Metformin treatment of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing in vitro fertilization improves outcomes and is associated with modulation of the insulin-like growth factors.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if metformin therapy improves in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in patients with clomiphene-resistant polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

DESIGN: Retrospective data analysis of selective groups of patients.

SETTING: A private IVF unit.

PATIENT(S): Forty-six women with clomiphene citrate-resistant PCOS underwent 60 cycles of IVF embryo transfer with intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

INTERVENTION(S): In half of the cycles, patients received metformin (1000 to 1500 mg) daily, starting the cycle prior to gonadotropin treatment.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Total number of follicles; serum estradiol (E2) on the day of hCG administration and the cycle's E2 maximum; total number of oocytes, mature oocytes, embryos, fertilization, and pregnancy rates; and follicular fluid levels of insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I, IGF-II) and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3).

RESULT(S): In patients treated with metformin, the total number of follicles on the day of hCG treatment was decreased (23 +/- 1.2 vs. 33 +/- 2.6) with no change in follicles > or = 14 mm in diameter (21 +/- 1.2 vs. 25 +/- 1.7). Metformin treatment did not affect the mean number of oocytes retrieved (22 +/- 1.9 vs. 20.3 +/- 1.5). However, the mean number of mature oocytes (18.4 +/- 1.5 vs. 13 +/- 1.5) and embryos cleaved (12.5 +/- 1.5 vs. 5.9 +/- 0.9) were increased after metformin treatment. Fertilization rates (64% vs. 43%) and clinical pregnancy rates (70% vs.30%) were also increased. Metformin led to modulation of preovulatory of follicular fluid IGF levels with increases of IGF-I (140 +/- 8 vs. 109 +/- 7ng/mL) and decreased of IGFBP-1 (133 +/- 8 vs.153 +/- 9ng/mL).

CONCLUSION(S): Metformin use appears to improve IVF outcomes in patients with clomiphene citrate-resistant PCOS.