Inositol role in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and the awareness of Iraqi doctors regarding this role

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder affecting females of reproductive age. The study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge and awareness among Iraqi doctors regarding the potential role of inositol as a treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in a questionnaire-based study that include 14 specialists in Al-Ameerat Hospital and Al-Bilad Hospital, and 11 board students in the Medical City in Baghdad-Iraq in the duration between November 2022 to April 2023 which revealed that 23 of them (92%) were aware and 20 of them (80%) prescribed inositol for PCOS and 13 of subjects (52%) have reported a response rate of 51-75 toward inositol treatment while 9 participant (36%) reported 26-50% and 3 doctors (36 %) reported a rate of 0-25%. Nine participants (36%) think that the major cause that limits inositol use is the lack of enough studies while 8 participant (32%) have thought that the price is the cause, whereas seven participant (28%) have thought that the undetectable effect of inositol is the cause. Majority of participants (64%) prescribed the normal dose of inositol whereas four participants (16%) have prescribed dose lower than the normal dose firstly that become increased according to the patients’ response and tolerance. It was concluded that majority of the Iraqi doctors were aware of the importance and the significance role of Inositol, and they were prescribing it to their patients who showed a high rate of response but participants also thought that there are many reasons that limit inositol usage widely for PCOS, that include mainly the lack of supporting evidence and the price.

Keywords

• Hyperandrogenism
• inositol
• insulin resistance
• menstrual irregularities
• polycystic ovary syndrome

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