Prevalence and factors associated with use of complementary and alternative medicine among patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome in Klang Valley, Malaysia

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the leading endocrine disorder in women and a primary cause of anovulatory infertility. Conventional medicine views PCOS as incurable, with both patients and physicians expressing frustration over delayed diagnosis and unsatisfactory treatment approaches. As interest grows in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for managing PCOS, understanding the prevalence and factors driving the use of these therapies becomes increasingly important, as patients seek safer and more effective treatment options. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors influencing the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among PCOS patients. An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted on 180 patients with PCOS. They were recruited using universal sampling. Validated self-administered questionnaire was used and data was analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Independent variables included socio-demographic factors, perceived severity, benefits, and barriers. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between CAM use and perceived severity, benefit, barriers, and health locus of control, while the chi-square test examined the link between socio-demographic factors and CAM use. The results showed that 67.2% of respondents were aged 30-39, with infertility being the most common symptom (85.2%). The prevalence of CAM use was 57.8%, and 12.8% of respondents reported side effects. Ethnicity (Malay) was significantly associated with CAM use (x2 = 4.408, p =.036), and perceived benefit also showed a significant association (OR = 2.09, p = 0.007). However, perceived severity, perceived barrier, and health locus of control had no significant association with CAM use. In conclusion the study identified the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among PCOS patients and their inclination towards these treatments. This information is crucial for guiding future strategies in planning and implementing more effective treatment for PCOS.

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