduced levels of prolactin, a hormone that can cause menstrual irregularities. However, in women with PCOS, metformin did not have the same effect on prolactin levels. Instead, it reduced levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, and free androgen index (FAI), which are typically elevated in PCOS. The study suggests that the presence of PCOS may reduce the impact of metformin on lactotrope secretory function, which is responsible for prolactin production, due to increased testosterone production. The study also found that metformin improved insulin sensitivity in both groups, but the effect was less pronounced in women with PCOS.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    2 / 2 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 33 results

      community C’est terrible - at my wits end

      in Female  445 upvotes 1 year ago
      A 29-year-old woman is experiencing gradual hair thinning since age 15, suspects Androgenic Alopecia, and has tried 5% minoxidil with little success. She has purchased various hair loss treatments including minoxidil, dutasteride, finasteride, and spironolactone, but is cautious about starting them due to potential interactions with her ADHD medication.

      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  53 upvotes 1 year 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.
      Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

      community Diffuse hair loss and scalp biopsies

      in Research  692 upvotes 4 months 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 [25, F] [RANT] Shedding since March 2020. This just isn’t fair.

      in Female  42 upvotes 3 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 Topical rapamycin, metformin, a-kg grow hair

      in Research/Science  13 upvotes 4 years ago
      The conversation discusses the potential of topical rapamycin, metformin, and alpha-ketoglutarate (a-KG) for hair growth, with skepticism expressed about their effectiveness based on personal experience and existing use. It also mentions AICAR, known as cardarine or GW, which is not suitable for long-term use due to cancer risks in animal studies and its similarity to metformin.

      community Finasteride and Metformin together?

      in Finasteride/Dutasteride  1 upvotes 1 year ago
      The conversation is about whether it's safe to take Metformin for weight loss and Finasteride together, with the concern that Finasteride is not commonly used for hair loss treatment in the user's location, and their doctor is not knowledgeable about it.

    Similar Research

    5 / 1000+ results