[Treatment experience with metformin in polycystic ovary syndrome]

Based on the favourable international experience with metformin in the most common female endocrine disease, the polycystic ovary syndrome, which has insulin resistance in the background, the author's treatment advice has been this in such cases since early 2002: for sexually active women who do not want to become pregnant for the time being, anti-androgenic contraceptive pill; for those who do not want to take contraceptives, contraceptives are contraindicated, or who do want to conceive, metformin. 44/71 non-diabetic patients opted for metformin treatment. A 3 to 30 month follow-up period of 25 patients could be evaluated. Seven patients had transient vertigo, diarrhoea or abdominal discomfort at the beginning of the treatment. The severity of acne of 21 patients diminished significantly by three months and the acne score fell close to the half value by six months. Body hair of 17 women with hypertrichosis diminished significantly by six months. Menstrual cycles of 8/13 patients became regular by three months; a further woman became pregnant and continued metformin throughout pregnancy. Her blood pressure remained normal despite suffering from pre-eclampsia during all of her previous pregnancies. The average body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio did not change significantly during the follow-up. Apart from few initial, transient side effects, disadvantages of the treatment were not found. Long-term metformin treatment resulted in significant improvement of the symptoms of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.