Treatment of Hyperandrogenism Versus Insulin Resistance in Infertile Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Women (OWL-PCOS)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00704912 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : June 25, 2008
Results First Posted : December 17, 2015
Last Update Posted : November 6, 2016
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome | Drug: Orlistat/Meal Replacement/Lifestyle Modification Drug: Loestrin 1/20 Drug: Combination of treatments | Phase 2 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 217 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Treatment of Hyperandrogenism vs. Insulin Resistance in Infertile PCOS Women |
Study Start Date : | September 2008 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | March 2014 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | March 2014 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Active Comparator: Lifestyle intervention
Orlistat/Meal Replacement/Lifestyle Modification
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Drug: Orlistat/Meal Replacement/Lifestyle Modification
Orlistat will be given at 60 mg three times per day (1 tablet 3 times a day) before meals, i.e., breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Other Names:
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Active Comparator: Oral Contraceptives (OCP)
Loestrin 1/20
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Drug: Loestrin 1/20
Patients will be started on a low dose containing OCP for a continuous 4 month period.
Other Names:
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Active Comparator: Lifestyle/OCP Combined
Combination of treatments
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Drug: Combination of treatments
Medications will be administered as described for the other 2 arms.
Other Names:
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- Live Birth Rate [ Time Frame: Participants were followed for 4 months of attempted conception and those who conceived were then followed for the duration of their pregnancy, approximately 9 months. ]
- Ovulation Rate [ Time Frame: Up to 4 months ]
- Change in Weight [ Time Frame: Baseline, 4 months ]Change from baseline to end of the 4-month intervention.
- Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome [ Time Frame: Baseline, 4 months ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 40 Years (Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | Female |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Couples Inclusion Criteria:
- Partner with sperm concentration of >=14 million/mL in at least one ejaculate with motile sperm.
- Ability to have regular intercourse 2-3 times per week during the ovulation induction phase of study.
- At least one patent tube and normal uterine cavity as determined by sonohysterogram, hysterosalpingogram, or hysteroscopy/laparoscopy within the last 3 years, or confirmation of a intrauterine pregnancy within the past 2 years.
- No previous sterilization procedures(vasectomy, tubal ligation) that have been reversed.
- Wanting to seek pregnancy.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Chronic anovulation or oligomenorrhea defined as intermenstrual periods of >= 45 days or a total of <=8 periods per year.
- Hyperandrogenism will be an elevated total testosterone >=50 ng/dL.
- Hirsutism determined by a modified Ferriman-Gallwey Score >8.
- PCO on ultrasound (12 or more follicles measuring 2-9 mm in diameter).
- BMI >=27 to <=42.
- Normal EKG to rule out any abnormalities with the heart.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Current pregnancy.
- Patients on oral contraceptives, depo progestins, or hormonal implants.
- Patients with hyperprolactinemia defined as two prolactin levels at least one week apart >30 ng/mL.
- Patients with known 21-hydroxylase deficiency by a fasting 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) level <2 ng/mL and ACTH stimulation test as needed, or other enzyme deficiency.
- Patients with menopausal FSH levels >20 mIU/mL.
- Patients with uncorrected thyroid disease (TSH <0.45 mIU/ML or >4.5 mIU/ML).
- Patients diagnosed with Type1 or Type II diabetes.
- Patients with liver disease defined as AST or ALT >2 times normal or total bilirubin >2.5 mg/dL.
- Patients with renal disease defined as BUN >30 mg/dL or serum creatinine >1.4 mg/dL.
- Patients with significant anemia (Hemoglobin <10 mg/dL).
- Patients with a history of deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, or cerebrovascular accident.
- Patients with known heart disease that is likely to be exacerbated by pregnancy.
- Patients with a history of , or suspected cervical carcinoma, endometrial carcinoma, or breast carcinoma. A normal PAP smear or reassuring colposcopy based on current ACOG guidelines will be required.
- Patient with current history of alcohol abuse.
- Patients enrolled simultaneously into other investigative studies.
- Patients taking other medications know to affect reproductive function or metabolism.
- Patients with a suspected adrenal or ovarian tumor secreting androgens.
- Patients with suspected Cushing's syndrome.
- Patients who have undergone a bariatric surgery procedure in the recent past (<12 months).
- Patients with untreated poorly controlled hypertension defined as systolic blood pressure >=150 mm Hg or average diastolic >=100 mm Hg on three measurements obtained 5 minutes apart. If treated, average systolic blood pressure >= 140 mm Hg or average diastolic >= 90 mm Hg.
- Patients with medical conditions that represent contraindications to orlistat, OCP, clomiphene, and/or pregnancy.
- Patients currently participating in lifestyle intervention program (Weight Watchers, Atkins Diet, Curves) or lost more than 5% body weight within the last 6 months.

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): NCT00704912
United States, Pennsylvania | |
Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center | |
Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States, 17033 | |
University of Pennsylvania, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104 |
Principal Investigator: | Richard S Legro, M.D. | Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center | |
Principal Investigator: | Christos Coutifaris, M.D., Ph.D. | Universtiy of Pennsylvania, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology |
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
Responsible Party: | Richard S. Legro, M.D., Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Public Health Sciences, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00704912 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
27184 |
First Posted: | June 25, 2008 Key Record Dates |
Results First Posted: | December 17, 2015 |
Last Update Posted: | November 6, 2016 |
Last Verified: | November 2016 |
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome |
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Hyperandrogenism Insulin Resistance Syndrome Disease Pathologic Processes Hyperinsulinism Glucose Metabolism Disorders Metabolic Diseases Ovarian Cysts Cysts Neoplasms Ovarian Diseases Adnexal Diseases Gonadal Disorders |
Endocrine System Diseases 46, XX Disorders of Sex Development Disorders of Sex Development Urogenital Abnormalities Adrenogenital Syndrome Congenital Abnormalities Orlistat Contraceptive Agents Norethindrone acetate, ethinyl estradiol, ferrous fumarate drug combination Contraceptives, Oral Reproductive Control Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs Contraceptive Agents, Female Enzyme Inhibitors Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action |