Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) affects approximately seven percent of women. Women with PCOS tend to have numerous small cysts in the ovaries, irregular or absent menstrual cycles and high levels of male hormones, known as androgens. This is responsible for the excessive hair growth experienced by many women with PCOS.
Women with PCOS typically have difficulty in conceiving. Traditionally, drugs such as Clomid or injections of gonadotropins have been used to induce ovulation in women with PCOS. A newer medication used to treat this condition is metaformin.
Metaformin is a medicine that has been used for years to help control diabetes. Research has shown the drug to be effective in helping women with PCOS to ovulate, particularly women who have shown insulin resistance, which is common in women with PCOS.
Metaformin can be used alone or with Clomid. Many infertility specialists will try metaformin alone to see if ovulation will occur naturally. If it does not, Clomid will be given with metaformin to help induce ovulation.
Blood tests and transvaginal ultrasounds are done with metaformin to determine if it working to assist in ovulation. In most cases, the protocol is similar to women taking the injections. Ultrasounds are done to check the follicles and uterine lining to determine if the treatment is working as intended.
The dosage of metaformin varies, depending on the needs of the individual woman. Some doctors start all patients on a schedule of 500 mg tablets taken three times each day. Other doctors start their patients off slowly with one pill per day, increasing to two and then three to find the most effective dose, rather than starting at the maximum dosage of three pills per day for all patients.
The side effects of Metaformin are generally mild and can include:
* Abdominal discomfort
* Cramping
* Diarrhea
* Nausea
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