The Effects of Metformin on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome



Abstract

Women suffering from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) have been found to having multiple cysts in their ovaries. Cysts are small sacs that are filled with fluid and develop within the walls of the ovaries owing to a number of reasons. Although most are harmless, some cysts may rupture and bleed giving rise to symptoms of pain in the patients. The presence of PCOS gives rise to a number of symptoms in the physiology of patients. These additional health problems include the incidence of hirsuitism, obesity, infertility/anovulation and hyperinsulinia.

The Effects of Metformin on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Introduction

The main theme of the paper is the identification of the effects of the use of Metformin in the treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome in women (Haugen, 2009). Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is the leading cause of infertility in women, which causes an increase in the level of insulin in the body thus necessitating the use of drugs such as Metformin which helps in the management of insulin and sugar. PCOS actually indicates the presence of multiple cysts in the ovaries of certain women. This naturally impedes the normal ovarian function and also gives rise to a number of associated conditions in the physiology of such women.

Background of the Study

There are a host of genetic, physiological and environmental factors behind the presence of PCOS in women. It has become a very common gynecological condition in most modern women. In the earlier days, physicians used the traditional method in the treatment of PCOS. This method consisted of suppressing the normal ovarian function of the patients with the help of a number of medicines (Cappelli, Rotondi, et al. 2009). Oral contraceptives, progestins and GnRH agonists were prescribed to the patients to improve their physiological functioning. In recent times, the treatment of PCOS has veered towards the insulin sensitivity based treatment of the disease. Metformin is one such insulin sensitizing agent which mainly aims at reducing the insulin level of PCOS patients and thus generates beneficial effects to deal with their other medical conditions. It has gradually come to be accepted as an integral part of the modern nursing care.

Significance of the Problem

Epidemiology

Although abdominal ultrasound ovaries, polycystic look like, are found in up to 20% of women of reproductive age (including not having any complaints), only 5-10% of women of reproductive age are found clinical signs allowing the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (Isidro, Penín. et al. 2007).

Demographics

PCOS is a heterogeneous disorder and is characterized by a wide spectrum of clinical signs, affecting the reproductive, metabolic, psychological and other body functions. A significant proportion of patients have menstrual irregularities, anovulatory infertility, and various cutaneous manifestations, overweight or obese. According to the authors of 30 to 75% of women with PCOS have an increased body mass index. It was noted that over the past 15 years, mean body mass index of patients with PCOS is increased by an average of 5-6 kg / m 2/31 (Vigersky & Filmore-Nassar, ...