Metformin To Treat PCOS problem in Women

Diabetes treatment Metformin has proven to reduce blood sugar levels and is now frequently being prescribed for women who suffer from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Metformin is an insulin-sensitizing biguanide that is regularly being used for treatment of raised blood glucose levels in those who are suffering from type 2 diabetes. Metformin is often used by PCOS sufferers as an off label prescription. This method was initially used by individuals with type 2 diabetes however now it is being prescribed for PCOS sufferers due to its similar performance in both of the groups.

If you are suffering from PCOS you could be resistant to insulin.  PCOS diminishes the cells ability to respond to the performance of insulin in carrying glucose from the blood stream through to the tissues and muscles. Metformin has the ability to improve the response cell’s have to insulin and therefore aid the movement of glucose into the cells. Due to this the body is not needed to produce as much insulin.

PCOS symptoms.

Metformin 500 mg

PCOS can be accompanied by a range of symptoms that include disturbances to the metabolism (gaining of weight), reproductive disorders (anoyulation, infertility, irregular menses and polycystic ovaries) and hyperandrogenism (acne, alopecia and hirsutism). 

One particular study concerning 39 women who were suffering from PCOS and hyperinsulinemia which is an additional insulin in the blood saw them being treated with Metformin. Women with PCOS experienced a fall in insulin along with a free testosterone which resulted in considerable improvements in clinical symptoms of Hyperandrogenism (extra androgen production in females) and menstrual cycle. Nevertheless studies have also shown that through alterations in diet, lifestyle and loss of weight are on their own successful for controlling menstrual cycles and present improvements to hyperandrogenism.

Predominantly the ingredients within Metformin are successful for the treatment of type 2 diabetes having the ability to reduce blood sugar levels. 

Metformin and pregnancy

Metformin improves the possibility of ovulation in women who suffer from PCOS through a number of actions, such as lowering insulin levels and varying the effect of insulin on ovarian androgen synthesis, theca cell proliferation, and endometrial growth (Badawy 2011).

Metformin pregnancy  success was evaluated in infertile patients who were suffering from PCOS. The study was conducted on 29 infertile patients with PCOS that were included in a study with 15 normal menstruating women who acted as controls for reproductive hormones and ovarian volumes.  Every PCOS patient received 78 cycles of clomiphene citrate (CC) initially, then patients who had difficulty conceiving were moved over to metformin and clomiphene citrate. The PCOS patients served as their own controls for the pregnancy and ovulation rates.

At the end of the C cycles it was established that there was PCOS pregnancy. 4.2% of patients achieved pregnancy and 65.2% were pregnant through metformin plus CC cycles (p=0.0001). No serious side effects have been observed of metformin during pregnancy. The high metformin pregnancy success is consistent to the hypothesis that insulin resistance plays a key part in the panthogenesis of anovulation in patients suffering from PCOS.

Source: http://international-antiaging-products.blogspot.in/2012/03/metformin-to-treat-pcos-problem-in.html