Met is a Good Bet

Turns out Metformin is a good bet for those with PCOS, regardless of whether they have the often-accompanying Insulin Resistance.

A study in the Irish Medical Journal evaluated the use of Metformin in PCOS patients. The study abstract states:

This study evaluated the use of metformin as first line treatment for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. A retrospective review of patients’ files diagnosed with PCOS over 16 months in Department of obstetrics and gynaecology of a Regional hospital. The outcome was the response to metformin treatment regardless of the main complaint. Treatment response was measured by change in LH/FSH ratio, fasting insulin, testosterone, day 21 progesterone and/or pregnancy. A day 21 progesterone greater than 25.5 nmol/l and/or pregnancy were the parameter of ovulation. Thirty-four patients were diagnosed with PCOS. Twenty-five complained of infertility (14 primary and 11 secondary), six patients had oligomenorrhoea or amenorrhoea and three presented with hirsutisim. Seventeen patients received metformin as first line treatment. Eight received it with other treatment (5 clomiphene citrate and 3 ant androgens). Nine patients did not receive metformin. This study justifies the use of metformin as an appropriate first line treatment for PCOS.

(the bold is mine)

For those of us with PCOS, we can tell you the Met can do wonders. Maybe some more skeptical practitioners will now think twice when bashing Met as a PCOS-only treatment.