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Metformin and Infertility

Metformin helps in decreasing the quantity of sugar which is produced by the liver and it increases the sugar which the muscles absorb and the body develops a lower resistance to insulin. When the blood sugar levels are low, the body needs lesser insulin. When the body does not need much insulin, the levels of androgen or the male hormone in the body also reduces.

Metformin is a medicine which is used by diabetic women to lower the insulin levels and the blood sugar levels and this is specially used by women who have PCOS – polycystic ovary syndrome. This helps in monitoring the menstrual cycles, initiates ovulation and also reduces the risk of miscarriage among women who have PCOS. Prolonged use of Metformin reduces the risk of diabetes and heart problems without making the insulin levels go high.

Metformin will not let the pancreas make more insulin than the required amount. This will not let the blood sugar levels go too low and cause hypoglycemia. This also helps in reducing the quantities of fats or lipids in the blood and also lowers the triglyceride levels. This prevents the arteries from becoming hard by reducing clotting factors and inflammation markers. This also reduces the level of androgens. Metformin is mainly used to treat women who have PCOS or polycystic ovary syndrome since this will keep their insulin levels low and it will let the ovaries function normally. People taking Metformin should follow a good diet and also lose weight and do exercise regularly.

Metformin reduces the cholesterol, insulin and androgen levels. This also helps in regulating metabolism in women who are resistant to insulin. It helps in inducing ovulation in 45% of the women who are afflicted with PCOS. Metformin when taken along with Clomiphene will be more effective in inducing ovulation. 75% of women having PCOS go through ovulation after taking this drug combination. This also brings down the risk of miscarriage and gestational diabetes in women having PCOS. But no one knows if it is safe to take Metformin during a pregnancy.

People who take Metformin have a tendency to suffer from nausea, diarrhea, gas, loss of hunger and a metallic taste in the mouth. 20%-30% of these symptoms normally surface. The dosage of Metformin is slowly increased so that these side effects will not trouble the patient too much. One of the side effects of Metformin is lactic acidosis. This is a condition when the muscles release lactic acid when a person is doing exercise. When the liver cannot turn the lactic acid into sugar, the acid accumulates in the blood. This can make the patient go into a coma and also die. Metformin should not be used by women who have failed liver or kidneys, dehydration and who are alcoholic.

Metformin should not be taken before any surgery or any other medical procedure like an X-ray that makes use of contrast dyes. Metformin might be more effective when taken with cimetidine. It also works well with anticoagulant medicines like warfarin. Teenagers having PCOS can use Metformin. Long term Metformin therapy should be given when PCOS is diagnosed. This will lower the chances of diabetes, heart problems and infertility. But how safe this long term treatment is yet to be known.