Conditions: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Keywords: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Anovulation Elevated Testosterone
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 114
Healthy volunteers: yes

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to determine if the combination therapy of lifestyle intervention and use of Metformin together will improve ovulation induction and hyperandrogenemia in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, by gathering data from adult and adolescent females.

Detailed description:
PCOS is characterized by excess circulating androgen levels and chronic anovulation. PCOS is also characterized by insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. Several recent studies in a variety of non-hospital based populations have provided evidence that the incidence of hyperandrogenic chronic anovulation is in the range of 4-6% of the female population. Improvements in insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS, either through lifestyle changes or through pharmaceutical intervention, have consistently resulted in a marked improvement in the reproductive and metabolic abnormalities in PCOS. The primary objective in the adult female population is to determine that combination therapy will improve ovulatory frequency. Secondary objective is to improve circulating hyperandrogenemia and insulin sensitivity then single agent therapy. The primary objective of the adolescent population is to determine that the combination therapy will improve hyperandrogenemia. Secondary objective is to improve ovulatory frequency and insulin sensitivity than just the use of a single agent therapy.

Arms:
arm 1: Metformin arm 2: Placebo

Interventions: intervention 1: Metformin intervention 2: Placebo intervention 3: Lifestyle Intervention
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Medication was initiated in a step-up fashion every five days, from one tablet per day to four (500 mg per tablet). intervention 2: Placebo intervention 3: A combined intervention of diet and exercise was employed with the goal of achieving an average weight loss of at least 7% of initial body weight over six months with a prescription of 150 min/week of exercise combined with a low-calorie diet.

Protocol document: