Effect of metformin pretreatment on pregnancy outcome of in vitro matured oocytes retrieved from women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective

To determine the effect of metformin pretreatment on in vitro maturation (IVM) in the patients with clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome.

Design

Prospective randomized study.

Setting

University affiliated hospital.

Patient(s)

Fifty-six women with clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome underwent 70 cycles of IVM treatment.

Intervention(s)

Metformin was administered at a dose of 500 mg twice per day for 12 weeks before IVM treatment.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

The number of immature oocytes, oocyte maturation, fertilization, cleavage, high-quality embryo, and clinical pregnancy rates.

Result(s)

A significantly higher high-quality embryo rate (37.8%) was obtained in the metformin-treated group compared with the control group (24.3%). Accordingly, the clinical pregnancy and implantation rates were significantly higher in the metformin-treated group (38.2% and 15.3%) than the control group (16.7% and 6.2%).

Conclusion(s)

Pretreatment with metformin improves IVM outcome in terms of embryo quality and clinical pregnancy rate as well as implantation rate.

Key Words: Metformin, polycystic ovary syndrome, in vitro maturation, pregnancy