| The patient undergoing fertility treatments is likely to | | | | In spite of detractors, the evidence gained from |
| encounter many confusing statistics and studies | | | | three of the most recent studies is extremely |
| related to their particular course of treatment. One | | | | positive. The random, double blind, controlled trials and |
| of the most common faced at fertility treatment | | | | several cohort studies indicate that when taken with |
| centers may be whether or not Metformin improves | | | | Clomiphene Citrate, Metformin can be successful in |
| IVF outcomes. | | | | enhancing the probability of ovulation and pregnancy. |
| According to Balen and Michelmore, 2002, polycystic | | | | The study also supports findings that Metformin |
| ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common | | | | improves Clomiphene resistant anovulation in women |
| endocrine disorder encountered at fertility treatment | | | | treated with follicle-stimulating hormone. The use of |
| centers and accounts for 80% of anovulatory | | | | Metformin shows drastic reduction in the rate of |
| infertility. Between 5-7% of reproductive age women | | | | cycle cancellation and ovarian hyper stimulation |
| are affected. While IVF treatment is an effective | | | | syndrome when compared to gonadotropins alone. |
| treatment for many patients, women with PCOS | | | | One study shows that patients undergoing IVF and |
| respond differently than women with normal ovaries, | | | | being treated with FSH and Metformin had a |
| which adds to the difficulty in understanding the data. | | | | noticeable increase in the number of mature oocytes |
| PCOS | | | | retrieved, fertilization rates, as well as the number of |
| To understand the findings, and the divergent | | | | embryos produced. |
| opinions about the results, you must first understand | | | | Metformin and Weigh Loss |
| some about PCOS. This disorder, which gets its name | | | | Since PCOS can often result in significant weight gain, |
| from the small cysts found on the ovaries of | | | | fertility treatment centers treating women with |
| patients who have the disorder, is marked by | | | | PCOS with the drug Metformin will also commonly |
| prolonged menstrual periods, access hair growth as | | | | encourage weight loss in these patients. Taking |
| well as weight gain. Patients with the disorder are | | | | Metformin will also commonly result in weight loss. |
| also likely to be at risk of heart disease and type 2 | | | | Some suggest that the resulting weight loss is |
| diabetes. | | | | responsible for the more favorable outcomes. |
| Recent Studies | | | | Clinical Consequences |
| Recent studies have discovered that Metformin, an | | | | It is important for women with PCOS receive |
| insulin sensitizing agent, can improve outcomes in | | | | treatment since it has been linked to increased risk of |
| women who are commonly resistant to Clomiphene | | | | developing cardiovascular disease and Type 2 |
| Citrate and also insulin resistant. The 2009 study | | | | Diabetes. Fertility treatment centers find that by the |
| published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology | | | | age of 40, nearly 40% of PCOS patients develop |
| reported that Metformin notably decreased the | | | | impaired glucose tolerance or clinical diabetes. While in |
| incidence of miscarriage, as well as ovarian hyper | | | | the reproductive years, PCOS patients are more |
| stimulation syndrome (OHSS), while positively | | | | likely to experience spontaneous abortions and |
| affecting the oocyte and embryo quality in | | | | develop gestational diabetes. Those who develop |
| Clomiphene Citrate resistant PCOS women | | | | gestational diabetes are at increased risk of |
| undergoing IVF. New and continuing studies have | | | | developing hyperandrogenism and hyperinsulinemia |
| continued to shed light on the positive role Metformin | | | | later in life. Patients diagnosed with PCOS should |
| can play in PCOS patients. | | | | address their concerns with the fertility treatment |
| About Metformin | | | | center staff. |