What is "metformin"?

What is "metformin"?

Richard Paulson (Chief, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, USC) gives expert video advice on: What is "ovulation induction"?; What is "clomiphene citrate"? and more...

Metformin is a diabetic medication. It is used to lower insulin levels and to improve glucose balance in diabetic patients. It so happens that a fair proportion of women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, PCOS, have something called insulin resistance, which is a form of diabetes - a form of intolerance to glucose. In these women, high levels of insulin in the circulation stimulate their ovary to produce excess male hormone and make their ovary not ovulate. If women with PCOS take Metformin and it lowers their insulin level to a normal level, many of them will start to ovulate, many of them will find that their hormone level has been reestablished. Metformin is a wonderful medication, and we've been using it for PCOS for some time now. It's wonderful for restoring hormone balance without actually having to use direct stimulation of the ovary.