The risk–benefit profile of combined oral contraceptive pills (COCPs) and/or metformin for comprehensive management of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women with obesity remains uncertain, particularly with respect to cardiovascular risk. To address this gap, a study compared the effects of COCPs, metformin, or their combination on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in 240 participants with hyperandrogenic PCOS.
The study showed that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) was 31% at baseline and comparable across groups, with no significant difference in trends at study end among the metformin group (26.2%, 17/65), combined therapy group (28.6%, 17/59), and COCP group (28.8%, 17/59). In the COCP group, significant reductions were observed in waist circumference (mean change −2.23 cm), BMI (−0.49 kg/m²), and android fat mass by DXA (−167 g), whereas no statistically…
