Brief Answer:
Detailed answer below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

I am Dr Madhuri and will be helping you.

Cetapin XR contains metformin a drug used to lower blood sugar. The drug acts by sensitizing the tissue to insulin and hence increases the uptake of insulin which is a normal hormone naturally present in the body for controlling blood sugars.
Blackening underarms and especially blackening on the neck is more frequently seen in diabetics or people prone to diabetes that have resistance to insulin action. Means in them the levels of insulin are high and body is not able to use it. This is also one of the mechanisms for development of PCOS.

You already have a history of PCOS and so likely to have insulin resistance. If it is not controlled then ovulation or release of ovum from the ovary may not occur and so there may be problems with conceiving. So cetapin will help with this.

If you are trying to conceive then I also suggest that you get an ovulation study done as ovulatory dysfunction is common in PCOS and can be easily treated with drugs like clomiphene. Also start folic acid as it helps in preventing brain defects in the baby. Please discuss all this with your doctor and I am always here to help you.

Best of luck for your pregnancy.
Hope this was helpful.
Thanks for asking us.
Feel free for further queries.
Dr Madhuri Bagde
Consultant Ob gyn.

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Brief Answer:
your concern is justified but cetapin is safe

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,

Your concern is absolutely justified. These tablets can be taken during pregnancy and have not been shown to have any bad effects on the baby.

Hirsutism is one of the manifestations of PCOS but usually there are underlying multiple hormonal defects with insulin resistance being the commonest one. You may get your PCOD profile hormone testing done on day 2-3 of the periods to detect any unedrlying defects. The test is not very sensitive meaning that it will not always come positive and does not detect minor hormonal imbalances.

If the periods are regular, then you may also get an ovulation study done as I have already said that ovulation is the main problem with conception in PCOD. If ovulation is occuring and your insulin and blood sugar fasting and after meal levels are normal then Cetapin may not be needed also.
However we found that it does help in women with PCOS in getting pregnant especially when there is ovulatory dysfunction.

You may visit a gynecologist after trying for pregnancy for 3-4 months. If you are successful then you will need to visit the gynec for consultation and follow up. If unfortunately you are not able to conceive then you may get an opinion from a gynec for drugs to assist in conceiving.

So as of now there are two options:
1. take cetapin and try for pregnancy for 3-4 months, if successful visit gynecologist as soon as possible.
2. do a PCOD profile and if there is no insulin issue or blood sugar issue then try for spontaneous pregnancy without taking cetapin. If successful see a gynec. If no conception in 3-4 months consider starting cetapin.

I would like to reinforce that as of now there are no major effects of cetapin on the baby that have been documented. So do not worry on this front.
Other measures that help in PCOD are weight loss, balanced diet with regular frequent meals and regular moderate exercise.
Hope this was helpful.

I am always here for any further queries.
Dr Madhuri

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Brief Answer:
You are most welcome.

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back XXXXXXX

Thanks for the appreciation, it makes my day and provides me more enthusiasm to do better.

Unfortunately we are not allowed to disclose our emails here on this site. So please excuse me for this. I am sorry.

I am always available on health care magic. So feel free to post.

Take care and all my good wishes are with you.

Dr Madhuri

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