Metformin effect on hormones

ABSTRACT Many studies showed that metformin, when used to treat PCOS, significantly reduced serum androgen levels, improved insulin sensitivity, restored menstrual cyclicity, and was successful in triggering ovulation. As, a result, metformin may be useful in treating PCOS - related. infertility. It is characterised by anovulation and hyperandrogenism, with morphologic changes in the ovary, inappropriate gonadotropin secretion, and insulin resistance with accompanying compensatory hyperinsulinemia. The aim of this review was to clarify PCOS, its prevelance, particularly in Saudi Arabia, and to explain the uses of metformin, its mechanism of action, and its role in treatment of PCOS- related infertility. His review discusses the possible side effects of metformin, however patients taking metformin may or may not experience any or all of them. Metformin should be used carefully in the elderly and in patients who have trauma, fever, surgery, heart failure, impaired kidney or liver functions. Therefore, metformin regulates the expression of ERs, and inhibits estrogen-mediated proliferation of human EC cells through the activation of AMPK and subsequent inhibition of the mTOR signalling pathway. Keywords : polycystic ovary syndrome, insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, infertility, metformin.