A Retrospective Analysis of the Effect Weight Loss and Metformin use in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: To determine if Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) patients treated with lifestyle changes and metformin resulted in ovulation after six months of treatment. Methods: A retrospective chart review of initial patient visits at an infertility clinic were obtained. Patients that were given a diagnosis of PCOS were further reviewed for age at initial diagnosis, weight, height, ovarian cysts, lifestyle recommendations (diet, exercise, and vitamin use), metformin recommendations and usage, and if ovulation occurred after six months of treatment. Results: A total of 1011 charts were reviewed. At the initial office visit, 206 (20.38%) of these patients were classified as having PCOS. Of PCOS patients, 113 (54.85%) patients ovulated after six months of treatment. In the average initial weight, ovulators averaged slightly less weight than did non-ovulators (171.77 pounds ± 44.26 vs. 188.65 pounds ± 51.37, p=0.0121). This also follows true for the initial BMI of ovulators vs. non-ovulators (29.53 kg/m2 ± 10.14 vs. 32.69 kg/m2 ± 13.03, p=0.0521). There was a significant difference in metformin use between ovulators and non-ovulators (90.27% vs. 73.12%, p=0.0024). More ovulators were found to continue metformin treatment as compared to non-ovulators. Conclusions: In this specific infertility clinic setting, 20.3% of patients were diagnosed with PCOS at the initial office visit. Of these PCOS patients, treatment with lifestyle changes and metformin use resulted in 55% of patients achieving ovulation at six months. This study shows that weight loss, through lifestyle modification and metformin treatment, increases this population’s chances of ovulation within six months of therapy.