Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

Reproductive endocrinology

Metformin or thiazolidinedione therapy in PCOS?

Insulin resistance has a key role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome, a common endocrinopathy that affects young women. Therefore, the use of insulin-sensitizing agents has been studied extensively in this patient population. Given the effectiveness of metformin and thiazolidinediones in previous studies, the question arises: is one class better than the other?

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Apridonidze, T., Essah, P. A., Iuorno, M. J. & Nestler, J. E. Prevalence and Characteristics of the Metabolic Syndrome in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 90, 1929–1935 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM-Sponsored PCOS Consensus Workshop Group. Revised 2003 consensus on diagnostic criteria and long-term health risks related to polycystic ovary syndrome. Fertil. Steril. 81, 19–25 (2004).

  3. Ehrmann, D. A., Barnes, R. B., Rosenfield, R. L., Cavaghan, M. K. & Imperial, J. Prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Diabetes Care 22, 141–146 (1999).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Li, X. et al. Metformin versus thiazolidinediones for treatment of clinical, hormonal, and metabolic characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome: a meta-analysis. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.) doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.2010.03917.x.

  5. Ehrmann, D. Polycystic ovary syndrome. N. Engl. J. Med. 352, 1223–1236 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lord, J. M., Flight, I. H. & Norman, R. J. Metformin in polycystic ovary syndrome; systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 327, 951–953 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Nestler, J. E., Jakubowicz, D. J., Evans, W. S. & Pasquali, R. Effects of metformin on spontaneous and clomiphene insuced ovulation in the polycystic ovary syndrome. N. Engl. J. Med. 338, 1876–1880 (1998).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Legro, R. S. et al. Clomiphene, metformin, or both for infertility in the polycystic ovary syndrome. N. Engl. J. Med. 356, 551–566 (2007).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Azziz, R. et al. Troglitazone improves ovulation and hirsutism in the polycystic ovary syndrome: a multicenter, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 86, 1626–1632 (2001).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ortega-González, C. et al. Responses of serum androgen and insulin resistance to metformin and pioglitazone in obese, insulin-resistant women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 90, 1360–1365 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria A. Yialamas.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Grover, A., Yialamas, M. Metformin or thiazolidinedione therapy in PCOS?. Nat Rev Endocrinol 7, 128–129 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2011.16

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2011.16

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing