Oral contraceptives (OCs) in combination with metformin versus OCs alone on metabolism in nonobese polycystic ovary syndrome: A meta-analysis and systematic review of randomized controlled trials

BackgroundTo compare OCs(oral contraceptives) + metformin and OCs alone for metabolic effects in nonobese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. MethodsThe search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and for all published studies up to 30 April 2022 and was limited to English-language articles. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing OCs + metformin and OCs alone for reproductive-age women with PCOS were included. Data were processed using Revman 5.3 software. ResultsOf 396 studies identified, 14 RCTs were included for analysis comprising 707 women. OCs+metformin significantly modified fasting glucose (MD = -0.21 [95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.31, -0.12], p < .00001) and fasting insulin (MD = -2.54 [95%CI = -4.04, -1.04], p = .0009) at study completion compared with OCs alone in nonobese PCOS subjects. There was no statistic difference in the homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol or triglycerides at study end between the two groups. ConclusionsMetformin, via its positive effects on insulin clearance, in combination with OCs, improved glucose metabolism and offered a good treatment alternative in nonobese women with PCOS.

Automated summary

This study compared the effects of oral contraceptives (OCs) + metformin and OCs alone on metabolism in nonobese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. The results showed that in nonobese PCOS patients, OCs+metformin significantly improved fasting glucose and fasting insulin levels compared to OCs alone at the end of the study, but there were no significant differences in insulin resistance, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol or triglycerides between the two groups.