Effect of Metformin on Sensitivity of the GnRH Pulse Generator to Suppression by Estradiol and Progesterone
Summary
Many, but not all, girls with high levels of the male hormone testosterone go on to develop polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as adults. Women with PCOS often have irregular menstrual periods, excess facial and body hair, and weight gain. PCOS is also a leading cause of difficulty becoming pregnant. The investigators do not understand why some girls with high hormones develop PCOS and others do not. In a previous study by our group, some girls with high levels of male hormones had abnormalities in the secretion of another hormone, called luteinizing hormone (LH), that are often seen in women with PCOS. However, another group had normal LH secretion. The girls with the abnormal LH secretion had higher levels of another hormone, called insulin, than the girls with normal LH secretion. The investigators will test whether metformin, an insulin-sensitizing agent, changes the effects of high male hormone levels in adolescent girls, specifically by looking at their LH secretion response following metformin treatment.
Timeline
- Start
- 2009-02-18
- Primary completion
- 2015-01-17
- Completion
- 2015-01-17
Drugs
| Evaluation | Drug | Modality | Dose | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Metformin | Small molecule | 500 mg | Oral |
| Subject | Metformin | Small molecule | 2000 mg | Oral |
| Background | Estradiol | Other / unclassified | 0.5 mg | Oral |
| Background | Estradiol | Other / unclassified | 1 mg | Oral |
| Background | Progesterone | Other / unclassified | 25 mg | Oral |
| Background | Progesterone | Other / unclassified | 100 mg | Oral |