SynthesisThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism2013
Adverse effects of the common treatments for polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 53 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
53 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 108 citations in OpenAlex.
- Efficacy and safety of acupuncture-related therapies in improving insulin resistance, reproductive endocrine outcomes, and ovarian morphology in polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Pooled it
- Bariatric surgery as a treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2025Pooled it
- Metformin Therapy for Acne in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.American journal of clinical dermatology · 2021Pooled it
- Evaluation of Preeclampsia Results after Use of Metformin in Gestation: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Revista brasileira de ginecologia e obstetricia : revista da Federacao Brasileira das Sociedades de Ginecologia e Obstetricia · 2018Pooled it
- Diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline.The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism · 2013 · on this mapGuideline
- Time-restricted eating for body weight management in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial.Nature medicine · 2026Trial
- Trial
- Feasibility and Acceptability of Metformin to Augment Low Milk Supply: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association · 2019Trial
- Short term monotherapy with GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide or PDE 4 inhibitor roflumilast is superior to metformin in weight loss in obese PCOS women: a pilot randomized study.Journal of ovarian research · 2015Trial
- Adiponectin, interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and regional fat mass during 12-month randomized treatment with metformin and/or oral contraceptives in polycystic ovary syndrome.Journal of endocrinological investigation · 2014Trial
- Therapeutic potential of 7-hydroxyflavone in letrozole-induced polycystic ovarian syndrome via regulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, hormonal and biochemical dysregulation.Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's archives of pharmacology · 2026Article
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): current insights, emerging therapeutics, and future treatment strategies.Inflammopharmacology · 2026Review
- Redox-endocrine triad in PCOS: can vitamin D, myo-inositol, and melatonin synergize as bioactive cocktails?Frontiers in endocrinology · 2026Review
- Integrating evidence-based lifestyle and adjunct therapies for long-term management of polycystic ovary syndrome: mechanistic insights and clinical implications.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2026Review
- Biomaterials for Reproductive Restoration: Translating Engineering Innovations.Biomaterials research · 2026Review
- The Role of Pharmacists in Identifying and Preventing Drug-Related Problems in PCOS Management.Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Lepidium Sativum Extract Alleviates Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Induced by Letrozole and High-Fat Diet in Rats.Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) · 2025Article
- Beneficial Effects of Curcumin in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Review of Recent Literature and Underlying Mechanisms.Current medicinal chemistry · 2025Review
- CL22209, a standardizedFood & nutrition research · 2025Article
- Exploring the therapeutic potential of phytochemicals apigenin and ellagic acid in managing polycystic ovarian syndrome and its comorbidities: a comprehensive review.Frontiers in endocrinology · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
contextPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is common among women of childbearing age and the available pharmacological therapies have different side-effect profiles.
objectiveWe summarized the evidence about the side effects of oral contraceptive pills, metformin, and anti-androgens in women with PCOS. DATA SOURCE: Sources included Ovid Medline, OVID EMBASE, OVID Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycInfo, and CINAHL from inception through April 2011. STUDY SELECTION: We included comparative observational studies enrolling women with PCOS who received the agents of choice for at least 6 months and reported adverse effects. DATA EXTRACTION: Using a standardized, piloted, and Web-based data extraction form and working in duplicate, we abstracted data from each study and performed meta-analysis when possible. DATA SYNTHESIS: We found 22 eligible studies of which 20 were randomized. No study reported severe side effects (eg, lactic acidosis, thromboembolic episodes, liver toxicity, cancer incidence, or pregnancy loss). Meta-analysis demonstrated no significant change in weight in oral contraceptive pills or flutamide users. Indirect evidence from populations without PCOS demonstrated no increased risk of lactic acidosis with metformin, only case reports of liver toxicity with flutamide (no comparative evidence), and increased relative risk difference of venous thromboembolism with oral contraceptive pills but very low absolute risk. Evidence on mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cancer was inconclusive.
conclusionsDrugs commonly used to treat PCOS appear to be associated with very low risk of severe adverse effects although data are extrapolated from other populations.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.