This kind of study drives me absolutely crazy.
Entitled,"Do women with ovaries of polycystic morphology without any other features of PCOS benefit from short-term metformin co-treatment during IVF? A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial," this study evaluated the effect of metformin on improving in-vitro fertilization outcomes. It looked at women whose ovaries looked like those in women with PCOS, but who had no other symptoms of the disorder. These women were divided into two groups, one receiving metformin around the time of IVF, the other receiving placebo.
In the words of the researchers…
"With regard to IVF outcome, no significant improvements were found in the metformin group when compared with the placebo group. In particular, there was no difference between the groups in rates of live birth, clinical pregnancy, or severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)."
And the researchers concluded…
"There appears to be benefit in metformin co-treatment before and during IVF in women with PCO without any other features of PCOS."
You have my word, readers, I'm taking notes and looking for researchers who can actually help you. The money you're walk-a-thoning and boot camping, and donating to the new inCYST Institute…will be put to far better use than this.
Swanton A, Lighten A, Granne I, McVeigh E, Lavery S, Trew G, Talmor A, Raine-Fenning N, Jayaprakasan K, Child T. Do women with ovaries of polycystic morphology without any other features of PCOS benefit from short-term metformin co-treatment during IVF? A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Hum Reprod. 2011 May 18. [Epub ahead of print]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Women with ovaries of polycystic morphology (PCO), without any other features of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), respond similarly to women with PCOS when stimulated with exogenous gonadotrophins, and both groups share various endocrinological disturbances underlying their pathology. In women with PCOS, metformin co-treatment during IVF has been shown to increase pregnancy rates and reduce the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). The aim of this study was to investigate whether metformin co-treatment before and during IVF can also increase the live birth rate (LBR) and lower severe OHSS rates for women with PCO, but no other manifestations of PCOS. METHODS This study was a double-blind, multi-centre, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The study population included 134 women with ovulatory PCO (and no evidence of clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism) undergoing IVF treatment at three tertiary referral IVF units. The primary outcome was LBR. RESULTS In total, 134 women were randomized, 69 to metformin and 65 to placebo. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in baseline characteristics. With regard to IVF outcome, no significant improvements were found in the metformin group when compared with the placebo group. In particular, there was no difference between the groups in rates of live birth [metformin n = 27 (39.1%), placebo n = 30 (46.2), (95% confidence interval 0.38, 1.49, odds ratio = 0.75)], clinical pregnancy [metformin n = 29 (42.0%), placebo n = 33 (50.8%)] or severe OHSS [metformin n = 6 (8.7%), placebo n = 5 (7.7%)]. CONCLUSIONS There appears to be benefit in metformin co-treatment before and during IVF in women with PCO without any other features of PCOS. Clinical Trials.gov: NCT01046032.
PMID:21593045[PubMed — as supplied by publisher]