Birth control pills or metformin: which works better for PCOS?
NCT ID NCT03229057
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looked at 240 overweight or obese women with PCOS to see if birth control pills, metformin, or a combination of both is best for reducing metabolic syndrome—a cluster of conditions that raise the risk for diabetes and heart disease. Participants took one of the three treatments for six months. The goal was to find out which approach improves health markers like waist size, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
oral contraceptive pills and metformin
What this could lead to
If successful, this study could show that combining OCP and metformin reduces metabolic syndrome risk in women with PCOS, potentially lowering their chances of diabetes and heart disease.
What could go wrong
This trial is completed but results may not apply to all women with PCOS. The 6-month treatment period is short, and long-term benefits or risks are not yet known.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Penn State/ Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, United States
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University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States