Effect of metformin plus statin combination therapy compared to metformin alone in infertile woman with symptomatic endometrioma

In: International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology · 2025 · vol. 14(7) , pp. 2298–2304 · doi:10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20251982 · W4411679930
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AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07

Metformin plus atorvastatin significantly reduced endometrioma size more than metformin alone in infertile women with symptomatic endometrioma, though pain scores and complement levels showed no significant difference.

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This randomized controlled trial studied whether adding the statin atorvastatin to metformin improves outcomes in 40 infertile women with symptomatic endometrioma diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasound. Participants received metformin 500 mg three times daily plus atorvastatin 40 mg once daily (experimental) or metformin alone (control) for 3 months, with endometrioma size, pain (VAS), and serum complement C3 measured before and after treatment. Both groups had significant reductions in endometrioma size and pain, but endometrioma size reduction was significantly greater with the combination therapy, while pain reduction and changes in complement C3 did not differ significantly between groups; complement C3 increases were described as insignificant. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — it specifically tests metformin plus atorvastatin versus metformin alone for shrinking symptomatic endometriomas in infertile women.

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Abstract

Background: Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent inflammatory condition characterized by endometrial tissue growth outside the uterus. Metformin suppresses estrogen production and has anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and anti-angiogenic effects. Statins inhibit cholesterol synthesis and offer anti-inflammatory actions, reducing angiogenesis, invasion, adhesion, and lowering MCP-1 and MMP-3 levels. This study compares metformin plus statin versus metformin alone in infertile women with symptomatic endometrioma. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in the department of reproductive endocrinology and infertility, BSMMU. Forty women with symptomatic endometrioma diagnosed via transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) were randomized into two groups. The experimental group received metformin 500 mg thrice daily plus atorvastatin 40 mg once daily; the control group received only metformin. Treatment lasted 3 months. Outcomes-endometrioma size (TVS), pain [visual analog scale (VAS)], and complement C3 level (Nephelometry)-were measured pre-and post-treatment. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.26. Results: After treatment, the experimental group showed significant reductions in endometrioma size (3.50±0.82 vs 2.41±0.52 cm) and pain score (6.80±1.67 vs 3.13±2.32) from baseline (p<0.05). The control group showed significant reductions in endometrioma size (3.40±0.96 vs 2.92±0.80 cm) and pain score (6.65±2.10 vs 3.47±2.09) from baseline (p<0.05). Serum complements levels increased in both groups insignificantly. Endometrioma size reduction was significantly higher in the experimental group (1.06±0.53 vs 0.45±0.44 cm), but pain score and complement level reductions showed no significant difference between groups. Conclusions: Metformin plus statin shows significantly better reduction in endometrioma size compared to Metformin alone in treating symptomatic endometrioma in infertile women.
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Background

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent inflammatory condition characterized by endometrial tissue growth outside the uterus. Metformin suppresses estrogen production and has anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and anti-angiogenic effects. Statins inhibit cholesterol synthesis and offer anti-inflammatory actions, reducing angiogenesis, invasion, adhesion, and lowering MCP-1 and MMP-3 levels. This study compares metformin plus statin versus metformin alone in infertile women with symptomatic endometrioma.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted in the department of reproductive endocrinology and infertility, BSMMU. Forty women with symptomatic endometrioma diagnosed via transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) were randomized into two groups. The experimental group received metformin 500 mg thrice daily plus atorvastatin 40 mg once daily; the control group received only metformin. Treatment lasted 3 months. Outcomes-endometrioma size (TVS), pain [visual analog scale (VAS)], and complement C3 level (Nephelometry)-were measured pre-and post-treatment. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.26.

Results

After treatment, the experimental group showed significant reductions in endometrioma size (3.50±0.82 vs 2.41±0.52 cm) and pain score (6.80±1.67 vs 3.13±2.32) from baseline (p<0.05). The control group showed significant reductions in endometrioma size (3.40±0.96 vs 2.92±0.80 cm) and pain score (6.65±2.10 vs 3.47±2.09) from baseline (p<0.05). Serum complements levels increased in both groups insignificantly. Endometrioma size reduction was significantly higher in the experimental group (1.06±0.53 vs 0.45±0.44 cm), but pain score and complement level reductions showed no significant difference between groups.

Conclusions

Metformin plus statin shows significantly better reduction in endometrioma size compared to Metformin alone in treating symptomatic endometrioma in infertile women. Metrics

References

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