Nutrition Health Chat: Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 5-6 PM Eastern. Learn how vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients affect your health. Free live Q&A. Join us!
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Gynecology (Expert Forum)
PCOS metformin and prolactianemia
Answered by
Elaine Brown, MD - Pregnancy, Gynecology
Elaine Brown, MD - BLOG
Billings - MT
PCOS metformin and prolactianemia
by cannella55, May 05, 2009 12:11PM
hi .
i have been confused since my last visit to my endo , till then i was thinking i have to be insulin resistant to have pcos , but he told me according to my records it wasnt the case for me ( i remember having some hormone tests back then but cant remember if i had insulin test with them .) what i wonder is can my PCOS related to my prolactianemia caused but pitituary microadonema only without insulin issues? . if thats the case why they want me to use metformin and it is helping me get 28 days cycles with the cabergoline i use for prolactinemia (if i only use cabergoline its around 33-38 and if i dont use any meds its 40 + days or it may skip some months ) i thought metformin only helps if things are insulin related ) . or does it work in any other way independent from insulin relations on ovulation ? ( i think i have seen some use of it in fertility treatments like IVF but not sure if its for pcos people or everyone )
thanks
i have been confused since my last visit to my endo , till then i was thinking i have to be insulin resistant to have pcos , but he told me according to my records it wasnt the case for me ( i remember having some hormone tests back then but cant remember if i had insulin test with them .) what i wonder is can my PCOS related to my prolactianemia caused but pitituary microadonema only without insulin issues? . if thats the case why they want me to use metformin and it is helping me get 28 days cycles with the cabergoline i use for prolactinemia (if i only use cabergoline its around 33-38 and if i dont use any meds its 40 + days or it may skip some months ) i thought metformin only helps if things are insulin related ) . or does it work in any other way independent from insulin relations on ovulation ? ( i think i have seen some use of it in fertility treatments like IVF but not sure if its for pcos people or everyone )
thanks
Doctor's Answer
by Elaine Brown, MD, May 05, 2009 02:07PM
, May 05, 2009 02:07PMTo: cannella55
Hi!
Your pituitary microadenoma is definitely throwing your cycles off--that is why they are so long (lots of people don't have any!) without meds. I also thought that metformin helpeed ovulation by improving insulin sensitivity. In order to check if you are insulin resistant, you need to have insulin levels done. You don't necessarily have to have abnormal blood sugars.
The fact that the metformin makes your cycles regular suggests to me that you ARE insulin resistant. You could ask you RE if it is being used to further suppress you prolactin, but the Cabergoline should be doing that job.
I am confused along with you! We do use metformin in infertility, but we use it (as far as I know) to improve insulin sensitivity and increase ovulation rates. PCOS as you are probably aware is a catch-all term for irregular periods. You don't even have to have cysts to have PCOS!
I'm sorry I was not more helpful--ask your RE again--you may be smarter than he/she is!
Good luck!
Dr B
Your pituitary microadenoma is definitely throwing your cycles off--that is why they are so long (lots of people don't have any!) without meds. I also thought that metformin helpeed ovulation by improving insulin sensitivity. In order to check if you are insulin resistant, you need to have insulin levels done. You don't necessarily have to have abnormal blood sugars.
The fact that the metformin makes your cycles regular suggests to me that you ARE insulin resistant. You could ask you RE if it is being used to further suppress you prolactin, but the Cabergoline should be doing that job.
I am confused along with you! We do use metformin in infertility, but we use it (as far as I know) to improve insulin sensitivity and increase ovulation rates. PCOS as you are probably aware is a catch-all term for irregular periods. You don't even have to have cysts to have PCOS!
I'm sorry I was not more helpful--ask your RE again--you may be smarter than he/she is!
Good luck!
Dr B
