Combined oral contraceptive pill compared with no medical treatment in the management of polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review

ObjectiveAs part of the update of the International Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Assessment and Management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a systematic review was performed to inform evidence-based recommendations. DesignSystematic review. Only randomised controlled trial were included. PatientsWomen with PCOS; the use of combined oral contraceptive pills (COCP) was compared with no medical treatment. MeasurementsOutcomes were designed in collaboration with clinical experts, researchers, and consumers. Critical outcomes included hirsutism, irregular cycles, quality of life, body mass index (BMI), and weight. Results1660 publications were identified, but only four studies were included. No studies could be combined for meta-analysis. COCP treatment improved cycle regularity compared with no medical treatment (100% vs. 0%, with low certainty of evidence). COCP showed no difference in improvement of hirsutism or BMI compared with placebo or lifestyle; a lower weight after COCP compared with no treatment (mean difference [MD] -8.0 (95% confidence interval, CI -11.67); -4.33 kg); and improvement in quality of life (MD 1.2 [95% CI 0.96]; 1.44), but these results were all very low certainty of evidence. ConclusionResults show that COCP benefit cycle regulation, but other benefits or potential adverse effects were only identified with very low certainty of evidence. The COCP is frontline medical treatment in PCOS, but this is still based on established efficacy in the broader general population. Our results show that research in PCOS is seriously lacking and should be prioritised to capture core reproductive, metabolic and psychological outcomes important in PCOS.

Automated summary

This systematic review found that combined oral contraceptive pills (COCP) can improve cycle regularity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but there is limited evidence for other benefits or potential adverse effects. The study emphasizes the lack of research in PCOS and calls for prioritization of core reproductive, metabolic, and psychological outcomes.