title: Impact of metformin therapy in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of metformin therapy in achieving menstrual regularity, pregnancy, reducing obesity and hyperinsulinemia in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Interventional, quasi-experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Civil Hospital, Karachi from January 2002 to December 2003.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients with PCOS diagnosed on clinical symptoms, ultrasound examination and hormonal assays were selected. All patients either had raised serum fasting insulin levels or fasting blood sugar/serum fasting insulin ratio of < 4:5. Patients were then given treatment with Metformin 500 mg TID and continued for six months. The patients were called back for follow-up on monthly basis and clinical and bio-chemical variables were recorded on a proforma at 3 months and 6 months of initiating metformin treatment. The chi-square test was done and p-value determined to assess the outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant effect of metformin therapy was observed at 3 months follow-up visit, 5 (16.7%) women achieved pregnancy while 20 (66.6%) women had a regular menstrual cycle (p = 0.001), and a significant reduction in weight (67.4 vs. 65.4, p = 0.001) and hyperinsulinemia (FBS: FI = 3.34 vs. 6.63, p = 0.001) was noted. After 6 months follow-up visit, 25 women were examined. Of these, 7 (28%) achieved pregnancy while 16 (64%) had regular menstrual cycle (p = 0.001) and a significant reduction in weight and hyperinsulinemia (p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metformin is very effective in achieving menstrual regularity, ovulation and pregnancy in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dow University of Health Sciences and Civil Hospital, Karachi.
authors.forename: Jahan Ara
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.forename: Ghufrana Umer
authors.initials: GU
authors.lastname: Memon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin