Patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) not only have extreme difficulty becoming pregnant, they also suffer from a multitude of complex effects such as extreme weight gain, excessive hair growth on the face and body, acne, irregular menstrual cycles or lack of menstrual cycles, male pattern hair loss and infertility. R. Jeffrey Chang M.D., Chief of Reproductive Endocrinology at the UCSD School of Medicine has embarked on a two-year research study to determine if one of three different medication therapies will help PCOS patients become pregnant.

PCOS is a complicated hormonal disorder that results when excess insulin and excess testosterone interfere with ovulation and normal hormonal balance. Research has shown that PCOS affects far more than reproduction; women are at increased risk for endometrial cancer, heart disease and insulin resistance, which could lead to diabetes. Insulin resistance has been found in women with PCOS in all races and ethnic groups.

“Our theory is that improving insulin sensitivity in infertile women with PCOS will markedly increase the likelihood of pregnancy and a live birth,” says Chang, Principal Investigator for the multi-center, double blind, randomized trial. “We don’t know the underlying cause of PCOS, but we do feel the study medications can help some infertile PCOS patients become pregnant and give birth.”

Previous studies have shown improved insulin sensitivity in PCOS women taking Metformin (brand name Glucophage), one of the medications UCSD will be studying. It has been used successfully to induce ovulation. Metformin was approved for treatment of Type II diabetes by the FDA in 1994.

UCSD is one of nine national sites conducting the study that will recruit PCOS patients. UCSD seeks to enroll 72 patients, aged 18-39 years over the next 24 months. For more information on enrolling in the trial, call the UCSD Division of Reproductive Medicine at 858-822-3416.

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UCSD Health Sciences Communications HealthBeat: http://health.ucsd.edu/news/