PPAR Research 
Volume 2006 (2006), Article ID 73986, 8 pages
doi:10.1155/PPAR/2006/73986
Review Article

Thiazolidinediones and Fertility in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Pascal Froment1 and Philippe Touraine2

1INSERM Unité 418, UMR Communications Cellulaire et Différenciation, Hôpital Debrousse, 29 Rue Soeur Bouvier, Lyon 69322, France
2Department of Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, GH Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47‐83 Boulevard de l'Hôpital, Paris Cedex 13 75651, France

Received 15 July 2006; Revised 13 October 2006; Accepted 17 October 2006

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most frequent cause of female infertility. The treatment of PCOS patients with insulin sensitizers, such as metformin or thiazolidinediones, increases the ovulation rate and the number of successful pregnancies. The positive action of the insulin-sensitizing treatments could be explained by a decrease in the peripheral insulin resistance but also by a direct action at the ovarian level. We report in this review different hypotheses of thiazolidinediones actions to improve PCOS (steroid secretion by ovarian cells ; insulin sensitivity in muscle and adipocyte and fat redistribution).