How Metformin Can Help Women With PCOS?

Between 4 and 12 percent of women worldwide have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), one of the most common endocrine disorders. The drug metformin is used to lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin sensitivity.

Metformin with PCOS symptoms is a commonly prescribed medication to help manage insulin levels in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This article discusses the effects of metformin on PCOS and possible alternative medications.

Metformin: what is it?

America Food and Drug Administration or FDA Metformin has been given the green light to treat type 2 diabetes. Additionally, the American Diabetes Association has approved it for the treatment of prediabetes, and medical professionals can use it to manage her PCOS.

The drug metformin belongs to the biguanide family of drugs. By reducing the amount of glucose absorbed by the intestines, inhibiting the production of excess sugar in the liver, and increasing insulin sensitivity, blood sugar levels normalize. It is available as a generic under several brand names, including Glucophage and Fortamet.

How can metformin be used to treat PCOS?

PCOS is a hormonal disorder that frequently affects pregnant or breastfeeding women. Your menstrual cycles may become irregular, your menstrual cycles may become longer, and your androgen (male hormone) levels may increase. Small follicles or cysts (fluid-filled sacs) may form in the ovaries, causing irregular ovulation.

Excess insulin in the body is one of the potential causes that can contribute to the development of PCOS. Insulin helps the body’s cells use sugar, or glucose. When the body’s cells become more resistant to hormones, insulin secretion increases, which can cause blood sugar levels to rise.

Metformin for PCOS is usually part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.

Metformin improves the body’s sensitivity to insulin and helps treat PCOS.This has a positive effect adipose (fat) tissue and reduce circulating insulin levels.

Traditionally, doctors have recommended metformin as a treatment for PCOS in women with a high BMI. There is growing evidence that people with lower BMI had a greater response to metformin for PCOS. The drug also appears to be successful in inducing ovulation in non-obese women with anovulatory PCOS.

Metformin may also have additional beneficial effects for women suffering from PCOS, such as lower body weight and diabetes risk. It also reduces testosterone levels in the blood, reducing hyperandrogenic symptoms such as hirsutism and acne. Metformin use may also reduce the chance of developing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in women with PCOS undergoing IVF (in vitro fertilization).

How safe is metformin? Potential adverse effects to consider.

Metformin’s moderate side effects may disappear once your body gets used to the drug. If your side effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor. Typical side effects of metformin include:

• Diarrhea: Metformin changes the way your intestines absorb glucose. Lactic acid is produced and can irritate the intestinal lining. Patients are often started on the lowest dose by a medical professional to allow their bodies to adapt. This may reduce the severity of diarrhea.

• Nausea and vomiting: Nausea is common, but vomiting is rare. Take metformin with meals to reduce stomach pain.

• Intestinal discomfort: Due to the way metformin changes your body’s response to glucose, you may experience bloating, gas, and other intestinal sensations. Taking metformin with food may reduce these side effects and often subside over time.

• Headaches: Metformin prevents the liver from producing glucose. A mild headache may occur during the first few days of taking drugs that directly affect the liver.

• Three out of every 100 people taking metformin may experience a temporary metallic taste in their mouth.

• Weight Loss: Metformin is not a weight loss drug, but it can cause some weight loss because it helps balance the body’s insulin and glucose responses. Metformin may help reduce the effects of weight gain that type 2 diabetes and related diseases often experience due to insulin resistance and high blood sugar levels.

Although rare, metformin can cause serious side effects, including:

• Hypoglycemia: Hypoglycemia, or hypoglycemia, can occur when you combine metformin with strenuous exercise, other diabetes treatments, nutritional imbalances in your diet, or increased alcohol intake. Symptoms include feeling lightheaded, feeling tired, feeling weak, nausea, vomiting, and an abnormally fast or slow heartbeat.

• Anemia: Metformin interferes with the body’s ability to absorb vitamin B12. If B12 levels are low, anemia can occur. Symptoms include feeling extremely tired, lightheaded, and constantly feeling cold. Over time, vitamin B12 deficiency can cause tingling and numbness, mood swings, low energy, hair loss, and brain fog. Your doctor can test your iron level and red blood cell count to determine whether you have anemia. A vegetarian or vegan diet can worsen this risk.

• Lactic Acidosis: The FDA has issued a black box warning about the risk of lactic acidosis with metformin. This occurs when too much metformin accumulates in the body, increasing the amount of lactic acid. Symptoms include dizziness, lightheadedness, chills, muscle pain, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, unusually fast or slow heartbeat, unexpected skin redness, and a feeling of heat. This medical crisis can be deadly. If lactic acidosis occurs, seek immediate medical attention.

What are the alternatives to metformin?

Alternative medications for PCOS treatment include:

• Letrozole: This breast cancer drug may be used to precisely stimulate the ovaries for typical ovulation in PCOS. It is generally performed in parallel with infertility treatment.

• Gonadotropins: These hormones are delivered by injection and are used to treat PCOS. They are frequently used in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and fertility treatments.

• Eflornithine: This drug is used to treat excess facial hair.

Other drugs help strengthen the body’s insulin or glucose response.

• Sulfonylureas: These help improve insulin synthesis and help lower blood sugar levels. Examples include glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), and glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase, etc.). However, it is used less frequently than metformin because the risk of causing hypoglycemia is more significant.

• Meglitinides: These help increase insulin levels, causing the body to produce more insulin in response to food. Repaglinide (Prandin) and nateglinide (Starlix) are two examples.

• Thiazolidinedione: Drugs such as rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) reduce insulin resistance. These drugs are only one option for treating high blood sugar because they can have more severe side effects.

Conclusion-

Metformin for PCOS is usually recommended to help patients lose weight and reduce their chances of developing gestational diabetes. Infertility caused by anovulatory cycles in non-obese women with PCOS may also be successfully treated.

Metformin may be used by PCOS patients undergoing IVF to reduce the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. It is important to consult a health care professional before starting metformin for PCOS to determine the appropriate dose and monitor metformin’s effectiveness in managing symptoms.

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