The role of metformin in the management of endometriosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Heling Zhang, Fang Liu, Yanzhen Huang, Wei Liu
In: Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research · 2023 · vol. 22(5) , pp. 1115–1120 · doi:10.4314/tjpr.v22i5.26 · W4380046087
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⚙ AI-generated summary by gemini-2.5-flash-lite, 2026-06-13 ⓘ

This meta-analysis of eight studies found that metformin significantly improved treatment efficiency and reduced CA-125 levels in patients with endometriosis.

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Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the activity of metformin in endometriosis, with a view to alleviating disease progression. Methods: A search was conducted using electronic databases such as CNKI, VIP, CBM, WANFANG, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science from January 1980 to January 2022 for randomized trials involving any intrapartum fetal surveillance method. A network meta-analysis was performed within a frequentist framework, and it was assessed for quality and network inconsistency of the trials. A ninety-five percent confidence interval (CI) was used to report the relationship between metformin levels and patients with endometriosis. Results: Eight eligible studies which included 688 patients were evaluated in this meta-analysis. The primary indicators were treatment efficiency and CA-125 level. Metformin significantly increased treatment efficiency (SMD = 3.29, 95 % CI 2.01, 5.40, p < 0.00001). As expected, metformin also reduced the CA-125 level in endometriosis patients as a result (Odds Ratio, OR = -1.20, 95 % CI: -1.40 - 1.00, p < 0.00001). Conclusion: Metformin alleviates pains caused by endometriosis. However, some studies had scanty information about alleviating clinical symptoms other than basic medical research. More randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm treatment efficacy.
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Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the activity of metformin in endometriosis, with a view to alleviating disease progression.

Methods

A search was conducted using electronic databases such as CNKI, VIP, CBM, WANFANG, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science from January 1980 to January 2022 for randomized trials involving any intrapartum fetal surveillance method. A network meta-analysis was performed within a frequentist framework, and it was assessed for quality and network inconsistency of the trials. A ninety-five percent confidence interval (CI) was used to report the relationship between metformin levels and patients with endometriosis.

Results

Eight eligible studies which included 688 patients were evaluated in this meta-analysis. The primary indicators were treatment efficiency and CA-125 level. Metformin significantly increased treatment efficiency (SMD = 3.29, 95 % CI 2.01, 5.40, p < 0.00001). As expected, metformin also reduced the CA-125 level in endometriosis patients as a result (Odds Ratio, OR = -1.20, 95 % CI: -1.40 - 1.00, p < 0.00001).

Conclusion

Metformin alleviates pains caused by endometriosis. However, some studies had scanty information about alleviating clinical symptoms other than basic medical research. More randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm treatment efficacy.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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