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

Authors

  • Hritu Shah Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Bangladesh Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Fawzia Hossain Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Bangladesh Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • M. Ariful Islam Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Bangladesh Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Rebeka Sultana Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (OSD), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Mostafa M. Al Tarique Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Bangladesh Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Chowdhury Faisal Alamgir Department of Urology, New Cross Hospital, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, United Kingdom
  • Maliha Darmini Department of Gynecology, Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital, Mymensingh, Bangladesh
  • Nur-Wa-Bushra Jahan Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OSD), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Jesmine Banu Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Bangladesh Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20251982

Keywords:

Endometrioma, Statin, Metformin, Complement

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.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Alborzi S, Keramati P, Younesi M, Samsami A, Dadras N. Retracted: The impact of laparoscopic cystectomy on ovarian reserve in patients with unilateral and bilateral endometriomas. Fertil Steril. 2014;101(2):427-34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2013.10.019

Morice P, Leary A, Creutzberg C, Abu-Rustum N, Darai E. Endometrial cancer. the Lancet. 2016;387(10023):1094-108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00130-0

Urick ME, Bell DW. Clinical actionability of molecular targets in endometrial cancer. Nature Rev Cancer. 2019;19(9):510-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41568-019-0177-x

Brooks RA, Fleming GF, Lastra RR, Lee NK, Moroney JW, Son CH, et al. Current recommendations and recent progress in endometrial cancer. Cancer J Clinic. 2019;69(4):258-79. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21561

Park A, Chang P, Ferin M, Xiao E, Zeitoun K. Inhibition of endometriosis development in Rhesus monkeys by blocking VEGF receptor: a novel treatment for endometriosis. Fertil Steril. 2004;82:S71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2004.07.181

Khine YM, Taniguchi F, Harada T. Clinical management of endometriosis-associated infertility. Reproduct Med Biol. 2016;15(4):217-25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12522-016-0237-9

Hamid AM, Madkour WA, Moawad A, Elzaher MA, Roberts MP. Does cabergoline help in decreasing endometrioma size compared to LHRH agonist? A prospective randomized study. Arch Gynecol Obstetr. 2014;290(4):677-82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3242-4

Gibran L, Maranhão RC, Abrão MS, Baracat EC, Podgaec S. Could statins constitute a novel treatment for endometriosis? Systematic review of the literature. Europ J Obstetr Gynecol Reproduct Biol. 2014;179:153-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2014.05.028

Lebovic DI, Mueller MD, Taylor RN. Immunobiology of endometriosis. Fertil Steril. 2001;75(1):1-0. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(00)01630-7

Kabut J, Kondera-Anasz Z, Sikora J, Mielczarek-Palacz A. Levels of complement components iC3b, C3c, C4, and SC5b-9 in peritoneal fluid and serum of infertile women with endometriosis. Fertil Steril. 2007;88(5):1298-303. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2006.12.061

Omer NA, Taher MA, Aljebory HD. Effect of Metformin Treatment on some Blood Biomarkers in Women with Endometriosis. Iraqi J Pharmaceut Sci. 2016;25(1):28-36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31351/vol25iss1pp28-36

Shah M, Ali A, Malik MO, Rehman F, Badshah H, Ehtesham E, Vitale SG. Treatment with metformin and combination of metformin plus pioglitazone on serum levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized clinical trial. Hormone Metabol Res. 2019;51(11):714-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1018-9606

Takashima A, Takeshita N. IVF/ET outcomes from affected and unaffected ovaries with unilateral endometriomas. Fertil Steril. 2017;108(3):e197-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.07.583

Bedaiwy MA, Alfaraj S, Yong P, Casper R. New developments in the medical treatment of endometriosis. Fertil Steril. 2017;107(3):555-65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.12.025

Lord J, Wilkin T. Metformin in polycystic ovary syndrome. Curr Opinion Obstetr Gynecol. 2004;16(6):481-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00001703-200412000-00008

Bruun JM, Pedersen SB, Richelsen B. Interleukin-8 production in human adipose tissue. Inhibitory effects of anti-diabetic compounds, the thiazolidinedione ciglitazone and the biguanide metformin. Hormone Metabol Res. 2000;32(11/12):537-41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2007-978682

Yilmaz B, Ozat M, Kilic S, Gungor T, Aksoy Y, Lordlar N, et al. Atorvastatin causes regression of endometriotic implants in a rat model. Reproduct Biomed. 2010;20(2):291-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2009.11.004

Zhang H, Liu F, Huang Y, Liu W. The role of metformin in the management of endometriosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Trop J Pharmaceut Res. 2023;22(5):1115-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v22i5.26

Yin M, Zhou J, Gorak EJ, Quddus F. Metformin is associated with survival benefit in cancer patients with concurrent type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. The Oncologist. 2013;18(12):1248-55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.2013-0111

Almassinokiani F, Mehdizadeh A, Sariri E, Rezaei M, Almasi A, Akbari H, et al. Effects of simvastatin in prevention of pain recurrences after surgery for endometriosis. Med Sci Monitor. 2013;19:534. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12659/MSM.883967

Lasker N, Banu J, Munira SM, Al Tarique MM, Anwary SA, Ghosh T, et al. Effects of pentoxifylline and metformin combination therapy compared to metformin alone in infertile women with symptomatic endometrioma. Int J Reproduct Contracept Obstetr Gynecol. 2024;13(6):1370. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20241414

Oktem M, Esinler I, Eroglu D, Haberal N, Bayraktar N, Zeyneloglu HB. High-dose atorvastatin causes regression of endometriotic implants: a rat model. Human Reproduct. 2007;22(5):1474-80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/del505

Salam S, Deeba F, Banu J, Ishrat S, Saha C, Sinha S, et al. Statins: Is it New Weaponry against Endometriosis? Adv Human Biol. 2025;15(2):267-77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/aihb.aihb_25_25

Bruner-Tran KL, Osteen KG, Duleba AJ. Simvastatin protects against the development of endometriosis in a nude mouse model. J Clin Endocrinol Metabol. 2009;94(7):2489-94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2008-2802

Hasan A, Rahim A, Afzal M, Naveed AK, Ayub S, Jahan S. Serum albumin and C3 complement levels in endometriosis. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2019;29(8):702-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.29271/jcpsp.2019.08.702

Foda AA, Aal IA. Metformin as a new therapy for endometriosis, its effects on both clinical picture and cytokines profile. Middle East Fertil Society J. 2012;17(4):262-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mefs.2012.09.001

Oktenli C, Ozgurtas T, Dede M, Sanisoglu YS, Yenen MC, Yesilova Z, et al. Metformin decreases circulating acylation-stimulating protein levels in polycystic ovary syndrome. Gynecological Endocrinol. 2007;23(12):710-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09513590701666571

Munkonda MN, Martin J, Poirier P, Carrington A, Biron S, Lebel S, et al. Acylation stimulating protein reduction precedes insulin sensitization after BPD-DS bariatric surgery in severely obese women. Nutrit Diab. 2012;2(8):e41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nutd.2012.13

Downloads

Published

2025-06-26

How to Cite

Shah, H., Hossain, F., Islam, M. A., Sultana, R., Tarique, M. M. A., Alamgir, C. F., Darmini, M., Jahan, N.-W.-B., & Banu, J. (2025). Effect of metformin plus statin combination therapy compared to metformin alone in infertile woman with symptomatic endometrioma. International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology, 14(7), 2298–2304. https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20251982

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles