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Metformin (Glucophage) for polycystic ovary syndrome
Metformin decreases the level of androgens produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. It also helps the body use insulin and may reduce the risk of diabetes.
Metformin lowers blood sugar levels by:
- Decreasing the amount of sugar produced by the liver.
- Increasing the amount of sugar absorbed by muscle cells and decreasing the body's resistance to insulin (insulin resistance).
When blood sugar is lower, less insulin is needed, so the body makes less insulin. And when insulin is lower, the body produces a lower level of androgens.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: January 28, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Sarah Anne Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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