Low AMH and Metformin (insulin resistance)

[Skittles11]

Hi all

I know Metformin is often used in fertility for people who have PCOS, therefore with a high ovarian reserve.

I have had an insulin resistance test recently which showed elevated levels, it has been suggested I take Metformin for it. I have low AMH though and am a little worried about whether Metformin may affect my AMH by reducing it further. Have tried looking online for data but so much of the data relates to PCOS, I am struggling to find much on the impact on low AMH.

I wondered if anyone out there has low egg reserve and is taking Metformin? If so I'd be grateful if you could share your experience.

Many thanks. X

[soccerkt6]

Hey skittles,

I'm afraid I don't have any advice on the question of whether metformin will lower AMH further, but I did just want to put out there that there are a few other options for ways to improve insulin resistance that don't include the (sometimes unpleasant) side effects of metformin:

1) Myo-inositol. I'm sure you've heard of this because it's the most common supplement suggestion (besides metformin) that women with PCOS are given to improve insulin resistance. It can be taken in conjunction with metformin.

2) Berberine. Less common than myo-inositol but there's strong clinical data that berberine performs as well as metformin in lowering insulin resistance in women with PCOS.

3) Medicinal/adaptogenic mushrooms like lion's mane, chaga, reishi and maitake. There is a ton of research that the beta-glucans in certain mushrooms lower blood sugar and improve insulin resistance. This is the best mushroom supplement that I've found and I feel it's been really helpful in improving my insulin resistance: adaptnaturals.com/products/....

Unfortunately, I can't tell you for sure that any of these wouldn't lower your AMH further. But improving insulin resistance is known to improve egg quality, so it might be a gamble worth taking. Sorry to not have more definitive answers! xx

[Skittles11 in reply to soccerkt6]

Hi soccerkt6 I appreciate the reply and thank you so much for all of this useful information, I will have a look at the different things you've mentioned. Yes I have read that improving insulin resistance can help improve egg quality but I was also concerned because its usually given to people with high egg reserve whereas I have the opposite problem. Have you taken Metformin and did you experience side effects from it?

Xx

[48JJ]

Hi, I took metformin for my second cycle. I think this was because I had lots of follicles on my first cycle- 30 (but they triggered me too early and I only got 6 mature eggs). I changed clinics in London and they put me on metformin as well as inositol. That cycle I only had 14 follicles. But 8 eggs and all mature. I live abroad so now I’m at a clinic in a closer country, so I can work at the same time as treatment (and is cheaper). He said not to take metformin. I have low AMH which got so much lower after metformin but I can’t say this was due to the metformin. But my AMH dropped by over 6 (a lot when it was only 8.9 before). I can’t comment on the quality of my eggs from these 3 cycles as I’m freezing. Hope that helps a little. I’d be interested in anything you find out. Until I read your post, I hadn’t thought that it could have been the metformin.

[Skittles11 in reply to 48JJ]

Hello, thank you very much for your reply. Can I ask the reasons you were initially put on Metformin, was it to do with insulin or was the clinic wanting to avoid over stimulating you?Do you know why your new clinic have told you not to take it?

It may have no link to AMH but I know its used to prevent over stimulation in PCOS so I just was curious about any link to AMH x

[GoonerT29]

Hi, I have pcos and was on metformin for a while but stopped taking it. Different situation but I just wanted to say that I find metformin very strong and I would suggest myo-inositol instead which is much kinder to your body. You can get these in sachets which you mix with water twice a day or look at D-Chiro version in supplements capsules, both of which are so much nicer on your stomach. I refuse to take metformin now as my stomach ends up in knots constant diarrhoea etc. there’s a few good alternatives out there x

[Skittles11 in reply to GoonerT29]

Thank you this is really useful. I am concerned about the side effects on the stomach especially as I already have a sensitive gut. I don't want to exacerbate it. They did tell me to start on one tablet and gradually build up to three tablets but I have issues before I've even started so I'm not sure what to do. It sounds like inisitol should be a good option from what everyone is saying xx

[GoonerT29 in reply to Skittles11]

Yes, even one tablet does my stomach in, I don’t get any issues with the sachets at all. The capsules are also ok but I like the sachets as it all counts towards your water intake so a bonus. Good luck with your cycle xx

[Skittles11 in reply to GoonerT29]

Good tip on the sachets, are you able to tell me what sachets you use (via private message maybe due to the advertising rules)?

[GoonerT29 in reply to Skittles11]

just messaged you x

[Hopecontinues]

Hi,

I took Inositol instead and gave up sugar for just over a month, including bread, pasta, flour, fruit etc... I felt so much better for it, but it was tough. I lost 5 kg too. At the end of the month I had my only successful transfer.

Sorry I have no answers on metformin and AMH.

Good luck

X

[Skittles11 in reply to Hopecontinues]

Hi thanks for your reply. If you dont mind me asking were you taking Inisitol and changing your diet because of an insulin problem?x

And congrats on the successful transfer 🙂

[Bebe294]

Hi dear

To answer your question I never took metformin but I did take both Myo inositol and Berberin, both of them reduce insulin resistance and there several research on both acting very similar to metformin but people with type 2 diabetes should be taking them only with dr recommendation and not together bcuz they reduce sugar levels too.

I did take myo inositol only for increasing the egg quality and gave it to hubby too there are research trying it on men and it increases sperm spec as well. Both of us took it for close to two month, the ready firmulas for this purpose have folic acid in them too. Also I took the version with D-Chiro. We did two rounds if ivf and had the best results ever almost 100% of eggs turned to blastocyst good quality.

I took berberine the year after mainly for weight loss and it did work and I had an egg retrieval last year took again myo inositol and had already berberine for 3 month my antral follicle numbers were super low and AMH dropped significantly after that I knew it was bcuz of these two but I had the best A1C and cholesterol levels ever.

I know that fertility doctors give myo inositolbefore ivf but some also give DHEA so apparently you wont have that much of number of eggs reduction as well asgetting the benefit of myo inositol for egg quality.

I cant take DHEA bcuz for me it increases estrogen significantly and I had major endo and fibroids and Adenomyosis. So for one of the rounds I took only 25mg of DHEA with myo 2*2000 together and I had more eggs retreived in that round but only 1 blastocyst.

I did take myo with my dr approval for first round but she said not to take it for second one.

For berberine I only knew it affects the number only after AMH test .

I would do take it again for ivf bcuz definitely increases egg and sperm quality. But taking it for longer that 3 month is not recommended.

At the time I read so many articles on myo inositol and its versions on fertility use. I am happy I did that. In that year I lost total 10 kg on intermittent fasting for two month berberin for 3 month myo inositol for 2 month. And best results as I said on blood tests.

I didnt have any diabetes and cholesterol or PCOS diagnosis though only overweight and close to borderline for cholesterol.

Btw on those articles metformin mentioned as having more side effects compare to Myo inositol.

Some of the fertility supplements have myo inositol in them so if you take any be careful not going over 4000 per day in total

Hope this helps.

[Skittles11 in reply to Bebe294]

Thank you, just seen this, I will have a proper read tomorrow as it looks like there's some really useful info here, thanks x