Screening for Insulin Resistance in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Views of Physician Members of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Objective: To determine practice patterns for insulin resistance (IR) evaluation and management in women with polycystic: ovary syndrome (PCOS) among physician members of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

Study Design: Cross-sectional survey using a web-based questionnaire.

Results: A total of 205 members responded. Respondents were board-certified (94%), or board-eligible (6%), in obstetrics and gynecology. Sixty-four percent of the respondents use the Rotterdam 2003 Criteria for a diagnosis of PCOS. Two-thirds (68%) screenfor IR in women with PCOS. Respondents who screen for IR were more likely to also screen for diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.48-7.21). The 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test with glucose and insulin concentrations was the most common IR screening test used (45%). Metformin therapy was used by 33% of respondents for, "all women with PCOS who have IR." The majority (68%) responded that there is a need for a committee opinion from ASRM on IR testing in PCOS.

Conclusion: Two-thirds of ASRM physician members surveyed screen women with PCOS for IR in spite of the lack of general consensus on the need for such screening from endocrine societies.