Comparison of Cavitation Ultrasound, Metformin or the Combination of Both in Obese Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 5 to 10% of women of childbearing age and is the most common cause of anovulatory infertility. Common clinical manifestations include menstrual irregularities and signs of androgen excess such as hirsutism, acne, and alopecia. Metformin, a biguanide, is the most widely used drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes worldwide. Its primary action is to inhibit hepatic glucose production, but it also increases the sensitivity of peripheral tissues to insulin. The increase in insulin sensitivity, which contributes to the efficacy of metformin in the treatment of diabetes, has also been shown in non diabetic women with the polycystic ovary syndrome.In women with PCOS, long-term treatment with metformin may increase ovulation, improve menstrual cyclicity, and reduce serum androgen levels; the use of metformin may also improve hirsutism. If published data on the effects of metformin in the prevention of diabetes can be extrapolated to women with the PCOS, then the drug may actually retard progression to glucose intolerance in affected women, as reported in a small, retrospective study. Ultrasonic vibrations spread in the form of a wave in medium such as a liquid or a solid. When the particles of an elastic medium are under ultrasonic vibration, they act continuously in only one direction. The lipolytic range of ultrasounds is 30-70 Kilohertz (KHz), and the best effects are obtained in a range between30-35 KHz. The depth of the treatment in the tissues is generally2-3 cm, to avoid muscles involvement. Biological effects of ultrasounds on adipocytes are: micro-mechanical, thermal, micro-streaming and cavitation. Cavitation ultrasound means that ultrasounds produce an alternation of decompression and compression waves in a fluid media which progressively increase the tension of the adipocyte until it implodes and frees the emulsified fat. The aim of the current work was to compare the efficacy of cavitation ultrasound, metformin or combination of both in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) regarding clinical pregnancy rate, ovulation rate, insulin resistance, serum testosterone level, lipid profile.