Treat PCOS with Metformin

Metformin is an oral prescription medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The market name for this medicine is Glucophage. Metformin is the generic name for this medicine which has a long history of use beginning from 1970s for its special ability to control blood sugar levels.

Metformin was first created and developed in the 1920's to reduce blood sugar levels in the body. However,in the next two decades research shifted to insulin and other anti diabetic drugs ignoring metformin in the meanwhile. Interest in metformin was rekindled in the late 1940s after several reports of Metformin showing the reduction in blood glucose levels of patients. Finally, it was in 1957, when Jean Sterne a French physician indicated the use of Metformin as an effective type 2 diabetes treatment.

Metformin has been found to be useful in the treatment of not only type 2 diabetes but many other conditions as well. For instance Metformin has been shown to reduce not only the blood sugar levels but also reducing LDL or bad cholesterol levels, reducing triglycerides levels, lowering the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, reducing weight, and in turn increasing HDL or good cholesterol levels, increasing fertility in women with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).

Instead of producing more insulin or increasing cell's sensitivity to produce more insulin, Metformin acts by reducing the fasting blood sugar by limiting the liver's production of glucose. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder found in women which is also related to insulin resistance, thereby making Metformin useful in the treatment of this condition and providing relief to women with this disorder.

Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome have problem with ovulation as the release of eggs in the ovaries is not regular resulting in irregular menstrual cycle and infertility. It is here that Metformin comes into the picture as with the help of this anti diabetic drug the insulin resistance problem in PCOS can be treated thereby improving ovulation and restoring regular menstrual periods and fertility in women with PCOS.

However, as per the dosage, one should be careful as this medicine should be taken in a dose the body can tolerate. Though for metformin to be effective in treating PCOS the dosage should be 500 mg three times in a day, most women can tolerate only 500 mg a day. So one should be regular with the dose and once the body becomes accustomed can gradually increase the dose for effectiveness.

Metformin's adverse effects include those related to gastrointestinal upset such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, vomiting and increased flatulence. The most serious potential side effect of metformin use is lactic acidosis; this complication is very rare, and the vast majority of these cases seem to be related to co morbid conditions, such as impaired liver or kidney function, rather than to the metformin itself.

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