Effect of Metformin Treatment on Gonadotropin Levels in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of 51 Randomised Controlled Trials
Authors' conclusion
Our meta-analysis, the largest one conducted to date, indicates that metformin does not significantly affect circulating gonadotropin levels in reproductive-age women with PCOS.
Study context
- Population
- Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)51 randomised controlled trials (RCTs)
- Comparison
- Metformin vs control
- Outcome
- Gonadotropin levels (FSH, LH, LH/FSH ratio)
Methodological detailsrandom-effects model, generic inverse variance method, parallel or crossover RCTs
- Random-effects model
- Generic inverse variance method
- Parallel or crossover RCTs
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Gonadotropin levels
FSH: WMD (95% CI −0.54, 0.11), p = 0.19, I2 = 84%
−0.22 IU/L
LH: WMD (95% CI −0.38, 0.60), p = 0.66, I2 = 75%
0.11 IU/L
LH/FSH ratio: WMD (95% CI 0.06, 0.43), p = 0.01, I2 = 93%; significantly increased with metformin
0.24%
Further pooled results
Sensitivity analysis
- Effect size sensitive to one study for FSH, LH and LH/FSH ratio
Original publication
Effect of Metformin Treatment on Gonadotropin Levels in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of 51 Randomised Controlled Trials. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 27 March 2026. doi:10.
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