Reimbursement of metformin for polycystic ovary syndrome

The latest list of reimbursed medicines includes, as a new addition, metformin for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is extremely important for practicing physicians. While this paper briefly summarises the current state of knowledge on PCOS, its main aim is to remind the reader about the effectiveness of metformin in women with PCOS in controlling glycaemia, increasing tissue sensitivity to insulin and affecting endothelial function, vascular inflammation, lipid profile and other risk factors of atherosclerosis, which suggests its cardioprotective effects. The paper also discusses the clinical effect of metformin relative to hyperandrogenism, menstrual cycle disorders and ovulation induction. The paper concludes with an algorithm for the diagnosis and management of PCOS.