The role of combined Metformin and pharmaceutical molecules with anti-androgenic properties in the therapy of PCOS in adult women.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of existing literature without systematic methodology.
PubMed 41460611 · doi:10.1007/s12020-025-04527-x
What was done
Narrative review critically examining published studies on the combined use of metformin and pharmaceutical molecules with anti-androgenic properties (androgen receptor blockers and/or 5α-reductase inhibitors) in adult women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
What was found
The abstract gives no numerical data. It reports that combining metformin with anti-androgenic molecules appears appropriate when combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are not well tolerated, when COCs show lack of clinical efficacy after at least six months, or in women with PCOS and obesity where estrogen-containing COCs increase thromboembolic risk and insulin resistance requires treatment.
Why it matters
Identifies clinical scenarios where dual-targeting insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism may serve as an alternative to oral contraceptives in PCOS management.
Limits
Narrative review design without systematic search criteria or reported study quality assessment. The abstract reports no quantitative outcome data, sample size, specific drug regimens, or adverse effect rates.
Cited by
- supports In polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), high insulin causes elevated androgens which leads to thinning hair on the top of the scalp.