The Effect of Metformin on the Endometrium of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the effect of metformin on endometrial receptivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods: Twenty volunteer women with polycystic ovaries and oligomenorrhea were prospectively investigated. All women were treated with exogenous estradiol and progesterone to simulate a normal menstrual cycle (28-day duration) after GnRH-induced pituitary desensitization. Ten of the women received no other medication (group A, control), while the remaining 10 received metformin (group B, metformin). Endometrial biopsy was performed in all women on day 21 of the 2 simulated cycles.

Results: The expression of corticotropin - releasing hormone and urocortin in the endometrium was investigated. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups. A 3-day delay in the secretory maturation of the glandular epithelium relatively to the stroma was observed in 7 out of 10 women of group B (70%) as compared to only 1 out of 10 women of group A (10%, p = 0.02).

Conclusions: It is shown for the first time that metformin administration to women with PCOS did not affect the expression of endometrial receptivity markers but delayed histological glandular maturation. It is suggested that metformin may have an impact on the function of the endometrium in PCOS.

Keywords: Corticotropin releasing hormone; Endometrial receptivity; Metformin; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Urocortin.