Posted this in PCOS forum (cause that's why I take it) but kinda slow over there and I know that other's are sometimes put on Met. for fert. issues.
Just wanted to share this. Any feedback/new info you might have heard very welcome!!
I had a conversation w/my RE Monday and then an e-mail conversation a few days later. I was asking him about several things but one was weither I should "increase" my met dosage. He surprised me by telling me to "stop" it (he's the one who told me to go on it two yrs. ago). He said a new study just came out (comparing Clomid vs. Metformin for PCOS patients) that is the most comprehensive to date and revealed:
He said for the "purposes of getting pregnant" it has been revealed that it's not as effective as clomid. Then when I e-mailed for clarification because I did not want to stop it only to start again after pregnancy to "avoid miscarriage & gestational diabeties" he said:
"First, there are no conclusive studies regarding reduction in gestational diabetes and abortion (miscarriage) with metformin and PCOS. It may or may not work and depends on who you ask (otherwise, there is no proof yet either way). Interestingly, as a side point, the recent multi-center study comparing clomid vs metformin showed INCREASED abortion (miscarriage) rates with metformin (as compared to clomid)".
This is a direct quote from him (I only added the "miscarriage" cause I hate the clinical term abortion), as I e-mailed him for clarification after our face to face meeting.
Now, I have e-mailed back and asked if average weight vs. over weight PCOS patients were considered in the study and I also asked about testing my hormone levels to see if my testosterone has gone down any since taking the met (for 2 yrs.) to help give me a better measure "for me", but have not yet had a reply.
I was asking because I went on 1000mg (moved up from 500 - 1000 after 1wk) and have stayed there for two years. For me - I have not seen any change (I did it 8mo solo hoping that my cycle would start/regulate on it's own). I do know of a person that it has worked on - for her the dreaded PCOS weight had been an issue also - but she got pregnant. On the flip side -her cousin did it and it didn't help her at all. PCOS is soooo diverse I guess its a crap shoot. Weight has not been an additional issue for me (yet) and maybe that's the difference?
Very interesting information. I knew that there was no conclusive studies to prove it works either way but some indication that it works for "some" women. The same is true for progesterone suppositories actually. I am of the belief that if I "might" be one of the "some" that it works for - then I will take it as long as the benefits out weigh the risk (I would stand on my head for insemination if it would work better ). Basically he's telling me that the belief has shifted. When I first asked about still increasing the dosage he said I could if I wanted to on the off chance that it might increase my chances of BFP (despite the study). But then after further clarification - he says the study shows a higher m/c rate than clomid (another reason I was going to stay on it).
So I'm in limbo, unable to decide what to do. Hoping he will respond more specifically about the weight issue. I never responded to clomid either.
Edit for his response: "It was across all weight categories with least effectiveness for increased only because of more body weight".
Just sharing what was told to me. Hope it makes sense.
Tricia
