Treatment of Adolescent Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00714233 |
Recruitment Status
:
Completed
First Posted
: July 14, 2008
Results First Posted
: September 16, 2011
Last Update Posted
: May 15, 2015
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A 24 week study to compare the use of Metformin, birth control pills and a carefully planned intensive lifestyle program that includes weight loss and exercise. These approaches will be compared to placebo (a pill that contains no active substances. Metformin, birth control pills and the lifestyle management program will be used on this research study to compare their ability to:
- reduce fasting glucose levels
- reduce androgen hormone levels
- improve sex steroid binding, and
- improve lipids (fatty substances in the blood)
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
---|---|---|
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome | Drug: Metformin Drug: Oral Contraceptive Pills (Yasmin) Behavioral: Lifestyle Modification Drug: placebo | Phase 3 |
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a condition associated with irregular menstrual cycles, (due to lack of regular ovulation), and evidence of elevated androgen (male hormone) levels, such as unwanted hair growth or acne. This condition often becomes recognized at the time of puberty. The standard treatment for this condition is oral contraceptive pills, which are used not for contraception, but to cause a regular, monthly bleeding pattern.
Many adolescents with PCOS have increased levels of insulin, a hormone that controls the body's sugar balance. These increased insulin levels may play a role in the development of polycystic ovary syndrome. There are several medications now available, which can decrease the insulin levels by improving the action of insulin in the body. Metformin is one of these drugs. Metformin is a drug currently used in the management of diabetes to control blood sugar. It is hoped that by lowering the insulin levels some of the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, such as the lack of regular periods and unwanted hair growth, can be reversed or diminished.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 43 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Triple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (POS) in Overweight Adolescents |
Study Start Date : | August 2002 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | April 2004 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | December 2007 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: 1
Metformin
|
Drug: Metformin
Metformin 425mg. capsules, 2 capsules BID x 24 weeks
|
Experimental: 2
Oral Contraceptive Pills
|
Drug: Oral Contraceptive Pills (Yasmin)
Yasmin oral contraceptive tabs; 1 tab daily x 24 weeks
Other Name: Yasmin oral COntraceptive tabs
|
Active Comparator: 3
lifestyle modification program
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Behavioral: Lifestyle Modification
weekly classes x 24 weeks for training in diet, exercise and behavior modification skills
|
Placebo Comparator: 4
placebo to active metformin arm
|
Drug: placebo
placebo to the active metformin arm. 2 capsules BID x 24 weeks.
Other Name: pharmacy matched placebo capsules
|
- Measure Number of Adolescent Girls With PCOS Who Can be Successfully Recruited Into a Randomized Clinical Trial That Includes Lifestyle Modification [ Time Frame: 24 week ]The measure is to determine a number of successfully recruited overweight or obese adolescents to a randomized trial of lifestyle therapy in the community of Rochester, NY
- Weight Loss in Lifestyle Intervention Group [ Time Frame: baseline and 24 weeks ]In the adolescent women assigned to the lifestyle program, did the intervention program obtain weight reduction as measured by change in BMI
- Change in Free Androgen Index (FAI) [ Time Frame: baseline and 24 weeks ]Secondary measures of reduction in androgen measures of the different treatment arms. This is a ratio of total testosterone to sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). The lower values correlate with lower amount of free testosterone. FAI <4 is consistent with a normal range.
- Change in SHBG [ Time Frame: baseline and 24 weeks ]Measurement of SHBG by treatment group pre and post intervention
- Triglyceride Concentration by Treatment Group [ Time Frame: baseline and 24 weeks ]Change in triglyceride measures pre and post intervention as representative of lipid changes by treatment group; metformin, lifestyle intervention, oral contraceptive or placebo
- Change in Fasting Glucose [ Time Frame: baseline and 24 weeks ]Change in fasting glucose concentration by treatment group pre to post intervention

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 12 Years to 18 Years (Child, Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | Female |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Menstrual irregularity defined as cycle length > 45 days
- Overweight as BMI > 25
- Clinical evidence of hirsuitism or acne
- Testosterone > 50ng/dL
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of diabetes mellitus
- History of Cushing's disease
- History of hyperprolactinemia
- Untreated hypo or hyperthyroidism
- History of adrenal hyperplasia
- Significant renal impairment
- Received oral contraceptives, estrogen or progestin or other drugs known to effect lipoprotein metabolism within 2 months of starting the study
- Exercise > 10 hours per week

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00714233
Principal Investigator: | Kathleen M Hoeger, MD | University of Rochester |
Responsible Party: | Kathleen M. Hoeger, MD, Professor, University of Rochester |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00714233 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
RSRB # 09354 |
First Posted: | July 14, 2008 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | September 16, 2011 |
Last Update Posted: | May 15, 2015 |
Last Verified: | May 2011 |
Keywords provided by Kathleen M. Hoeger, MD, University of Rochester:
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Overweight Adolescent Girls Irregular Menstrual Cycles |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Syndrome Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Disease Pathologic Processes Ovarian Cysts Cysts Neoplasms Ovarian Diseases Adnexal Diseases Genital Diseases, Female Gonadal Disorders |
Endocrine System Diseases Metformin Contraceptive Agents Contraceptives, Oral Contraceptives, Oral, Combined Drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol combination Hypoglycemic Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs Reproductive Control Agents Contraceptive Agents, Female |