Objectives To evaluate the effects of 3 months of metformin therapy on various blood lipid factors and insulin sensitivity in obese women with PCOS.

Methods Seventeen obese PCOS women (body mass index (BMI) ≥24 kg/m (2)), aged 20–36 years, were included in the study from the department of infertility and sexual medicine at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University between February 2011 and December 2011. The hormonal and metabolic parameters, including sexual hormone levels, glucose, insulin, and fasting lipids levels, were evaluated before treatment. Metformin (1500 mg/day) was administered for 3 months. After 3 months of therapy, they were resample.

Results BMI were significantly decreased after 3 months of metformin treatment (25.52±3.51 vs 22.45±3.72, p<0.05). Serum total cholesterol (5.03±0.98 vs 4.70±0.75, p<0.05), triglycerides (1.81±0.97 vs 1.68±0.78, p<0.05), and serum testosterone (2.86±0.52 vs 1.76±0.45, p<0.05) were all reduced. Insulin resistance measured by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) method was significantly decreased (4.51±0.68 vs 4.01±0.49, p<0.05).

Conclusions Metformin therapy for 3 months is effective in improving insulin sensitivity and some cardiovascular risk biomarkers in obese women with PCOS.