Abstract Objective: To compare metformin and combined oral contraceptive pill (COC) effects
over 24 months in adolescent PCOS. Design: Randomized controlled study. Setting: Alexandria
ICSI centre. Patients: 117 adolescent girls with PCOS, were randomized to: group A (n= 40): metformin,
group B (n= 40): COC, and group C (n= 39): control. Interventions: Group A: received
metformin, group B: received combined oral contraceptives. Main outcome measures: Improvement
in cycle rhythm and hirsutism. Results: In group B a significant decline in serum testosterone
reached the lowest value by the end of the second year (0.7 ± 0.2 versus 1.3± 0.5 lg/ml). By
the end of the study, group A showed a significant decline in fasting (18.6 ± 3.0–
10.0 ± 3.0 lIU/ml) and after-load insulin levels (126± 43–64 ±15 lIU/ml) with a significant rise
in glucose/insulin ratio (GIR) from 4.1 ±0.3 to 4.6± 0.5. Group B showed a significant rise in
fasting and after-load insulin (from 15.0 ±3.0 lIU/ml and 103.0 ±91.0 lIU/ml to 19.0± 4.0
and 187.0 ±22.0 lIU/ml, respectively) and GIR dropped significantly from 4.4± 0.2 to
3.1± 0.3. Metformin was associated with a significant loss of weight from 87.0 ± 6.0 to
72.0 ± 0.5 kg while COC was associated with a non-significant gain in weight (from 84.0± 6.0
to 91.0 ± 9.0 kg). Conclusions: Metformin and COC have comparable therapeutic effectiveness
on cycle regularity and hirsutism. Metformin was associated with a significant improvement in met-abolic syndrome, while COC was associated with a deterioration of metabolic syndrome.