Gut Microbiota and Oral Contraceptive Use in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most prevalent endocrine syndromes affecting women at reproductive age. With increasing knowledge of the role of the microbiota in the pathogenesis of PCOS, new management strategies began to emerge. However, data on the impact of established treatment regimens, such as metformin and oral contraceptive agents, on the gut microbiota composition are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the specificity of the gut microbiota in women with PCOS before and after treatment with oral contraceptives. Methods: We have systematically searched the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. The last search was performed on 13 May 2024. We included only full-text original research articles written in English. The risk of bias was assessed using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: The above described search strategy retrieved 46 articles. Additionally, 136 articles were identified and screened through Google Scholar. After removing duplicates, we screened the titles and abstracts, resulting in three eligible articles constituting the final pool. They were published between 2020 and 2022 and are based on three ethnically distinct study populations: Turkish, Spanish and American. The studies included a total of 37 women diagnosed with PCOS and using OCs. Conclusions: OC treatment does not seem to affect the gut microbiota in a significant way in patients with PCOS in short…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 37 participants or records.
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