Objective: To report a case where insulin sensitization restored menses in an underweight woman with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Design: Case report.
Setting: Tertiary care center.
Patient(s): A 19-year-old woman with a body mass index of 16.9 kg/m(2), severe hirsutism, and oligomenorrhea.
Intervention(s): Insulin sensitization with metformin.
Main outcome measure(s): Impact of metformin therapy on menstrual cycle and serum T and fasting insulin levels.
Result(s): Metformin, without weight loss or increased physical activity, resulted in restoration of menstrual cycle, reduction in serum T, and improvement in insulin resistance (IR).
Conclusion(s): This case highlights the contribution of PCOS-related IR, distinct from visceral adiposity, and demonstrates the effectiveness of pharmacological insulin-sensitization independent of weight loss or lifestyle adjustments.