Re: Dr. never told me about Metformin
From: anonymous@obgyn.net
Mon, 13 May 2002 23:05:55 -0500 (CDT)
Hi,
Firstly, I am assuming that you have been diagnosed with PCOS.
PCOS is believed to be caused, at least in part, by insulin resistance.
Metformin (also known as glucophage) is a drug that reduces insulin
resistance. For many women with PCOS taking metformin is enough to give
them regular cycles and to allow them to conceive.
A reproductive endocrinologist could perhaps be your first try - while
some obegyne are very good and do treat PCOS, most don't. Make sure
that your new doctor is up-to-date and that they treat patients with
PCOS. You may have to shop around a little first to find a doctor you
are happy with. If you post where you are from, perhaps someone on the
board could recommned a good doctor.
As I mentioned in my previous post, the book 'PCOS - the hidden
epidemic' may be a good starting point for more info.
Best wishes
Sally
At Mon, 13 May 2002, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>
>My doctor had never mentioned anything about Meformin. I have never
>heard of it. None of the books I have read have mentioned anything
>about them either.
>How do I find a good doctor? Should I be seeing an endo or an OBGYN? I
>tried to get in to see an OBGYN that was recommeneded to me but was told
>they wouldn't see anyone that didn't have insurance.
>I am so confused now. What exactly is Metformin? My previous doc had
>only put me on Birth control befroe the clomid and I bled for 2 months
>very heavily. I told her I didn't want to go back on Birth control
>again. Is the metformin a type of birth control?
>Melissa
>
>At Mon, 13 May 2002, anonymous@obgyn.net wrote:
>>
>>Hi Melisa,
>>
>>seems that your previous doctor was not very knowledgeable or up to
>>date. Another question: are you taking metformin? Metformin, if you are
>>one of the pople it works for, may regulate your cycles and allow you to
>>ovulate normally. The procedure, I beleive, is to take metformin for up
>>to six months (at the therapeutic dose that works for you - anywhere
>>from 500 - 2000 mg/day - building up slowly over a number of months
>>until you see therapeutic effect) and see if you get normal ovulation
>>(many women do). If not, then clomid would be added, again starting at
>>the dose recommended for your weight and then increasing (though I have
>>not had any experience on this - some other women here may be able to
>>comment on what they know). Using such a combination, the success rate
>>for pregnancy is apparently pretty good. Metformin also apparently
>>reduces the high rate of miscarriage seen in women with PCOS.
>>
>>I am sure that Dr. Sam or some of the other women could add to the
>>above.
>>
>>Please do some research so you know your options. One thing I have
>>learned from this PCOS thing (and some other health probs I have) is
>>that one has to be very proactive in getting medical care and be able to
>>really discuss with the dr. the treatment options and approach (not all
>>drs. are open to this - though fortunately my endo is). Talk to your
>>dr. as an equal partner in your health care (not some god whose word
>>you just take as law - not to say that a good dr. is not knowledgeable
>>and you shouldn't follow instructions - but you should understand what
>>he/she says and the rationale). Try to learn enough to know if your dr.
>>is up-to-date. This is very important in PCOS because medical research
>>and advances are very recent.
>>
>>One really good book which discusses PCOS and fertility issues in PCOS
>>in quite a lot of detail a book by a guy called Thatcher, called PCOS -
>>the hidden epidemic. It is available from AMAZON.com.
>>
>>Sorry this is long, and hope it helps.
>>
>>Sally
>>
>--
>Melissa
>
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