Effect of metformin on the anti-Müllerian hormone level in infertile women with polycystic ovarian syndrome

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the major cause of anovulatory infertility in women. The level of serum Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) in patients can be 2–3 times higher than in healthy women. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of metformin on AMH level in PCOS patients suffering from infertility. METHODS: In this pre and post clinical trial, 30 infertile patients with PCOS were enrolled according to the Rotterdam criteria. The serum AMH level was recorded before and after 8 weeks of treatment with metformin (1500 mg daily). We used SPSS version 17 and paired samples t-test, multiple linear regression and ANCOVA test for data analysis. RESULTS: Serum AMH level was significantly decreased after 8 weeks of treatment with metformin [10±3.75 (ng/ml) versus 7.8±3.7 (ng/ml)] (p=0.008, 95% CI: 0.60–3.75). Also, AMH level change was directly associated to BMI in PCOS patients. In other words, in these patients, a higher BMI led to more decrease in AMH level after metformin treatment. CONCLUSION: Eight weeks’ treatment with metformin would significantly decrease AMH. AMH level change was directly associated to BMI. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (http://www.irct.ir) with the Irct ID: 201403132967N5 FUNDING: This study was funded by the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences (Grant Number: 9322).