Seeking Advice on Metformin

A.,

I have been on metformin for almost three years. I was diagnosed as prediabetic about 6 months before I started trying to conceive. When my endocronologist prescribed it he stated that it can help with ovulation and that would be a positive since I would be trying to get pregnant in the coming months. I have had no real side effects and tracked my ovulation while taking it as I am over 35 and wanted to be prepared in case I had trouble conceiving. My cycle and ovulation was very consistent and I became pregnant the first month we tried. I stayed on it to maintain my blood sugars until my 2nd trimester and had a healthy baby 9 months later. I wish you the best of luck and would not be concerned if you are trying to conceive.

I took metformin for a while. Once I was on it, my cycles got more regular and it was a little easier to predict ovulation - not easy but easier. I also stayed on it through my first trimester - it's not indicated for that use, but my doc said there is a lower rate of miscarriage for pcos women who stay on it through the first trimester and no indication that it harms the fetus.
The worst part of metformin for me was that it made me sick - morning sickness paled in comparison. BUT - I had a beautiful baby boy 5 weeks ago, and would consider going back on metformin when we try again!

I have never heard of using Metformin for pregnancy. It's for type 2 diabetes. The only way I could see this working is if you are a type 2 diabetic and having trouble getting pregnant because your blood sugars are out of control. Metformin is the generic for Glucophage so either you are mistaken on the name or you are diabetic...and no doctor should be advising a diabetic who doesn't have proper control of their blood sugars to have a baby. I guess they could have found that Metformin helps with ovulation but it wasn't designed for that so I would be skeptical about taking it because it could cause damage to the pancreas since it's meant to promote insulin production in a pancreas that isn't functioning properly and if your pancreas is functioning properly on its own, your body could become dependent on it to function properly. Wow, I really hope you mean another medication and not Metformin.

I used it for a while as we tried to conceive. It's actually a drug used for diabetes, I think, but has multiple uses. It was relatively easy to use, but it did make me pretty sick with an upset stomach all the time.

Dear A and HR,
This is a new one for me. Metformin is a medication to treat type 2 diabetes melitus. Do you have this diagnosis? I have never heard of it used to treat infertility, but many medications are used off label...
I wish you the best.
T

This is definitely a drug that is used for PCOS women to help with infertility. I was put on it, the following month had an ultrasound to determine if I was ovulating and then the 2nd month on it found out I was pregnant. I DO NOT have diabetes and part of the PCOS that it helps is related to insulin resistance. A good Dr that knows about PCOS understand the relationship. Please find out more for yourself and realize that those that are offering that this is not used for fertility problems are not versed in PCOS.
Good luck with it.

Hi A.,

I was prescribed Metformin in 1999 to help with ovulation and it worked! Expect to get nausea and have a lack of appetite. I believe it is a pregnancy category C. I do want to very gently caution you with my experience which I do believe is not necessarily related to the Metformin, however remains unknown. My daughter was born with an abdominal birth defect called an omphalocele. The long and short is that she is totally fine now but had a rough first year of life. Our perinatologist at the time, felt that the medical community was mixed on the safety of metformin in pregnancy. Again, please don't be alarmed as I do believe your doctor would not prescribe it unless he/she believes it is safe. I also had gestational diabetes which has a high incidence of birth defects. Eight years has passed since my experience and much more data has been collected in the literature to support your doctor's actions. But as a mom, I felt compelled to let you know my experience. If you have any questions please feel free to ask. I have had two healthy, successful pregnancies since without the help of metformin. All the best!

I was put on it because my fertility specialist said I was prediabetic and he thought it would help with my egg quality. (I did IVF). It is actually pretty common for women who have PCOS or infertility issues to use it to help with getting pregnant. I didn't stay on it very long and it does have nasty side effects as someone mentioned before, but it seems to have a lot of success with helping women get pregnant. Best of luck to you.

I've been using Metformin for years now because I'm borderline diabetic and I have PCOS that cases infertility. It has not worked for my infertility.

A. and Hannah,

My husband takes Metaforim for Diabetes control. Maybe you have had a problem with gestational Diabetes in the past, or something like that. It has helped him a lot and he doesn't have to take Insulin hardly at all anymore. The doctor maybe is trying to help your body not reject the new baby.

Go on line at www.drgreene.com and ask that question.

C. N.

I work in a hospital and have patients that are on it for type II diabetis. I don't know of other uses for the drug. Better double check with your Dr. I was however on Clomed to help me ovulate and get pregnate. I took it for one cycle and ended up with twins.

I'm currently taking Metformin in conjunction w/injections also hoping for our 2nd miracle! I hate the Met, but whatever works, right? I've worked my way up to 2 pills a day and am now trying to get to 3. It does take some getting used to. For me it didn't help w/ovulation or regulating my cycles at all. I have a friend who was also prescribe Met and Clomid. She is happily waiting the arrival of her baby in October.

Feel free to msg me if you need a listening ear! Good luck.

A.

Hi Angela,

I was on Metformin 1500 mg/day for a year to help with my PCOS. The medicine shrank my ovarian cysts, helped me loose weight, regulated my cycle, regulated my blood sugar, and caused me to start ovulating. Now I have 3 children after 7 years of infertility. I didn't know how bad I was feeling physically until after I was on it for a while and felt much better. Metformin saved me. The only thing is it has a nasty side effect of dihareah (sp) but to me it was so worth it.

I have a condiontion called polycystic ovarian syndrome and I took metformin along with clomid to concieve our first baby. I will most likely have to take it to concieve again. Anyway, I got pregnant very quickly taking metformin and clomid together. The combination is much more effective than taking just one or the other from what I have experienced and heard. I hope and pray for you that this will work!

I was advised by a doctor to take Metformin, but not for ovulation. The purpose of the Metformin was to regulate my insulin levels. Due to PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) my insulin was way high. The Metformin was prescribed to reduce the insulin level, thus making it easier for my body to ovulate on its own. That is just my two cents.

Good morning A.. This is quite strange. I have been prescribed METFORMIN for my type II Diabetes! I take a 500MG tablet twice a day with meals to help control my blood sugar. Please don't be alarmed, but I am very curious as to what all this medication is used for. Maybe the medication has duel purposes. I am 50+ years of age. I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes about 2 1/2 years ago and was prescribed this medication at the time of diagnosis. If I may suggest, we both should inquire of our doctors what METFORMIN is specifically prescribed for. Thank you and I look forward to hearing what your doctor has to say. I will keep you posted as to what my doctor has to say.

Hi A. and Hannah,

Metformin is used to treat insulin resistance, which is a hallmark symptom of PCOS as well as of type II diabetes. This does not necessarily mean that you have either disease, however, so your doctor should establish just cause before just using a shot-gun approach.

PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) is a disease in which a woman produces too much of the male sex hormones (androgens). BTW, all women make androgens naturally and they are important for muscle development, mental faculties, etc. as they are in men. As part of the disease, multiple cysts can form in one or both ovaries. Women with PCOS are often hirsuite (hairier than normal), overweight to obese, and typically have irregular menstrual cycles. For some of these symptoms, it is unclear whether they contribute to the cause or are an effect of PCOS.

The hormonal abberations associated with PCOS can make it difficult to conceive, but apparently another big factor is the insulin resistance associated with the disease (which can also be a contributing factor in the weight issues). When cells can't take in insulin (insulin resistance), they cannot regulate their uptake of glucose effectively. Glucose is the basic energy currency of cells, so without glucose, cells can't function well -- it would be like trying to run your car on an empty tank all of the time.

If you ARE insulin resistant, then taking metformin can correct that, making it possible for your ovaries to function properly and regulating your cycle. When your cycle is regular, it is easier to conceive. Metformin is an established and FDA approved treatment for infertility resulting from insulin resistance associated with PCOS. Incidentally, some research has shown that eating 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon daily has the same effect as taking Metformin in diabetics. I don't know if anyone has investigated this effect in patients with PCOS. If you ARE NOT insulin resistant, then I doubt the Metformin will help at all.

Your doctor would have to do a series of tests to establish insulin resistance. You can look this up at labtestsonline.com.

Good luck to you!

R.

My doctor also put me on metformin to help me get pregnant. It is kind of rough in the beginning. It made me sick until my body got used to it. It decreased my appetite and made me sick if I ate things that were too "heavy" like red meat etc. My doctor put me on a combination of metformin and clomid (sp?). I got pregnant the very first month I was on the combination. We had been trying for a year and a half before that. He kept me on metformin through the 28th week of my pregnancy. I now have a wonderful, perfect, healthy two month old son. When we try to have another baby, I won't mess around, I'll just start with the metformin. I didn't have any other side effects except the nausea if I ate wrong. Good luck!

I looked up the explaination of this drug in a medical dictionary and here it is; "An antidiabetic drug used in the form of its hydrochloride especially to treat type 2 diabetes in patients unresponsive to or intolerant of approved sulfonylurea drugs" This is what I use it for and I've asked around and no one has heard of it being used for the reason your doctor has it on.--R.

hi..i used it for a year before getting pregnant...It helped me lose weight but I know it is for diabetic people...My OB also prescribed it to me, its harmless..I was diagnosed with hypothyroidsm so i stopped using it and took thyroxin medications.

Hi Ladies,

I was prescribed Metformin back in about 2001 for Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. I was about 15-20 pounds over my ideal body weight at this point in my life, but this medication (along with exercising I did) helped me lose about 2 pounds a month, and when I reached my ideal weight for my body type, my cycle immediately became regular and I was pregnant with my first child within about 3 months. It took well over a year to get where I needed to be weight-wise, but the metformin did seem to help. I've since had a second child and no longer have PCOS or the need to take the medication.

Hope this helps you!

Blessings!

A.
www.livetotalwellness.com/adorzab

I take Metformin twice a day for diabetes. Have not heard
of it being used for ovulation.

I have PCOS and used Metformin to conceive with my last 3 children. There are some mild side effects - gas and loose stools - with some gas pain and cramping - but just make sure you eat when you take it and lay off the dairy to help with the side effects. I was successful using this method to force my body to ovulate and then conceive. Good luck!
J.
Giggle Moon Photography
http://www.gigglemoonphotography.com

Hello A. and Hannah R. I was prescribed Metformin a couple of years ago, but it was for metabolic syndrome. I've never heard of it being used for ovulation, but I think another mom posted the same question a while back. If this is true, that Metformin can be used for ovulation (how much is entailed here?) then that would explain why I am pregnant after 13 years! lol

Hi there... I was offered Metformin when I was trying to concieve after 4 years, and having had justy found out I had PCOS. I chose not to take the drug because the idea of taking a diabetes medicine when I dont have diabetes kinda scared me, So I went the natural route. I got on a natural Diet and exercise program while taking fetility helpful vitamins. Though my best friend was just prescribed Metformin a few weeks ago for her infertility after having been trying for 2 years and having been told she has PCOS. She did get on the pill and was fine on the one pil, but once she started getting to the 2nd and 3rd pill she suffered bad sickness both non-stop diarrhea and upset stomach. Diarhea is a normal side effect but she was on the toilet every hour and was in such distress... so She was told by her fertility doc to stop and give herself a break. She then started up again with one pill and her body didnt let her do the one pill either and she was sick again. To me when your body gets sick like that, it's telling you something. So now she is off Metformin and just going natural route for a few weeks and will eventually go on Clomid. So that's my experiances with it. Good luck to you and pay attention to your body when you start taking it. I was told there are some serious side effects that can come about, so make sure to read the tiny print that comes with your prescription. I wish you the best and hope you concieve very quickly. Good luck again. :-)

Rather than relying on drugs (irregular cycles are not a disease!) you ought to at least look into Natural Family Planning as a way to achieve pregnancy. My mother-in-law is a teacher and counseling couples this way. She has very irregular cycles and had her children all exactly when she planned, with no chemical intervention. My husband and I got pregnant with our baby the same way. Check out www.boma-usa.org, or I'd be happy to put you in touch with my mother-in-law. Good luck!

I have ovulation issues and was put on clomid to regulate cycles. Do you have PCOS? Clomid should be used first. Metformin is for those who are Clomid resistant or. There can be some pretty severe side effects with Metromin

"It is also being used increasingly in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS),[16] non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)[17] and premature puberty,[18] three other diseases that feature insulin resistance; these indications are still considered experimental. Although metformin is not licensed for use in PCOS, the United Kingdom's National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommends that women with PCOS and a body mass index above 25 be given metformin when other therapy has failed to produce results.[19] The benefit of metformin in NAFLD has not been extensively studied and may be only temporary."