Diabetes drug in test to beat infertility

By MARTIN JOHNSTON health reporter

Auckland researchers plan to test a diabetes drug in women who are infertile because of numerous tiny cysts on their ovaries.

Twenty per cent of women have these multiple cysts, but only half of them suffer any symptoms of so-called polycystic ovary syndrome.

The commonest symptom is infertility because the ovaries fail to produce eggs; others are obesity, unwanted hair growth, irregular periods and acne.

The established first-line treatment for infertility caused by the syndrome is the anti-oestrogen pill clomiphene, a drug which also increases the chances of multiple pregnancy.

An Auckland University-National Women's Hospital trial will test a diabetes drug, metformin, as an alternative first-line treatment.

One of the researchers, gynaecologist Dr Neil Johnson, says it is now thought that the underlying problem in women who have the syndrome is resistance to the hormone insulin, which is also a common feature of type 2 diabetes.

An international review of studies on metformin showed its usefulness in improving the chances of women with the syndrome of producing eggs.

"The weakness of the studies was that they did not look beyond ovulation to pregnancy or live birth. So that's what we are going to be doing: assessing pregnancy and birth outcomes for women with the syndrome," Dr Johnson said.

"Even though women taking clomiphene appear to be ovulating regularly, they are still not as fertile as women ovulating ... naturally.

"Metformin may be a more natural and physiological treatment because it improves insulin sensitivity."

Dr Johnson hopes to start the trial, which may involve more than 250 women aged 18 to 39 in five New Zealand cities, in a fortnight.

* Women interested in taking part can call research nurse Debbie Richards on 09-638-9919, extension 3230.