Summary

Recommendations

Document Overview

Design and created by Guideline Central in participation with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Role Of Metformin For Ovulation Induction In Infertile Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Publication Date: Sep 1, 2017

Page Last Updated: May 5, 2026

ASRM Evidence Grading System

Quality of the Evidence
Level	Description
I	Evidence obtained from at least one properly designed randomized, controlled trial.
II-1	Evidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization.
II-2	Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies, preferably from more than one center or research group.
II-3	Evidence obtained from multiple time series with or without the intervention. Dramatic results in uncontrolled trials might also be regarded as this type of evidence.
III	Opinions of respected authorities, based on clinical experience, descriptive studies, or reports of expert committees.

Document Overview

Document Title: Role Of Metformin For Ovulation Induction In Infertile Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Authoring Society: American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Document Publication Date: Sep 1, 2017

Page Last Reviewed/Updated: May 5, 2026

Document Type: Guideline

Country of Publication: United States

Full Text Freely Available: Yes

Full Text Guideline: www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(17)30485-5/fulltext

Source Citation: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.06.026

Document Scope, Criteria, and Use Cases

Document Objectives: The goal of this guideline is to provide recommendations for the use of metformin for ovulation induction in women with PCOS desiring pregnancy. For the purposes of this document, all patients had PCOS unless otherwise indicated.

Scope: Management

Diseases/Conditions (MeSH)

D011085 - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

D007247 - Infertility, Female

D007246 - Infertility

D008687 - Metformin

D007246 - Infertility

D007247 - Infertility, Female

D011085 - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

D008687 - Metformin

Keywords: infertility, metformin, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Target Patient Population: Infertile patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Inclusion Criteria: Female, Adult

Health Care Settings: Ambulatory, Outpatient

Intended Users: Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Physician, Physician Assistant

Recommendation Development Processes & Methodology

Number of Source Documents: 80

Literature Search End Date: Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Includes peer/external review process?: Yes

Includes public comment process?: No

Methodologist involvement?: Yes

Patient involvement?: No

Includes multi-disciplinary group?: Yes

Includes systematic review?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of evidence?: Yes

Grades quality of strength of recommendation?: Yes

Discloses funding source?: No

Discloses conflicts of interest?: No

Includes benefits/harms analysis with recommendations?: No

Strength of the Evidence
Level	Description
A	There is good evidence to support the recommendations, either for or against.
B	There is fair evidence to support the recommendations, either for or against.
C	There is insufficient evidence to support the recommendations, either for or against.