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The effect of metformin treatment on ovarian stromal blood flow in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effects of metformin on the ovarian stromal blood perfusion in the patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods

Twenty-five women with PCOS who underwent a Doppler examination of the ovarian stroma was evaluated; hormonal, anthropometric, and biochemical parameters of patients were determined. After the patients were treated with 850 mg metformin twice a day for 6 months, the same parameters were evaluated in the same patients.

Results

After metformin treatment, although pulsatility index (PI) was increased from 1.80 ± 1.23, 1.84 ± 1.28 to 2.20 ± 1.10, 2.19 ± 0.83 in the right and left ovary, respectively, and resistance index was increased from 0.84 ± 0.25, 0.83 ± 0.23 to 1.16 ± 0.37, 1.10 ± 0.26 in the right and left ovary respectively (P < 0.05), peak systolic velocity (PSV) was decreased from 12.30 ± 1.72, 12.34 ± 1.55 to 10.25 ± 0.97, 10.53 ± 1.33 in the right and left ovary respectively (P < 0.05). PI and RI did not show any difference between the homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) ≥ 2.38 and HOMA-IR < 2.38 groups before and after metformin treatment (P > 0.05). However, PSV was decreased significantly from 13.05 ± 1.35, 12.82 ± 2.02 to 11.03 ± 0.71, 10.25 ± 0.42 in HOMA-IR ≥ 2.38 group in the right and left ovary, respectively, and PSV was decreased from 11.50 ± 2.67, 11.28 ± 0.26 to 9.10 ± 0.58, 9.28 ± 0.25 in HOMA-IR < 2.38 group in the right and left ovary, respectively, before and after metformin treatment (P < 0.05). PSV for both ovaries were positively correlated with HOMA scores before and after metformin treatment [(r = 0.713, P = 0.000; r = 0.617, P = 0.04 and r = 0.635, P= 0.03; r = 0.483, P = 0.031 respectively].

Conclusion

Metformin treatment affected ovarian stromal blood flow in PCOS patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Selcuklu Konya, Turkey

    Emel Ebru Ozcimen, Ayla Uckuyu & Faika Ceylan Ciftci

  2. Reproductive Endocrinology Department, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Hulusi Bulent Zeyneloglu

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  1. Emel Ebru Ozcimen
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  2. Ayla Uckuyu
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Correspondence to Emel Ebru Ozcimen.

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Ozcimen, E.E., Uckuyu, A., Ciftci, F.C. et al. The effect of metformin treatment on ovarian stromal blood flow in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Arch Gynecol Obstet 280, 263–269 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-008-0904-0

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