Agystin for Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, and IVF Outcomes
Critical Finding: No Evidence for "Agystin"
There is no medical evidence, FDA approval, or clinical data supporting the use of a medication called "Agystin" for endometriosis, adenomyosis, or IVF outcomes. This medication name does not appear in any guideline, research literature, or drug database provided.
Evidence-Based Alternatives That Do Work
For Adenomyosis Treatment
First-line medical management for adenomyosis is a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUD), which provides significant improvement in pain and bleeding 1, 2. This should be your initial approach for symptomatic adenomyosis.
Medical Management Algorithm:
- Start with LNG-IUD as first-line therapy for adenomyosis symptoms 1, 2
- Second-line options include combined oral contraceptives for symptom control 1, 2
- GnRH antagonists are highly effective for heavy menstrual bleeding, particularly with concomitant adenomyosis 1, 2
- High-dose progestins serve as an effective alternative 1
Dienogest (DNG), a progestin, has demonstrated efficacy in treating symptomatic adenomyosis by significantly reducing pelvic pain and serum CA-125/CA19-9 levels 3. However, metrorrhagia is the most frequent adverse effect, causing worsening anemia in approximately one-third of patients 3.
For Endometriosis Treatment
Selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs) as a class have been shown to be effective for improving quality of life, decreasing menstrual blood loss, and achieving amenorrhea in uterine fibroids 4. However, mifepristone, while effective for controlling bleeding and improving quality of life, does not have a formal indication for endometriosis treatment in any jurisdiction 4.
For Improving IVF Outcomes in Endometriosis/Adenomyosis Patients
Pretreatment with dienogest (2 mg daily for 3 months) before IVF significantly improves outcomes in women with endometriosis who previously failed an IVF cycle 5. This represents the strongest evidence for medical intervention to improve IVF success.
Specific IVF Outcome Improvements with Dienogest:
- Cumulative implantation rate: 39.7% vs 23.9% (treated vs untreated, p=0.049) 5
- Clinical pregnancy rate: 33.3% vs 18.2% (p=0.037) 5
- Live birth rate: 28.6% vs 14.8% (p=0.043) 5
- Significantly increased oocyte retrieval and blastocyst formation in women with endometriomas ≥4 cm 5
GnRH agonist pretreatment or long protocol appears beneficial for women with adenomyosis undergoing IVF 6. Frozen embryo transfer (FET) following GnRH agonist pretreatment showed a trend toward higher clinical pregnancy rates (39.5%) compared to fresh cycles without pretreatment (25.2%), though this did not reach statistical significance 7.
The Detrimental Effect of Untreated Disease:
Adenomyosis significantly worsens IVF outcomes with lower rates of implantation, clinical pregnancy per cycle, ongoing pregnancy, and live birth, plus higher miscarriage rates compared to women without adenomyosis 6. This underscores the importance of pretreatment.
Critical Pitfalls and Caveats
- No medical therapy has been proven to eradicate adenomyosis lesions—all treatments provide only temporary symptom relief 1
- Surgical recurrence is common, with up to 44% of women experiencing symptom recurrence within one year after conservative surgery 1
- Dienogest-associated metrorrhagia can worsen anemia and may require discontinuation 3
- Follow-up at 3 months is essential after initiating medical therapy to assess symptom improvement 1
- There is no evidence that medical treatment affects future fertility in women with adenomyosis 1
When Surgical Management Is Indicated
Uterine artery embolization (UAE) should be considered for women with adenomyosis who fail conservative measures and desire uterus preservation, providing symptom improvement in 94% short-term and 85% long-term, with only 7-18% requiring eventual hysterectomy 1, 2.
Hysterectomy remains definitive treatment when other treatments fail and fertility preservation is not desired, with vaginal or laparoscopic approaches preferred over abdominal hysterectomy 1, 2.