Should all women with PCOS be treated for insulin resistance?

Fertil Steril. 2012 Jan;97(1):18-22. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.11.036.

Abstract

PRO--A large majority of women with PCOS have insulin resistance, compensatory hyperinsulinemia with consequent reproductive and metabolic abnormalities. Metformin has been shown to be effective therapy and could be used more widely in obese adolescents with hyperandrogenemia, a forerunner of PCOS. CON--The severity of insulin resistance is highly variable in women with PCOS and may not be clinically relevant in milder phenotypes. Treatment should be directed at specific metabolic or reproductive problems and insulin sensitizing drugs are not always the optimum therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Glucose Intolerance / drug therapy*
  • Glucose Intolerance / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Hyperinsulinism / drug therapy
  • Hyperinsulinism / epidemiology
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Insulin Resistance / physiology*
  • Metabolic Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Metabolic Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Metformin / therapeutic use*
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Severity of Illness Index

Substances

  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Metformin