METABOLIC, HORMONAL AND SEXUAL PROFILE IN WOMEN WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME BEFORE AND AFTER A SIX-MONTH TREATMENT WITH METFORMIN

Abstract Objectives The current study evaluated the effect of a six-month treatment with metformin on metabolic and hormonal profile, and on sexual and psychological function, in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome(PCOS). Methods Seventy-eight women aged 23.98 ± 6.65 years with a diagnosis of PCOS were recruited; metabolic and hormonal parameters were measured, and questionnaires related to sexual function (Female Sexual Function Index-FSFI) and psychological traits (Body Uneasiness Test A and B-BUT A and B, and Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire-MHQ) were administered before(T0) and after a six-month (T6) treatment with metformin. Results At T6, a significant decrease of menstrual intervals (p < 0.0001), waist circumference (p < 0.0033), weight (p < 0.0001), BMI (p < 0.0001), levels of fasting insulin (p = 0.005), 2 hours post-OGTT insulin (p < 0.0001), HOMA-I (p = 0.003), total cholesterol (p < 0.0001), LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.0001), HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.002), triglycerides (p < 0.0001), androstednedione (p = 0.0002) and testosterone (p = 0.0005), and a trend toward decreased fasting glucose levels (p = 0.053) were detected. Consistently, prevalence of oligomenorrhea (p = 0.01), amenorrhea (p = 0.01) and obesity (p = 0.04) were significantly reduced. At T6, prevalence of pathological scores at FSFI, namely, in sexual desire (p < 001), arousal (p = 0.02), lubrication (p = 0.007), orgasm (p = 0.013), satisfaction (p = 0.02) and dyspareunia (p = 0.089) domains was significantly reduced; moreover, a significant improvement of MHQ(p = 0.001), BUT A(p = <0.001) and BUT B(p = 0.003) scores was detected. Conclusions The results of the current study demonstrated that metformin is effective in the treatment of clinical, metabolic hormonal, and psycho-sexual manifestations of PCOS. Conflicts of Interest None.