Journal of Rawalpindi Medical College | 2026
Authors: Khattak H.E.; Mahrukh S.K.; Ullah A.; Zahid M.; Gul S.; Khan A.
DOI: 10.37939/jrmc.v30i1.2948
Journal: Journal of Rawalpindi Medical College
Year: 2026
Publisher: Rawalpindi Medical University
Document Type: Article
Open Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access
Cited by: 0
Objective: To compare the effects of a combination of myo-inositol and metformin versus metformin alone on hirsutism and acne in PCOS patients. Methods: We randomised 114 adult women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hirsutism with acne to one of two treatments (double-blinded study) for 8 months (September 2022 to May 2023) at the outpatient department of gynaecology and obstetrics of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar: Group A (n = 57) received a combination of 500 mg of oral metformin three times per day and 4000 mg of myo-inositol once daily; Group B (n = 57) received 500 mg of oral metformin three times per day as single therapy. All hormonal, metabolic, and clinical indicators were assessed at the initial and 8-month points after the initiation of treatment. Results: A significant difference was noted in terms of the mean change in the Farriman–Gallwey score in Group A (n=55), 3.59±0.81, versus Group B (n=54), 4.68±0.55 (p=0.00). Similarly, there was a notable improvement in mean change in Global acne score in Group A 1.51±0.50 when compared to Group B 2.38±0.67 (p =0.00), similarly there was significant differences between Group A 33.2±3.01 and Group B 41.5±32.99 in terms of mean serum Total testosterone levels p=0.00 and significant difference between Group A 95.56±5.71 and Group B 146.70±15.75 in terms of mean serum DHEA levels p=0.00. Conclusion: Combining myo-inositol and metformin is more successful in treating hirsutism and acne in adult patients with PCOS than metformin alone in terms of balancing hormones and improving the metabolic profile. © 2026, Rawalpindi Medical University. All rights reserved.
hirsutism; metformin; myo-inositol; Polycystic ovarian syndrome