Role of metformin in reducing frequency of 1st trimester miscarriage among pregnant women with polycystic ovarian syndrome at Nishtar Hospital Multan

Aim: to determine the effect of metformin in stopping miscarriage of 1st trimester among pregnant women with pcos. study design: descriptive case series. setting: antenatal clinic of department of obstetrics & gynaecology,nishtar hospital multan. methods: this descriptive case series was conducted from august 2010 to january 2011 at antenatal clinic of the department of obstetrics & gynaecology,nishtar hospital multan. the sample included 123 infertile women conceived while taking metformin. antenatal care was given to these women at antenatal clinic of the department of obstetrics & gynaecology,nishtar hospital multan. the final outcome in this study was noted i.e. number of pregnancies continued in the 1st trimester while on metformin treatment and number of 1st trimester miscarriages while on metformin treatment. results: among the 123 women who had received metformin throuout 1st trimester,there were a total of 123 pregnancies of which 12(9.8%) ended in 1st trimester miscarriage. out of these 12 1st trimester miscarriages,6 were at < 4 weeks,4 at < 8 weeks and 2 were at > 8 weeks and less then 12 weeks of gestation respectively. so 112(90.2%) pregnancies remained & successfully continued in 1st trimester. conclusion: the results of this study showed that metformin usage in selected pregnant pcos women stopped 1st trimester miscarriage in 90.2% of them. so,there should be more research trials to establish recommendation of metformin use in preventing 1st trimester miscarriage.