title: Metformin Treatment Does Not Affect Testicular Size in Offspring Born to Mothers with Gestational Diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies in rodents suggest that metformin treatment during pregnancy may have harmful effects on testicular development in offspring. Our aim was to determine whether metformin treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects testicular size in male offspring.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the testicular size in prepubertal boys born to mothers who participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing metformin with insulin in the treatment of GDM. Twenty-five (42.4% of invited) and 27 (52.9% of invited) boys whose mothers had been treated with metformin or insulin, respectively, participated in the study. Testicular size was measured by a ruler, an orchidometer, and by ultrasonography at the age of 33 to 85 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the boys was 60 months at the time of examination, and did not differ between the metformin and insulin group (p = 0.88). There was no difference in testicular size between the boys in the two groups (p always ≥ 0.40), and there were no significant differences in height, weight, BMI, BMI z-score, or waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) between the boys in the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prepubertal testicular size did not differ between offspring born to metformin-treated mothers and those born to insulin-treated mothers.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors: Kristiina
authors: K
authors: Tertti
authors: Departments of Physiology and Pediatrics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors: Jorma
authors: J
authors: Toppari
authors: Departments of Physiology and Pediatrics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors: Helena E
authors: HE
authors: Virtanen
authors: Departments of Physiology and Pediatrics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors: Sergey
authors: S
authors: Sadov
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors: Tapani
authors: T
authors: Rönnemaa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013737:Testis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D008687:Metformin