title: Efficacy of metformin on pregnancy complications in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of metformin administration throughout pregnancy on pregnancy-related complications in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE and ScienceDirect were searched to retrieve relevant trials. The endpoint was the incidence of complications of pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), pre-eclampsia (PE), miscarriage and premature birth included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five studies with 502 PCOS patients with metformin administration throughout pregnancy and 427 controls who used metformin just to get conception were included in our meta-analysis. In study group, a significantly lower change of emerging miscarriage and premature birth was observed, the pooled relative risk (RR) was 0.32 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.19-0.56) for miscarriage and 0.40 (95%CI: 0.18-0.91) for premature birth. No significant difference was demonstrated in emerging GDM and PE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metformin therapy throughout pregnancy can reduce the RR of miscarriage and premature birth incidence in PCOS patients with no serious side effects.
authors.affiliation: a School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan , Hubei , The People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: a School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan , Hubei , The People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: a School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan , Hubei , The People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: a School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan , Hubei , The People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: a School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology , Wuhan , Hubei , The People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu-Kai
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015994:Incidence; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin
keywords: Metformin; miscarriage; polycystic ovary syndrome; pregnancy complications; premature birth