Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Studying Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Characteristics for Developing New Treatment Strategies
Published on: June 20, 2015
Should patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome be treated with metformin?
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8063, USA.
Abstract:
The recognition of insulin resistance as a principal factor in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has led to the use of insulin-lowering agents, also called 'insulin-sensitizing drugs', for its treatment. The most extensively studied insulin-lowering agent in the treatment of PCOS is metformin: an oral antihyperglycaemic agent used initially in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Metformin is effective in the treatment of PCOS-related anovulation and infertility. Moreover, preliminary evidence indicates that metformin may also be effective in decreasing the risk of early spontaneous miscarriage in women with PCOS. Metformin also appears to induce cardioprotective effects on serum lipids as well as plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 and may decrease the risk of development of type 2 diabetes. The highly promising therapeutic profile of metformin is related to the role of this agent in controlling an important aetiologic factor in the pathogenesis of PCOS: hyperinsulinaemia.
Related Concept Videos
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in the...
Pharmacokinetics in Obese Patients: Drug Absorption and Distribution
Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Biguanides and Glitazones
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: α-Glucosidase Inhibitors
Acarbose and miglitol are typically...
Type II Diabetes Mellitus III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis

