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Metformin to Make Ovulation

When you suffer from a condition known as polycystic ovary syndrome, your ovaries can begin to develop a number of cysts along the outside of this reproductive tissue. Often referred to as simply PCOS, the formation of these cysts can greatly affect your fertility, hindering or even ceasing the production of viable eggs. However, in many cases of this disorder, certain medications can be used to help induce ovulation. One such drug is the prescription medication of metformin.

  1. Metformin

    • Though metformin has more commonly been used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, recent studies have demonstrated that it can help induce ovulation in some women with polycystic ovary syndrome. This is largely due to the fact that many women with this particular condition are actually insulin resistant, leading to an increased level of this hormone in the bloodstream. When insulin levels rise, it can cause an overproduction of androgens, or male hormones, in the female's body. This heightened level of male hormones in you system can greatly impede ovulation. Metformin decreases the level of insulin in your bloodstream thus causing ovulation, which increases chances of conception.

    Treatment

    • To use metformin in the treatment of infertility for women suffering with PCOS, take the medication daily on an empty stomach to aid in its absorption rate (or as directed by your doctor). Dosages are usually anywhere between 1,500 mg and 2,550 mg each day and are taken over a course of four to six months. This timeframe is the average length in which you should achieve normal ovulation.

    Clomiphene

    • If ovulation fails to occur through the use of metformin, the next step in the process of treatment is to combine this medication with another drug. Typically, the drug used is clomiphene. More commonly known by its brand name of Clomid, this selective estrogen receptor modulator is a standard medication used in the treatment of infertility. But when coupled with metformin, the efficacy of this drug increases in women dealing with PCOS, allowing for ovulation and pregnancy.

    Considerations

    • Not all women diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome are candidates for metformin or metformin used in combination with clomiphene, so talk to your doctor about your options for treatment of infertility. Your medical professionals are better aware of your specific case and the most current treatments available to correct problems with ovulation.

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