Reconsideration of Guidelines for Metformin Use in Ovulation Induction for PCOS by ESHRE and ASRM
April 2013
in “
Hormones
”
New to Metformin? There is a guide in the encyclopedia. Read the guide → 
Studysummary This article reviews recent data suggesting that metformin may be beneficial for anovulatory PCOS patients with normal BMI and clomiphene resistance but emphasizes that more studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer
In 2013, a review suggested that the 2007 guidelines from the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine on the use of metformin for inducing ovulation in patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) might need reconsideration. The guidelines had limited metformin use to patients with impaired glucose tolerance, but newer data indicated that metformin could be beneficial for PCOS patients with a normal body mass index experiencing infertility due to anovulation. Combining metformin with clomiphene seemed to be the best treatment for patients resistant to clomiphene. Metformin also appeared to reduce the incidence and severity of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in patients undergoing multiple ovulation induction for in vitro fertilization. However, more studies were needed to support these findings and identify factors predicting successful ovulation induction.
