Metformin to restore normal menses in oligo-amenorrheic teenage girls with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Source:
http://www.meddevel.com/library.exe?...de=JAH&m1=&m2=
C.J. Glueck aA
glueckch@healthall.com, Ping Wang a, Robert Fontaine a, Trent Tracy a and Luann Sieve-Smith a
[a]Cholesterol Center, Jewish Hospital and Molecular Diagnostics Laboratories, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
A Address correspondence to: C. J. Glueck, M.D., The Cholesterol Center, Alliance Business Center, 3200 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229
Manuscript accepted 24 November 2000;
Abstract
Purpose: To describe our clinical experience in using Metformin combined with a high protein-low carbohydrate diet to restore normal menstrual cycles in teenaged females with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Methods: To enter the study, patients had to have well-documented PCOS, be oligo- (six cycles or less in the preceding year) or amenorrheic (absence of menstrual cycles for 1 year), and not have exclusionary diseases or drugs. Accompanying a high protein-low carbohydrate diet, Metformin (1.5–2.55 g/day) was given for 10.5 ± 6.4 months (range, 4.5–26.5 months). Follow-up every 8–10 weeks for 6 months was scheduled with interval history, review of menstrual status, assessment of any Metformin-related side effects, brief physical examination, and determination of weight and blood pressure.
Results: All 11 girls had normal fasting blood glucose and glycohemoglobin. Pre-Metformin, five girls were amenorrheic, three had only one menstrual cycle in the previous year, and three had 6 cycles/year. With Metformin, 10 of 11 girls (91%) resumed regular normal menses; 39% of 38 follow-up visits with regular normal menstrual cycles were ovulatory with normal luteal-phase serum progesterone (2.3 ng/mL). Of the 11 girls, nine (82%) lost weight; five girls lost 11 lb and seven lost 5 lb. After adjusting for weight reduction, with Metformin, estradiol and progesterone rose (p = .0014, .027, respectively) (changes consistent with resumption of regular normal menses), total plasma cholesterol fell (p = .026), and there was a downward trend in testosterone (p = .068).
Conclusion: Metformin safely ameliorates the endocrinopathy of PCOS in previously oligo-amenorrheic teenage females with PCOS, facilitating resumption of normal menses in most girls.
Metformin to restore normal menses in oligo-amenorrheic teenage girls with polycystic 
