When is medication recommended for PCOS weight loss and insulin resistance?
Medication is considered when lifestyle measures including dietary change and exercise have not produced adequate improvement in insulin sensitivity, weight, or metabolic markers, or when symptoms are significantly affecting quality of life.
Metformin is the most commonly used medication for insulin resistance in PCOS. It works by reducing the amount of glucose the liver produces and improving the body's response to insulin. It does not cause weight loss directly but improves the hormonal environment in a way that makes lifestyle-based weight management more effective. It also has benefits for menstrual regularity and long-term metabolic risk reduction in women with PCOS. The decision to start medication is made individually after a proper assessment of metabolic health, symptoms, and the patient's goals. I discuss this option at Kiran Speciality Hospital, Hassan, with women whose PCOS-related metabolic dysfunction is not responding adequately to diet and exercise alone.
Written by Dr Vineetha Kiran, MBBS, MS (Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gold Medalist, KMC Mangalore University), Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Kiran Speciality Hospital, Hassan, Karnataka.