Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex metabolic syndrome and the foremost ovarian factor that leads to infertility in the general population due to the increasing incidence of obesity and diabetes. Insulin resistance occurs in 25 – 70% of infertile patients with PCOS. Use of insulin sensitizing agents is a recent therapeutic strategy in women with PCOS to reduce insulin resistance and induce regular menstrual cycles and fertility. Important drugs that are used as insulin-sensitising agents include metformin and thiazolidinediones (rosiglitazone and pioglitazone).

Key words: Polycystic ovary syndrome, metformin, thiazolidinediones, insulin resistance, obesity, diabetes mellitus